These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (2024)

Peppermint patties, homemade fudge, Christmas bark, and more!

By Beth Branch
These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (1)

Sure, we look forward to presents and festive lights each holiday season, but we can't lie. We mostly look forward to the Christmas desserts.

Some folks are die-hard Christmas cookie fans, while others adore peppermint in its many forms. (Hello, peppermint eggnog.)

Some of us love making from-scratch recipes at every opportunity. For others, an easy upgrade to store-bought cookies makes us quite happy.

But whatever you prefer, if you're ready to create delicious food gifts for family, co-workers, and guests, these Christmas candy recipes will help you along. From fudge to chocolate bark to truffles, you'll find all kinds of homemade sweets for every person on your holiday gift list.

1

Peppermint Palmiers

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (3)

These beautiful French cookies are so festive with their dusting of peppermint! Serve them at your next Christmas party with cups of peppermint eggnog, pictured, for a cooling winter treat.

Get the recipe for Peppermint Palmiers.

2

Holiday Reindeer Chow

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This holiday snack is easy to make, difficult to stop eating. Mix up a big batch and wrap some up in gift-bags as party favors, or simply keep a big bowl on hand for munching on while opening presents!

Get the recipe for Holiday Reindeer Chow.

3

Apple Cider Caramel Candies

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These sweet cider-flavored treats are a surprising and delicious holiday treat to have on hand. They make a great host or hostess gift. You can keep them in a bowl on the counter for unexpected guests.

Get the recipe for Apple Cider Caramel Candies.

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4

Sweet-and-Savory Peppermint Popcorn

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Give tins of this holiday snack out as gifts, or serve at your next gathering!

Get the recipe for Sweet-and-Savory Peppermint Popcorn.

5

Striped Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

These easy holiday cookies make a delicious gift or party treat! They may look like they just came from a professional baker's dessert case, but these beautiful 5-ingredient Christmas cookies couldn't be easier to make.

Get the recipe for Striped Peppermint Sandwich Cookies.

6

Chocolate-Peppermint Fudge

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Oh, fudge! This already hard-to-resist holiday treat is even more tempting when given a jolt of cooling peppermint extract and topped with the classic red and white striped candies.

Get the recipe for Chocolate-Peppermint Fudge.

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7

White Chocolate Pomegranate-Pistachio Bark

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The burst of tart juices combined with the sweet white chocolate creates a balance of flavors in this perfect-for-the-holidays bark.

Get the recipe for White Chocolate Pomegranate-Pistachio Bark.

8

Orange-Glazed Pecans

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Something pretty magical happens when you toast pecans in orange juice and zest. They become irresistible! Set these out at your Christmas party and they'll disappear in no time.

Get the recipe for Orange-Glazed Pecans.

9

Chocolate Coconut Truffles

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Who can say no to truffles?

Get the recipe for Chocolate Coconut Truffles.

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10

Maple, Cinnamon, and Walnut Fudge

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Combine these cozy flavors in delicious fudge and you've got the perfect holiday sweet treat!

Get the recipe for Maple, Cinnamon, and Walnut Fudge.

11

Cranberry Pâte de Fruit

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Careful: once you try these bite-sized jelly squares, it's hard to stop eating them.

Get the recipe for Cranberry Pâte de Fruit.

12

Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Sticks

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These peppermint sticks look beautiful and taste even better! Leave out a dish of them when trimming the tree or relaxing by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa.

Get the recipe for Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Sticks.

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13

Roasted Hazelnut & Pistachio Dark Chocolate Bark

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This homemade treat is easy to package in treat bags or boxes for a sweet holiday gift.

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14

White Chocolate Peppermint Patties

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Impress your friends with a snappy and sweet homemade peppermint patty.

Get the recipe for White Chocolate Peppermint Patties.

15

Slice-and-Bake Shortbread Cookies

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This easy-to-make dough can be turned into three different cookies, depending on what you're in the mood for. The chocolate ones are perfect for Santa.

Get the recipe for Slice-and-Bake Shortbread Cookies.

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16

Pecan Pralines

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No holiday table would be complete without some sort of sweet treat filled with pecans, and these sweet pralines will hit the spot after Christmas dinner.

Get the recipe for Pecan Pralines.

17

Cherry and Pecan Divinity

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These light-and-delightful classic Southern desserts look and taste absolutely divine.

Get the recipe for Cherry and Pecan Divinity.

18

Christmas Light Gingerbread Cookies

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These pretty gingerbread cookies are simple to make, and can be arranged into an absolutely stunning dessert-table centerpiece.

Get the recipe for Christmas Light Gingerbread Cookies.

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19

Gourmet Marshmallows

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The perfect treat for those cups of cocoa by the fire? How about some homemade marshmallows in cute little gift bags? Yes, please!

Get the recipe for Gourmet Marshmallows.

20

Tart-Cherry and Dark-Chocolate Bars

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What makes a delicious food gift? Homemade chocolate bars! Tart cherries hiding in the center of these quick and easy chocolate treats deepen the earthiness of the dark chocolate.

Get the recipe for Tart-Cherry and Dark-Chocolate Bars.

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These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (2024)

FAQs

What's the most famous candy during Christmas? ›

Unwrap The Top 12 Christmas Candies!
  1. Nerds Rope Christmas Candy. ...
  2. Christmas Nik-L-Nip Elf Punch. ...
  3. Brach's Funfetti Candy Canes. ...
  4. Christmas Cadbury Selection Box UK. ...
  5. Haribo Giant Trees. ...
  6. Fort Knox Gold Ingots. ...
  7. Peeps Candy Cane Marshmallow Chicks. ...
  8. Terry's Chocolate Orange Minis White Chocolate UK.
Nov 20, 2023

How did candy canes become associated with Christmas? ›

A Christmas legend

There's some mystery surrounding the origins of candy canes because there are no exact records of their invention. One well-regarded story suggests that in 1670, a choirmaster in Cologne, Germany, gave out sugar sticks to the children as a way to soothe them during the long nativity ceremony.

What is the traditional Christmas candy? ›

From peanut brittle to chocolate Santas, the holiday season is a time for sweets and celebration. Hundreds of millions of candy canes, chocolate Santas, and tins of peanut brittle are made each year, and millions of candy gifts are given each year.

What is the most sold Christmas candy? ›

In the study, the retailer found Peppermint Bark has made a a comeback to be the top candy. In 2022, it had dropped from the no. 1 spot in six states following a strong showing in 2021. This year, however, it regained its strength in 3 states, particularly in the Midwest.

What is America's favorite Christmas candy? ›

According to America's Favorite Christmas Candy by State Report, a comprehensive study by research firm HubScore that delved into a survey of the top 20 favorite Christmas candies, Kit Kat ranked top in 13 states followed by a tie between Skittles and candy canes, both ranked top in six states.

What does the red and white mean on a candy cane? ›

In 1847, he made a candy to symbolize Christ. The cane's "J" shape stands for Jesus; when turned upside-down, it becomes a shepherd's staff. The white color signifies purity; the red represents Christ's blood, shed for the world's sins, and three red stripes symbolize the trinity.

What color were candy canes originally? ›

Or course, today, there's nothing more iconic when it comes to candy than the alternating red and white stripes of the candy cane, but, according to Schildhaus, for 200 years, before mass-production was automated, they came in just one color: white.

Who invented the candy? ›

The idea of candy began by the caveman who ate honey. The first candy was used by the Ancient Egyptians for cult purposes. In ancient times, Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese made candies with fruits and nuts that caramelized with honey. The two oldest candy types are licorice and ginger.

What is the oldest holiday candy? ›

Candy canes are one of the oldest Christmas candies, first appearing in the 17th century in Europe. They were originally straight white sticks of sugar that were meant to symbolize shepherd's crooks.

What fruit is Christmassy? ›

Apples, cranberries, pumpkins, and butternut squash have all been at the heart of the traditional holiday feast for countless generations.

What was the first Christmas candy? ›

The first candy cane most likely took shape in 17th century Europe when people were enjoying pulled sugars, the parent to today's candy sticks. At that time, somewhere in Germany, an unknown person added a hook to the stick.

What is America's #1 candy? ›

Top-selling chocolates and sweets. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the No. 1 selling candy brand in the United States, consisting of white fudge, milk, or dark chocolate cups filled with peanut butter. They were invented by H.B. Reese after he founded the H. B. Reese Candy Company in 1923.

What is the most expensive candy ever sold? ›

With a price tag of $1,628 per bar the Wispa Gold holds the no. 1 spot as the most expensive candy bar in the world.

What is the number one candy holiday? ›

Answer-Halloween followed by Easter Christmas and Valentine's Day.

What is the most popular holiday for candy? ›

While Halloween may be the most popular holiday for candy sales, other holidays also have a significant impact on the consumption of sweet treats. Easter, Valentine's Day, and even Independence Day all drive people to purchase candy to celebrate with loved ones or enjoy on their own.

What is the number 1 candy on Halloween? ›

1: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. This perennial favorite easily finished first in the candy derby, earning the title of most popular Halloween candy in 18 states, including densely populated ones like California, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

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