30 Best Christmas Candy Recipes (2024)

Looking for the best Christmas candy recipes?

From Christmas truffles to peanut brittle, these easy-to-make treats are the perfect stocking stuffers.

30 Easy Recipes for Homemade Christmas Candy

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and nothing spreads Christmas cheer like a tin of homemade Christmas candies.

So, share these sweets with neighbors and friends. Or keep them all to yourself – I won’t tell!

Whether you’re a chocolate fanatic or crazy for peppermint, there’s a candy here to make even the Grinch happy this holiday season.

1. Christmas Crack (Toffee Bark)

This Christmas candy truly is addictive, hence the name Christmas crack! It’s made with saltines, chocolate, and toffee.

Crush up some M&M candies to sprinkle on top for some extra holiday cheer.

Or add a salty element with your favorite nut. Either way, this is a candy to make year after year.

2. Peppermint Meringues

Soft, melt-in-your-mouth meringues are exactly what you need this holiday season.

This traditional Christmas candy gets an upgrade with zesty peppermint!

The red candy cane looks so beautiful with the white meringue. They’re as good to look at as they are to eat.

3. Bavarian Mints

These Bavarian mints feature the classic pairing of peppermint and chocolate. They’re sweet, sinful, and delicious!

I love making these to put out in candy dishes while having guests over. They’re also perfect for stuffing into boxes to hand out as gifts.

They’ll go fast, so you might want to double the recipe!

4. Bourbon Pecan Pralines

Pralines are a Southern delicacy, and they’re perfect to serve around the holidays.

They’re easy to make and even easier to devour with only a few ingredients! While pralines are an incredibly sweet treat, they’re balanced out by the saltiness of the nuts.

The extra kick of bourbon offers just the right touch, too!

5. Peppermint Marshmallows

These are the perfect addition to a steaming mug of hot cocoa. The light and fluffy peppermint marshmallows are delightful all winter long.

Chase away the blues on a snowy day by curling up by a fire with peppermint marshmallows to munch on!

These perfect little treats are light and pillowy soft, but flavor-heavy!

6. Turtles

These little critters are vegetarian-friendly!

Just like store-bought turtles, peanuts and caramel are arranged, and then covered with melted chocolate to create a friendly face that tastes so sweet!

This is as much a recipe as it is a craft project!

7. Caramels

Slow-boil sugar and butter to form a rich and sticky base that hardens as it cools.

Cut your homemade caramels into squares, and they’re ready to share with friends and family.

For a festive touch, use small holiday cookie cutters to shape your caramels into popular holiday motifs.

8. Peppermint Patties

Peppermint patties will be your new favorite Christmas candy!

Cool peppermint creme is nestled in a dark chocolate candy coating to make the most decadent of desserts.

These patties are a winter wonderland of flavor!

Nothing tries my patience like waiting for the chocolate to harden. The hardest part of making this recipe is waiting!

9. Candy Cane Fudge

Fudge is a favorite any time of the year! Add some Christmas cheer to your December batch by mixing in candy cane pieces.

The peppermint is the perfect addition to the chocolate fudge and makes something new from an old classic.

This fudge is so good, it will be hard to stop eating! No one needs to know you had more than two!

10. Oreo Truffles

These little balls of goodness make the sweetest Christmas gifts! After all, nobody can resist the taste of Oreos.

The cookies are crushed and mixed with cream cheese and then dipped in chocolate to form little truffles.

They’re bite-sized, decadent, and it’s impossible to stop at just one!

11. Christmas Marshmallow Pops

These festive Christmas pops are fun to share with your family and friends.

Forego the store-bought cake pops this year and make your own. It will be special for your loved ones to know you created these yourself.

A little love makes any treat better, and your diligence and gentleness will make these beauties stand out.

12. Peanut Brittle

Peanut brittle holds a special place in every holiday cookbook. ‘Tis the season to bake with peanuts, and this recipe is chock full of nutty flavor!

With an irresistible crunch and salty-sweet blend, this peanut brittle recipe will be a hit at all your gatherings.

Make it a part of your Christmas tradition.

13. Chocolate Almond Clusters

These clusters use the bonding power of caramel to make nutty, chocolatey treats.

Save yourself the artistic endeavor and drop these onto wax paper as little round clusters.

They might not look as cute, but they will still taste great!

Add some dried fruit to the mix for a nostalgic effect. These little gems are straight from a 50s candy shop.

14. English Toffee

This delicious toffee recipe is delightfully crumbly and has a satisfying crunch.

Some people like their toffee mixed in with nuts. I like toffee plain but will settle for toffee topped with chocolate.

Experiment with fun candy molds to change the shape of your toffee. You can make a batch of toffee for any occasion.

15. Peppermint Brownie Truffles

Combine the delicious flavors of peppermint and chocolate brownie for a seasonal, delicious candy.

The creamy brownie filling is loaded with peppermint.

Make this with peppermint pieces, or make do with the mint you have on hand!

Place the candies in a bag and roll over the pieces. In seconds, you’ll have your very own peppermint pieces.

16. Potato Chip Clusters

The combination of salty and sweet is a classic, even if this recipe isn’t.

Good old-fashioned potato chips are crushed up and mixed with chocolate for an interesting candy that is the sum of its delicious parts.

If you like potato chips and chocolate separately, you’ll love their collaboration in this tasty Christmas candy.

17. Christmas Reindeer Crack

With pretzels, Chex, and red and green M&Ms, Reindeer Crack offers the perfect mix of savory and sweet flavors.

I like mixing up a big batch and making little gift bags for teachers, neighbors, and friends to spread holiday cheer.

And, of course, I always have a dish nearby to snack on while wrapping presents.

18. Rolo Reindeer Pretzels

Rolo candy desserts are some of my all-time faves.

And this sweet and salty combo is no exception. They’re impossibly delicious, yet no one has to know how easily they come together.

This is useful for a last-minute potluck and a late-night sweet tooth.

19. Peanut Butter Balls

These old-time treats have been a hit for years. If you love Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, you won’t be able to resist these candies!

The sweet peanut butter dough gets dipped into melted chocolate for a smooth finish.

Add a bit of sea salt to the tops for a savory twist.

20. Puppy Chow

Monkey munch, buddy mix, puppy chow… this is the dessert with a dozen names!

No matter what you call it, these gussied-up Chex pieces are delicious.

Drizzle peanut butter and chocolate over the cereal pieces, then coat them in a generous layer of powdered sugar.

They are the fanciest candy you can make in less than 15 minutes.

21. White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels

Salty pretzels are the perfect base for many a Christmas candy.

In this recipe, douse your pretzels in melting chocolate and then roll them in peppermint pieces for a sweet and salty treat.

If you can’t get enough peppermint this holiday season, try these white chocolate peppermint pretzels.

22. Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy

This tempting divinity candy truly is divine! It’s made with sugar, corn syrup, and egg whites and has a marshmallow-like texture.

It’s easy to make, though I recommend using a stand mixer to make the process go smoothly.

From start to finish, you can have this ready in about 35 minutes.

23. Christmas Cookie Fudge

You can’t have a holiday season without fudge, right? And this Christmas cookie-flavored treat is totally over the top.

With its white color and festive red and green sprinkles, it perfectly captures the spirit of the season.

It’s the perfect hostess gift for any holiday party!

24. Toffee Pecan Popcorn Balls

Popcorn balls remind me of Norman Rockwell’s paintings and simpler times.

But these toffee pecan popcorn balls are not the ones your grandmother used to make!

The classic treat gets a modern look with bits of toffee and chopped pecans.

These popcorn balls are a medley of flavors and textures. Each bite is different!

25. Rocky Road Fudge

If you love classic candy recipes, this rocky road fudge needs to be in your repertoire.

You can whip it up with three ingredients: chocolate chips, peanut butter, and mini marshmallows.

Given how easy it is, it’s the perfect treat to throw together at the last minute when you’re in a pinch.

26. Rum Balls

Have a little booze with your holiday cheer by making these rum balls!

The recipe only requires four ingredients, which come together in less than an hour.

Store them in your fridge, and you’ll have a ready-made treat for weeks.

Who says rum balls are just for the Christmas season? These treats are so good, you’ll want them all year round.

27. Cranberry Pistachio White Chocolate Bark

The red and green of this white chocolate bark is super festive. Better yet, the chewy cranberries and nutty pistachios taste amazing together.

This is the perfect alternative for those peppermint bark haters out there.

28. Candied Pecans

I love the smell of candied pecans at Christmas, but I always thought that was just for malls and street vendors. Not anymore!

You can make delicious candied pecans right in your home. It has never been easier to access these holiday favorites.

That’s good for your tastebuds, but maybe not for your waistline.

29. Chocolate Covered Potato Chips

Take your holiday treats to the next level by coating crispy potato chips in decadent chocolate.

Two worlds collide, and you’ll have a dessert that is the perfect culmination of salty and sweet.

Add some white chocolate stripes or festive sprinkles and they’re ideal for holiday parties.

30. Peanut Butter Cups

Celebrate the Christmas season by making your own peanut butter cups. If you’re like me, you can’t get enough store-bought peanut butter cups.

Their holiday shapes just make them more irresistible!

Making them from scratch beats Reese’s any day.

30 Best Christmas Candy Recipes

Course: DessertCuisine: American

Servings

25

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

5

minutes

Calories

160

kcal

Transform simple ingredients into a festive delight with this peppermint bark recipe, perfect for the holidays.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers

• 12 ounces Ghirardelli white chocolate melting wafers

• 1/2 cup peppermint candy

Instructions

• Line a 9×12-inch pan with parchment paper.
• Microwave dark chocolate for 30 seconds at 70% power. Stir well until smooth and melted. Repeat in 30-second bursts until smooth and melted.
• Spread melted chocolate evenly onto the lined pan, about 1/3-inch thick.
• Melt the white chocolate following the same instructions as above but at low power. Spread it evenly over the dark chocolate.
• Place the peppermint candy in a Ziplock bag and crush it into pieces with a rolling pin or meat tenderizer. Scatter them over the white chocolate.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until chocolate layers have hardened.
• Break bark into chunks.
• Serve and enjoy!

Notes

• If you prefer distinct layers, chill the dark chocolate layer briefly before adding the white chocolate.
• Experiment with different types of peppermint candy for varying levels of mint intensity.

Nutrition

• Calories: 160kcal
• Carbohydrates: 19g
• Protein: 1g
• Fat: 9g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Cholesterol: 2mg
• Sodium: 23mg
• Potassium: 0mg
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 16g
• Calcium: 38mg
• Iron: 0mg