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25 of the Best Easy Christmas Candies Recipes And Tips

We love to make homemade Christmas candies!  We only really make one cookie, Nan’s Gingerbread Men, but oh do we love to bake candies!

Today, I’ve included all of our top favorite easy Christmas candies that we make every Christmas.  I don’t like spending hours in the kitchen baking so most of these candies can be made with just a few minutes’ hands-on work!

Homemade holiday candy recipes seem to make candy with a better taste than the store-bought ones and the kids and guests are always amazed at the variety of options.

Many of these candy recipes are great to make with older kids. It’s great to make them together because you can have a great time together and they will be proud to know that they can successfully make something so delicious! Of course, I wouldn’t recommend getting very young children involved because you’ll be pulling your hair out trying to manage the mess. It’s great in the Hallmark movies, but not nearly so much fun in real life!

I’ve also included some candy making tips from volume 1 of our Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Making Christmas candies seems complicated but it really is super simple and several of these easy recipes consist of just two ingredients!!

Tips For Christmas Candies

• Use the leftover syrup from the candied orange peels on your pancakes, waffles or French toast for a gourmet taste.
• If you over cook chocolate, it becomes dull looking.  To save it, put the pan on low heat and beat in 1 teaspoon shortening or oil at a time until you have restored the shiny, smooth consistency.
• When you are melting chocolate for the Christmas candies, make sure that all utensils are completely dry.  Even a little bit of water will make chocolate grainy and lumpy.
• Buy fortune cookies in large bags from Chinese restaurants. They cost about five cents each when purchased in bulk. They also make great treats for lunch boxes.
• When making Christmas candies like peanut brittle or truffles, you can set them outside on the patio table to cool if you’ve run out of room in the refrigerator. Remember, for most of the country there are no bugs this time of year!
• Save chocolate bunnies and chocolates from Halloween to use for making Christmas candies or buy it on clearance after Halloween.

Candy cooking tests to use if you don’t have a candy thermometer:

When placed in a cold cup of water, candy will:

Soft Ball        234°-240°
form a soft ball that can be flattened

Firm Ball       242°-248°
form a firm ball that holds its shape until pressed

Hard Ball      250°-268°
form a ball that is pliable and holds its shape

Soft Crack     270°-290°
separates into hard but not brittle threads

Hard Crack   300°-310°
cracks easily

Caramel         320°-350°
mixture coats metal spoon and forms light caramel colored mass when poured onto a plate

For High Altitude‑ lower candy temperature 2° for each 1,000 feet of elevation.

Our Favorite Christmas Candy Recipes!

It’s easier than you think to make candy shop quality fudge in just a few minutes. These next few fudge recipes are super easy to make with just 2 or 3 ingredients. After I learned to make it, I was shocked at how much candy stores charge for something that is so quick and easy!

Since then, I have made this fudge and many of our other Christmas candy recipes for holiday parties and get-togethers because they’re always well loved and most people don’t bring candy to parties because it is o expensive to buy already made.

No candy thermometer is needed. You just have to pay attention as you warm the chocolate so you don’t burn it and stir frequently.

This 2 ingredient fudge recipe is one of our favorite Christmas candies! Who knew rich, creamy chocolate fudge could be so dreamy! Bring this to a family get-together or holiday party and they will think you worked all day perfecting it! (Or just make it for yourself and hide it from the kids! lol)

2 Ingredient Easy Fudge Recipe

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Ingredients

3 cups chocolate chips*
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp. butter (optional)

Instructions

1. Place parchment paper in an 8×8 inch baking pan and spray with cooking spray or grease with butter.
2. Pour both ingredients into a microwave safe bowl.
3. Melt in 30 second increments. Stir after each 30 seconds.
4. When melted, pour into the greased 8×8 inch pan. Let cool in the fridge and then cut into pieces.
5. Add Nuts as desired.

Notes

*3 cups of chocolate chips make a firmer fudge. If you would like a softer fudge or if you would like to save money on chocolate, you can use 2 cups chocolate chips. For white chips and other non-chocolate chips, you MUST use 3 cups or it won’t set up.

 

You can also try these tasty variations for this easy fudge:

• Cherry Mash: Use cherry chips to make to the fudge. Then pour melted chocolate chips on top with peanuts.

• Peanut Butter: Use peanut butter chips to make to the fudge. Then top with chocolate or don’t, if you prefer not to.
• Dark Chocolate: Use dark chocolate chips
• Mint: Use mint chips, mint pieces or 1 tsp. mint flavoring
• Chocolate Covered Strawberry: Stir in 2-3 Tbsp. of strawberry jam
• Rocky Road: Stir in 1/2 cup marshmallows and 1/4 cup chopped almonds
• Vanilla Fudge: Use White chips instead
• Candy Cane: Use white chips and stir in crushed candy canes
• M&M: Stir in 1/3 cup of M&M’s
• Spicy Mexican: Add 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• Caramel: Swirl on top 1/4 cup caramel sauce
• Smore: Layer graham crackers on the bottom then put fudge on top and top with marshmallows or marshmallow cream.
• Coconut Cream Eggs: Add 1 1/2 cup coconut flakes and 1 tsp. coconut extract (optional)

This 3 ingredient Andes mint fudge recipe is the perfect Christmas candy recipe if you love decadent chocolate fudge with a distinctly minty flavor! This recipe includes tiny pieces of Andes mint candy, which makes a perfect fudge candy for Christmas!

The combination of textures makes it like a chocolate chip fudge, but the mint flavor makes it stand out over the regular fudge. This is my husband’s favorite fudge. If we have enough people coming over, I like to make all 3 of these fudge recipes together and include them on one candy try for everyone to choose.

3 Ingredient Andes Mint Fudge Recipe

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This 3 ingredient mint fudge recipe is one of our most popular Christmas candy recipes! It includes tiny pieces of Andes mint candy, which makes a perfect fudge Christmas candy! If you love decadent chocolate fudge with a distinctly minty flavor, this Andes Mint Fudge is for you!

Ingredients

3 cups chocolate chips*
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 pkg. Andes mint chips or other mint chips or pieces
butter (optional)
peppermint extract (optional)

Instructions

1. Place parchment paper in an 8×8 inch baking pan and spray with cooking spray or grease with butter.
2. Pour chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk into a microwave proof bowl.
3. Melt in 30 second increments. Stir after each 30 seconds.
4. Stir in butter if desired for a creamier texture.
5. Add mint chips or crushed chocolate mint candy and mix.
6. When melted, pour into the greased 8×8 inch pan.
7. Let cool in the fridge and then cut into pieces.

This 3 ingredient peanut butter fudge is one of our readers’ favorite Christmas candy recipes, and it’s one of my favorites, too! It makes a smooth and creamy fudge with the delicious taste of peanut butter!

As a peanut butter lover, I like this fudge best because it is like eating extra creamy peanut butter that is a little bit sweeter than peanut butter itself. It can be pretty addicting, so I’m careful not to make it except when I have someone else to share it with or I will inevitably eat the entire batch at once! If you like peanut butter, you’ll definitely want to make this one!

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

Need an easy dessert in a hurry? This 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge recipe is creamy, melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and comes together in minutes with just three simple ingredients—making it perfect for Christmas candy trays, parties, and peanut butter cravings all year long!

Ingredients

3 cups white baking chips (or peanut butter chips)
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp. peanut butter
butter (optional)

Instructions

1. Place parchment paper in an 8×8 inch baking pan and spray with cooking spray or grease with butter.
2. Pour white chips and sweetened condensed milk into a microwave safe bowl.
3. Melt in 30 second increments. Stir after each 30 seconds.
4. When melted, stir in butter, if desired, for a creamier texture.
5. Stir in peanut butter.
6. Pour into the baking pan.
7. Let cool in the fridge and then cut into pieces.

Out of all of our Christmas Candies, this 4 Ingredient English Toffee recipe is my absolute favorite Christmas candy recipe! This easy English toffee has a wonderful crunch with a nutty caramely flavor and a hint of chocolate. If you love caramel, this candy will surely satisfy you! It’s great to include in a party dish with other tasty Christmas candies. Mmmm, I’m tempted to go make some now!

Easy English Toffee Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients!)

Out of all of our Christmas Candy recipes, this 4 Ingredient English Toffee recipe is my absolute favorite!

Yield: 24 pieces
Author: Tawra Kellam

Ingredients

1 cup nuts, chopped (pecans or walnuts are best) *
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Butter an 8×8 inch pan (my favorite pan!).
2. Spread the chopped nuts evenly over the bottom of the pan.
3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar and butter. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
4. Once boiling, continue cooking for 7 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
5. Pour the hot toffee mixture over the nuts and spread evenly.
6. Immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot toffee.
7. Let stand for 2-3 minutes until the chocolate softens, then spread the melted chocolate into an even layer.
8. Allow the toffee to cool completely. For faster cooling, place it in the refrigerator.
9. Once firm, break into pieces and serve.

Notes

Tips & Variations

Try these delicious flavor combinations:

• White Chocolate & Macadamia Nuts – Rich, buttery, and absolutely amazing.
• Dark Chocolate & Almonds – A deeper chocolate flavor with extra crunch.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate & Almonds – Similar to classic Almond Roca candy.

Storage

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or refrigerate for longer freshness.

*Pecans and walnuts give the best flavor, but almonds, macadamia nuts, or a combination of your favorites work well too.

This easy chocolate truffles Christmas candy recipe is super delicious and has a wonderful soft chocolate texture. The basic chocolate truffles are rolled in cocoa powder or nuts, but you can make many tasty variations, including coconut, colored sprinkles, powdered sugar and more!

This is another holiday candy where I will make a bunch of different variations and serve them all together on one candy dish or bring them as an assortment to a Christmas party. I have never had to bring any leftovers home because they’re always gone!

Easy Chocolate Truffles

Yield: Makes 15–20 truffles
Author: Tawra Kellam

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup whipping cream
2 Tbsp. butter
1 cup chocolate chips
2 Tbsp. desired liqueur (optional) – (brandy, amaretto, Kahlúa, rum etc.) or any flavoring (orange, mint, raspberry, coffee)
1/2 cup nuts, finely chopped
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Instructions

1. Microwave the sugar, whipping cream, butter, and chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth and melted.
2. Stir in liqueur, if desired. For two flavors, divide the chocolate mixture in half and stir 1 Tbsp. of a different liqueur into each half
3. Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until completely cool and firm enough to scoop.
4. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until firm.
6. Roll into balls, then coat in chopped nuts or cocoa powder.
7. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Notes

Tips & Variations

One of the best things about these truffles is how versatile they are! Try rolling them in:

• Sweetened coconut
• Powdered sugar
• Holiday sprinkles
• Finely crushed cookies
• Chopped nuts
• Unsweetened cocoa powder

For an extra-special treat: Dip the truffles in melted white, milk or dark chocolate and let stand until the coating is set.

Soft and Creamy Texture

These homemade truffles have a softer, creamier center than many store-bought truffles. For a firmer outer shell, dip them in melted chocolate or candy coating and let stand until completely set.