Is there anything better than a homemade gift?
We like to think of ourselves as present-giving experts here at Delish, and we've got the gift guides to prove it—we've got something for everyone in your life, from yoga enthusiasts to grandmas to stoners. You know what everyone loves? Homemade candy that tastes delicious and shows how much you care. Whether you’ve got a candy thermometer and are dying to use it or want something a little less involved (but still tasty!), there’s a festive option for you here. Make these 65 Christmas candy recipes to gift and snack on this holiday season—we’ve got an in with the big guy at the North Pole, and he said they’ll definitely guarantee you a spot on the nice list. 😉
When coming up with this list, we imagined the type of candy box we’d like to be gifted, one full of an assortment of shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors. You’ve got to have your chocolate options, of course, so we’ve included some of our favorite fudge recipes here, like our Christmas fudge, our gingerbread fudge, our hot chocolate fudge, and our buttered rum fudge. We usually cut our fudge into squares (though you do you), so next we’re thinking of the adorable round truffles we’d like to see. We’ve got everything from simple (3-ingredient!) Oreo truffles to creamsicle truffles to our completely-from-scratch eggnog truffles, so there's something in here for everyone at every skill level.
Something with a little crunch is always welcome, so we’ve added our spiced candied pecans, our caramel popcorn, our chocolate-covered pretzels, and our chocolate toffee to the mix too. We also think it’s not the holidays without a ton of peppermint, so we recommend making our peppermint bark, our peppermint meringues, or our homemade peppermint patties too.
Beyond these basics, feel free to get creative. You know what else goes great with homemade Christmas candy, whether you’re looking for gifts or a sweet treat for yourself? Christmas cookies! We’ve got ALL the ones you’ll want to make this year.
1
Peppermint Bark
Peppermint bark is a candy we cannot wait to get our hands on every holiday season. Luckily for you, you can make a batch in just 10 minutes flat.
Get the Peppermint Bark recipe.
2
Christmas Fudge
Nothing says the holidays quite like Christmas fudge. We made ours more chocolatey and less sugary, and it might just be the best fudge we've ever had.
Get the Christmas Fudge recipe.
3
Peppermint Meringues
A cookie box filled with a wide assortment of shapes, sizes, and colors is such a treat to gift during the holidays. These peppermint meringues are the perfect addition to add a pop of color and fun. They practically scream “holiday!” and they taste fantastic as well.
Get the Peppermint Meringues recipe.
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4
Peanut Butter Snowballs
These holiday treats coat peanut butter balls in sweet melted white chocolate, before being decorated with festive holiday sprinkles. Bite-sized and too adorable, this easy dessert is a perfect last-minute addition to your holiday spread, or as the sweetest homemade food gift for any PB + chocolate lovers in your life.
Get the Peanut Butter Snowballs recipe.
5
Frozen Fudge
This fudge is perfect whether you're a fan of the movie franchise, or just loving the winter wonderland outside. Use whatever winter-y sprinkles you can find!
Get the Frozen Fudge recipe.
6
Gingerbread Truffles
Truffles are the ultimate one-bite wonder, and these gingerbread ones have a delightful touch of holiday magic in each bite. Bonus: They’re rolled in crushed gingersnaps for a zippy ginger bite and a pleasingly crunchy texture.
Get the Gingerbread Truffles recipe.
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7
Hot Chocolate Fudge
All you need for this hot chocolate-inspired fudge is four ingredients, a microwave, and a fridge. The biggest challenge is finding micro marshmallows, like the kind that come in hot chocolate mixes. Once you have these babies in your life, don't be surprised if you add a dash to every dessert.
Get the Hot Chocolate Fudge recipe.
8
Cornflake Wreaths
Deck the halls! It's time to get your Christmas wreaths out. And we're not talking the kind you hang on the door. No, it's time to make a batch of cornflake wreaths. Perfect for lovers of Rice Krispies treats, these Christmas cookies are as simple as they are delicious.
Get the Cornflake Wreaths recipe.
9
Bourbon Balls
If you’re looking for a boozy treat to get the party started, these bourbon balls are calling your name. Made with finely chopped pecans, crushed vanilla wafer cookies, and of course, bourbon, these no-bake cookie truffles highlight the flavor of the bourbon while taming its typical burn.
Get the Bourbon Balls recipe.
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10
Pecan Pralines
A classic Southern dessert, pecan pralines are the melt-in-your-mouth candy perfect to bring for any holiday gathering. The perfect cross between a cookie and a candy, these soft and chewy bites make for an ideal food gift any time of year—who wouldn’t want homemade candy?
Get the Pecan Pralines recipe.
11
Tiramisu Truffles
Craving a sweet pick-me-up at the end of a meal? These tiramisu truffles are for you. Luscious espresso and mascarpone white chocolate ganache is coated in a crisp chocolate shell for a dreamy bite-sized dessert that’s sure to delight every coffee lover.
Get the Tiramisu Truffles recipe.
12
Meringue Wreath Cookies
Make meringues into festive, mini wreaths with a little green food coloring and pull and peel Twizzlers. The sprinkles are optional, but they do add a little extra holiday flair.
Get the Meringue Wreath Cookies recipe.
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13
Eggnog Truffles
If you love eggnog (or even if you don't!), this recipe is for you. Cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cream wrapped in white chocolate—what could be better?
Get the Eggnog Truffles recipe.
14
Gingerbread Fudge
With only five ingredients—sweetened condensed milk, white chocolate, and gingerbread spices—this holiday fudge is insanely easy to make.
Get the Gingerbread Fudge recipe.
15
Homemade Marshmallows
They're fluffy, they're soft, they're straight from the heavens: Homemade marshmallows just can't be beat. Once you make this yourself, going back to the bagged stuff will be a difficult decision fraught with inner struggle. Do you want convenience, or do you want the best of the best? Try these in hot chocolate for a truly transcendent experience.
Get the Homemade Marshmallows recipe.
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16
Red Velvet Cheesecake Bites
Covered in red velvet cake crumbs, these sweet cheesecake balls are the perfect small bite for any holiday party.
Get the Red Velvet Cheesecake Bites recipe.
17
Oreo Truffles
Raid the cookie and candy aisles to jazz these up—a bit of crushed candy or changing up the variety of Oreo can add a fun boost of flavor and color to your truffles. Make sure to save a little extra too, so you can top each truffle with some crumbs.
Get the Oreo Truffles recipe.
18
Chocolate-Covered Graham Crackers
Show friends and family you care by making your own graham crackers, then covering them in white or milk chocolate, or both! Feel free to get creative with your decorations (we think drawing little trees on these would be adorable).
Get the Chocolate-Covered Graham Crackers recipe.
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19
Buckeyes
Loaded with peanut butter and dipped in chocolate, these buckeyes are basically a homemade Reese’s peanut butter cup in truffle form.
Get the Buckeyes recipe.
20
Oreo Peppermint Bark
Not a fan of candy canes but still want that peppermint flavor? Make this peppermint bark instead. The green food dye is optional, but we think it adds an extra layer of fun (and color!).
Get the Oreo Peppermint Bark recipe.
