From candy canes to truffles to peanut brittle, these easy-to-make treats are the perfect stocking stuffers. It’s the most wonderful time of the year and nothing spreads Christmas cheer like a tin of homemade Christmas candy. Share these sweets with neighbors and friends or keep them all to yourself, I won’t tell! Do not be intimidated by making candy! There are recipes for all skill levels. Everyone can find a treat they love to make and eat! Whether you’re a chocolate fanatic or crazy for candy canes, there is a candy designed to make you happy this holiday season. Fasten your apron and prepare the mitts. It’s time to get cooking!
30 Easy Recipes for Homemade Christmas Candy
1. Dark Chocolate Toffee Bark
Chocolate or caramel? Have both with this dark chocolate toffee bark recipe. Smother crunchy toffee with creamy dark chocolate, and you’ll have the best of both worlds. Crush up some candy cane 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. With two Christmas flavors in one candied bite, this candy will please everyone this holiday season.
3. Homemade Junior Mints
Never buy movie theater candy again! Make your own with this homemade Junior Mints recipe. Break through the rich chocolate shell and get swept away in the creamy mint filling. What an experience! Break out the stand mixer because this a big one! You’ll want to whip up enough of these babies to last a couple of days. And trust me, that’s a lot!
4. Snickerdoodle Truffles
If you can’t get enough cinnamon sugar, then this is the recipe for you. This classic duo gets even better when blended into a delicious truffle coated melting chocolate. Don’t waste your time on the cookie and go straight for what you want — cinnamon sugar goodness! Get the whole family involved! Little hands will love helping you roll each truffle through the melted chocolate and decorate with sprinkles.
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 pillow-soft, but flavor heavy!
6. Turtles
These little critters are vegetarian friendly! Just like store-bought turtles, peanuts and caramel are arranged, 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
You can make these all year round! 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 are ready to share with friends and family. For an extra 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 a little bit of 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 out of 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. Almond Joy Chocolate
This deconstructed candy bar has your three favorite Almond Joy flavors all prepared in the comfort of your kitchen. Sweet coconut and bitter almond elevate chocolate in both texture and flavor. They are just irresistible! Make your own candy bar this holiday season and save yourself a trip to the grocery. These taste even better than packaged ones!
11. Candy Canes
One of the most popular emblems of the Christmas season, a candy cane is always a fun treat to share with your family and friends. Forego the store-bought ones this year and make your own. It will be special for your loved ones to know you created these yourself. A little bit of love makes any treat better, and your diligence and gentleness will make these candy canes 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. Age is beauty in this case. Peanut brittle has been around for so long. 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 though, and just 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 is our neighbor across the pond’s version of brittle. Sans the peanut, 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
Truffles are a big hit this year! Combine the delicious flavors of peppermint and chocolate brownie for a rich, seasonal candy that is so delicious. The creamy brownie filling is loaded with peppermint, and the creator was just too generous for adding the extra sprinkle on top. 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. Reindeer Chow
Start a new tradition by mixing up a bowl of reindeer chow. Made from all of a reindeer’s favorite foods, the chow is safe for humans to eat as well! Get the family involved and mix up this delicious treat together this holiday season. Don’t forget to share! Sprinkle some reindeer chow on your driveway Christmas eve so Santa’s tired reindeer can have a little snack!
18. Rolo Pretzel Buttons
The best recipes are the ones that use pre-prepped ingredients. Have your Christmas candies ready in a pinch by topping pretzels with Rolo candies. The sweet and salty combo is as delicious as ever, and no one will know you whipped up your dessert in a pinch. This is useful for a last-minute potluck and a late-night sweet tooth. No matter the story, you are always minutes away from delicious Rolo pretzel buttons.
19. Polar Bear Paws
Peanuts and caramel meet again in the candy combination. A See’s Candy copycat, polar bear paws are caramel nut clusters covered in white chocolate. I love a filled dessert, and these polar bear paws fit the bill. The white chocolate layer contains all the ooey-gooey caramel for a mouth-filling caramel candy bite. If you have bought these from the store, you need to try making them at home!
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 pretty gosh darn delicious. Drizzle peanut butter and chocolate over the cereal pieces and then coat 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, you will have to try these white chocolate peppermint pretzels.
22. Chocolate-Covered Cherries
Dunk ornaments of maraschino cherries into your preferred chocolate and enjoy the too-good-to-be-true joy of a cherry cordial. Do you want to know the best part of making these yourself? You decide how much chocolate ends up on your cherries. Double dip for an extra bit of chocolate or single dip to let the cherry flavor shine through.
23. Reindeer Noses
If you have never heard of a reindeer nose, you are missing out. These chocolate fudge balls are covered in coconut and then topped with a maraschino cherry. It’s three delicious flavors in one! These chocolate treats almost resemble a cookie, but they are no-bake. Bring a tray to your next gathering and watch them disappear.
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 new look with bits of toffee and chopped pecans added in. These popcorn balls are a medley of flavors and textures. Each bite is different!
25. Candied Citrus Peel
Citrus fruits are in season during the coldest months where I am from. Their bright colors and flavors bring a little bit of sunshine to each snowy day. Don’t toss the peel, though! Use the rind of your favorite fruit to make these candied citrus peels. The cooking process removes the bitter flavor, and you are left with tart, sugary goodness.
26. Rum Balls
Have a little booze with your holiday cheer by making these rum balls! The recipe only requires four ingredients, and they come together in less than an hour. Store them in your fridge, and you’ll have a ready-made treat for weeks to come. Who says rum balls are just for the Christmas season? These treats are so good, you’ll want them all year round.
27. Fruitcake Bark
I know fruitcake has a bad rap, but this bark recipe is here to change that! Made with all the traditional fruitcake ingredients, this bark gets you your favorite flavors in a fraction of the time. If you don’t have the patience to wait for the real deal, this recipe is the next best thing.
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 a good thing for your taste buds, but maybe not for your waistline.
29. Chocolate Covered Potato Chips
These treats are too easy to make and so delicious to snack on. 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.
30. Peanut Butter Cups
Celebrate the Christmas season by making your own peanut butter cups. If you are like me, you cannot get enough store-bought peanut butter cups. Their holiday shapes just make them more irresistible! Now, you can start your own tradition by making peanut butter cups from scratch. Click on a star to rate it!
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