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

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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 is the religious meaning of the candy cane? ›

Cane: Is like the staff used by the shepherds in caring for sheep. Jesus is our “Good Shepherd.” The Color Red: Is for God's love that sent Jesus to give his life for us on the cross. The Stripes: Remind us of Jesus' suffering-his crown of thorns, the wounds in his hands and feet; and the cross on which he died.

What is the traditional Christmas candy? ›

Every trip past the candy dish yielded a handful of cut rock candy, rainbow gems, baby ribbons, chocolate-filled straws, filled raspberries, and other treats to suck on while opening gifts. Other Christmas classics include peppermint patties and candy canes.

What is the story behind the candy cane? ›

A Sweet Prelude: The History of Candy Canes

One popular tale traces it back to a German choirmaster seeking a solution to keep children calm during Christmas Eve services. The candy's crook symbolized shepherds, while the red and white stripes embodied the purity of Christ.

What does the Bible say about candy canes? ›

(Psalm 31:3). Next the candy maker made the candy in the shape of a 'J' for the name of Jesus who came to earth as our Savior (Matt 1:21, Acts 4:12). When the candy was turned upside down, it is the shape of the Good Shepherd's staff (John 10:11). "I am the good shepherd.

What does an upside down candy cane mean? ›

First, he used a hard candy because Christ is the Rock of Ages. This hard candy was shaped so it would resemble a “J” for Jesus or, turned upside down, a shepherd's staff. He made it white to represent the purity of Christ.

What is the oldest most popular candy? ›

Good & Plenty

These small licorice-flavored, candy-coated capsules are one of the oldest candies in the United States, having been introduced in 1893.

What is the most popular candy sold on Christmas? ›

(WHNT) – Peppermint bark, mini Reese's cups, and Starburst, oh my! Those are just a few of the most popular Christmas candies, according to a new report from CandyStore.com.

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 popular snack was originally a Christmas treat? ›

Animal Crackers Were Originally a Christmas Treat – Animal crackers were first introduced aro0und Christmastime in 1902. the string on the ox was originally intended to be used to hang the boxes on Christmas trees.

What is the Christmas symbol candy? ›

A candy cane is a cane-shaped stick candy often associated with Christmastide, as well as Saint Nicholas Day. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint, but the canes also come in a variety of other flavors and colors.

Was Jesus born on December 25th? ›

The common Christian traditional calendar date of the birthdate of Jesus was 25 December, a date asserted officially by Pope Julius I in 350 AD, although this claim is dubious or otherwise unfounded.

What is the oldest candy cane company in the US? ›

Doscher's Candies is an American candy manufacturer, and the oldest producer of candy canes in the United States. It is known for being the oldest continually operating candy company in America.

What does a broken candy cane mean? ›

The white color is for purity, how Jesus was pure and sinless. White is also for the virgin birth. Finally, how you break the cane as you eat it represents how Christ's body was broken on the cross for us.

What does the candy corn mean in Christianity? ›

The candy corn comes in three colored parts- yellow, orange and white. Just like the candy corn has three parts in one, the Bible tells us that God comes in 3 parts too. The Bible tells us about the Trinity- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – they are not three Gods but all the same God.

What is the story of the candy cane gospel? ›

He is A Rock: The candy maker chose hard candy for the candy cane, which was done to remind children that Jesus was our “rock,” dependable and strong (Psalm 31:3). By His Stripes: Wide red stripes were added to the candy cane, representative of the crucifixion and the blood Jesus shed for our sins.

What does the church candy mean? ›

• He began with stick of pure white, hard candy. • White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, • And hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church and firmness of the promises of God.

What does the red and white mean on the 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.

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