Here are 16 easy 3 ingredient Christmas candy recipes that make it easy for you to make rich and delicious Christmas candies, most with about 5 minutes’ work! Try making these homemade Christmas candy recipes and you won’t want to go back to store-bought! These recipes are perfect for parties and family get-togethers! Everyone raves about how wonderful they taste!
Some of these recipes come from volume 1 of our Dining On A Dime Cookbook. And be sure to check out our Homemade Christmas E-book for more great Christmas ideas!
Easy 3 Ingredient Christmas Candy Recipes You Can Make At Home
I love to make homemade Christmas candy! My 25 of the Best Easy Christmas Candy Recipes post has been so popular, I thought I’d share 16 easy 3 ingredient Christmas candy recipes you can make at home with just a few minutes’ work!
The Christmas candy recipes in this post are not necessarily cheaper to make than store bought, but I love the super fresh taste and quality of homemade Christmas candy.
It’s easy to add personal touches to your homemade Christmas candy by adding cute decorations or personalized variations, so these Christmas candy recipes make great homemade Christmas gifts! Package them in plastic in a cute basket or gift box and use your imagination when decorating!
I’ve also included some candy making tips from our Dining On A Dime Cookbook, Volume 1. Making Christmas candy might seem complicated but it really is super simple and these 3 ingredient Christmas candy recipes are a great way to start!
Christmas Candy Tips
- Be sure to only melt chocolate in 30 second increments. If you go longer without stirring, you can burn your chocolate.
- DON’T get water in your chocolate. Make sure EVERYTHING that touches the chocolate is super dry or you chocolate will turn grainy or lumpy.
- If you do get a bit of water in your chocolate, add 1-2 tablespoons shortening to the chocolate and stir until it is smooth again.
- Save your leftover chocolate. Spread it on a silpat and smooth it out. Let it harden then break into pieces and store until you need to melt it again.
Here Are The Easy 3 Ingredient Christmas Candy Recipes!
3 Ingredient Fudge Recipe
This 3 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)
Ingredients
3 cups chocolate chips*
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp. butter
Instructions
- Place parchment paper in an 8×8 inch baking pan and spray with cooking spray or grease with butter.
- Pour chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter into a microwave safe bowl.
- Melt in 30 second increments. Stir after each 30 seconds.
- When melted, pour into the greased 8×8 inch pan. Let cool in the fridge and then cut into pieces.
- Add Nuts as desired.
Notes
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 chocolate chips instead
- Candy Cane: Use white chocolate 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.
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!
3 Ingredient Andes Mint Fudge Recipe
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
- Place parchment paper in an 8×8 inch baking pan and spray with cooking spray or grease with butter.
- Pour chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk into a microwave proof bowl.
- Melt in 30 second increments. Stir after each 30 seconds.
- Stir in butter if desired for a creamier texture.
- Add mint chips or crushed chocolate mint candy and mix.
- When melted, pour into the greased 8×8 inch pan.
- Let cool in the fridge and then cut into pieces.
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
Ingredients
3 cups white chocolate chips (or peanut butter chips)
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp. peanut butter
butter (optional)
Instructions
- Place parchment paper in an 8×8 inch baking pan and spray with cooking spray or grease with butter.
- Pour white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk into a microwave safe bowl.
- Melt in 30 second increments. Stir after each 30 seconds.
- When melted, stir in butter, if desired, for a creamier texture.
- Stir in peanut butter.
- Pour into the baking pan.
- Let cool in the fridge and then cut into pieces.
Easy 3 Ingredient Mounds Candy Recipe
This 3 ingredient Mounds candy recipe makes Christmas Candy that tastes just like the classic bar—rich chocolate on the outside and sweet, chewy coconut on the inside. They come together in minutes and make the perfect quick treat for any coconut lover!
Ingredients
1 lb. milk chocolate or dark chocolate almond bark or candy melts, melted
3 cups coconut flakes
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
-
In a large bowl, mix the coconut flakes and sweetened condensed milk until well combined.
- Roll the mixture into small balls (or press into mini bar shapes, if preferred).
- Place on a parchment-lined sheet and freeze for 20 minutes to firm up.
- Dip each piece into the melted chocolate, allowing the excess to drip off, then place back on the sheet.
- Let the chocolate harden at room temperature or refrigerate until set.
Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Meltaway Candy
These 3-ingredient chocolate meltaway candies are creamy, rich, and super easy to make! Perfect for a quick treat or a homemade gift, they come together in minutes – perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth anytime!
Ingredients
12 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips or chocolate almond bark
12 oz. white almond bark
8 oz. peanut butter
Candy sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Add the chocolate chips (or chocolate almond bark), white almond bark, and peanut butter to a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each round, until completely melted and smooth. Do not overcook or it will scorch the chocolate!
- Pour the mixture into silicone candy molds.
- If desired, add sprinkles on top.
- Refrigerate until firm.
- Once set, pop the candies out of the molds and enjoy!
Easy 3 Ingredient Butterfinger Candy Recipe
This easy 3 ingredient Butterfinger candy recipe makes a fresh and delicious Christmas candy, one of my favorite Christmas candy recipes! If you love Butterfinger candy bars, this easy recipe is for you!
Ingredients
Candy corn
Peanut butter
Dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Use equal parts candy corn and peanut butter.
- Place the candy corn in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until fully melted and smooth.
- Stir the peanut butter into the melted candy corn until well combined and creamy.
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper. (I used a 7×3” pan).
- Pour the candy mixture into the pan and press it evenly into a flat layer. Freeze for 10–15 minutes, or until firm.
- Melt the dark chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth.
- Remove the candy base from the pan and cut it into bite-sized bars.
- Dip each bar in the melted chocolate, ensuring it’s fully coated.
- Place the coated bars on a baking rack over parchment paper to catch drips. Freeze for 10–15 minutes, or until the chocolate is firm.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Work quickly when coating with chocolate to prevent the base from softening.
This 3 ingredient dark chocolate toffee bars recipe makes a luscious crunchy Christmas candy that tastes like Almond Roca. With dark chocolate and almonds, how can you go wrong? Oh YUM!
Easy 3 Ingredient Dark Chocolate Toffee Bars Recipe
1 lb. dark chocolate candy melts
3/4 cup almonds or other nuts
3/4 cup toffee bits
Melt chocolate in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds. When melted add nuts and toffee bit. Spread on a cookie sheet and let harden. When hard break into pieces.
This easy 3 ingredient Oreo truffles recipe is a tasty Christmas candy with the taste of Oreos that are heavy on the cream! If you like white Christmas candy recipes, you will probably like this one!
3 Ingredient Oreo Truffles Recipe
36 Oreos (original, not doublestuf), plus 3 more, crushed, for topping if desired
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 lb. white almond bark or candy melts
Crush Oreos in a food processor or in a plastic bag smash with a rolling pin. In a bowl mix crushed oreos and cream cheese. With a teaspoon make small balls and place on lined cookie sheet. Freeze for 15 minutes. Melt almond bark in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds. Dip oreo balls in melted white chocolate and place back on lined cookie sheet. Place back in the freezer to harden for 15 -20 minutes.
This easy 3 ingredient rocky road candy recipe makes decadent Christmas candy with the perfect combination of chocolate, marshmallows and almonds! This easy Christmas candy is sure to satisfy the most die hard chocolate lover!
3 Ingredient Rocky Road Christmas Candy Recipe
1 lb. chocolate almond bark or candy melts
1 cup almonds, chopped
2 cups mini marshmallows
Melt almond bark in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds. When melted, add almonds and marshmallows and stir until well combined. Place on a link cookie sheet and spread out to desired thickness. Let harden and break into pieces.
This easy 3 ingredient cranberry bark candy recipe includes a surprising combination of cranberries and pumpkin seeds for a unique and tasty sweet and sour Christmas flavor.
3 Ingredient Cranberry Bark Christmas Candy
Ingredients
1 lb. chocolate almond bark or candy melts
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup cranberries
Instructions
- Melt almond bark in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds.
- Spread onto a lined cookie sheet about 1/8 inch thick.
- Sprinkle on top pumpkin seeds and cranberries and gently press into chocolate.
- Let harden and break into pieces.
2 Ingredient Chocolate Truffles Christmas Candy Recipe
Ingredients
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup unsweetened baking cocoa – additional for rolling
Instructions
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk into a medium mixing bowl.
- Sift the cocoa powder into the sweetened condensed milk to remove any lumps.
- Stir until the mixture is completely smooth and well blended.
- Cover and refrigerate for 1–2 hours, or until the mixture is very firm.
- When firm, place some extra cocoa powder in a small bowl for rolling.
- Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a 1-inch ball.
- Roll each ball in the cocoa powder until evenly coated.
- Place truffles on a plate and serve, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
This easy chocolate truffles 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!
Easy Chocolate Truffles Christmas Candy Recipe
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder – additional for rolling
Melt the butter and condensed milk in a pot on medium heat. Stir in the cocoa powder and continue to stir for 10-15 minutes until the mixture begins to pull away from the edge of the pot.
It’s done when you run the spoon through the center of the mixture and it takes a few seconds to combine again. Spread the mixture onto a buttered plate and refrigerate for 2 hours.
When set, roll the mixture into small balls and coat in additional cocoa powder.
Mike loves jelly candies and this jelly candy recipe has been another of his favorite Christmas candy recipes! You can experiment with different flavors of gelatin and different fruit purees to see which one your jelly candy lover likes best!
3 Ingredient Jelly Candy Recipe
(called Applesauce Candy in our Dining on A Dime Cookbook, Volume 1)
1 cup applesauce*
1 cup sugar
1 sm. pkg. fruit gelatin (3 oz.)
extra sugar for coating
Combine applesauce and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes. Dissolve the gelatin in the applesauce mixture. Pour into an 8×8 inch pan. After 24 hours, cut into 1 inch squares and roll in sugar. Roll in the sugar a second time 24 hours later. Makes 64 pieces.
*Puree fruit cocktail, peaches or pears instead of applesauce
This 3 ingredient chocolate nut clusters recipe makes the perfect combination of nuts and chocolate for a salty chocolatey Christmas candy treat!
Chocolate Nut Clusters Recipe
1 cup chocolate chips or candy melts
1 cup combination of peanuts, walnuts or almonds
1/2 cup raisins or chopped dried fruit
Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high 1 to 2 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking, until melted. Stir in the nuts or dried fruit (or a combination of both). Drop the mixture by the teaspoonful onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. Store at a cool room temperature. Makes 15 candies.
If you’re looking for something a little different than the chocolate or fruit flavored Christmas candy recipes, this easy spiced nuts recipe might be just the thing! Glazed with sugar and tasty Christmas spices, you will find them addicting! We like them best with walnuts, pecans and almonds!
Easy Spiced Nuts Recipe
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
3 cups walnuts, pecan halves, almonds (alone or mixed)
1/2 cup cinnamon and sugar or (1/2 cup sugar with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon)
1/2 teaspoon salt
In a small bowl, beat the egg white with the water. Stir in nuts, mixing until well blended. In a another small bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar and salt. Sprinkle over the moistened nuts. Spread nuts on a pan lined with foil or silicone baking mat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice. Do not burn the nuts.
This homemade caramel candy recipe makes decadent chewy homemade caramels, perfect as-is but also tasty dipped in chocolate! This recipe and the pecan turtles below are great Christmas candy recipes for the caramel lovers in your family.
3 Ingredient Homemade Caramels Recipe
2 cups white chocolate chips
14 oz. can dulce de leche
1 tsp. vanilla
coarse salt (optional)
Grease an 8×8 baking dish. In a microwave safe bowl, melt white chocolate chips and dulce de leche for 1 minute. Stir and microwave in 10 second increments until melted and smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour into greased baking dish. Sprinkle with salt if desired. Refrigerate until firm and cut into pieces.
This chocolate caramel pecan turtles recipe is another one of our more popular Christmas candy recipes, perfect for the caramel pecan lover in your family! I absolutely love them!
Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles Recipe
72 pecan halves (about 4 oz.)
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
24 caramels
Heat oven to 300 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with foil, shiny side up, and grease. For each candy, place 3 pecan halves into a “Y” shape on the foil. Place 1 caramel on the center of each “Y”. Bake just until the candy is melted. If they looked deformed after baking, reshape while the caramel is warm. Heat chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly, just until melted. Spoon mixture over candies, leaving the ends uncovered. Refrigerate until firm (about 30 minutes). Makes about 24 turtles.
These 3 ingredient Almond Joy haystacks are a super yummy variation on my husband Mike’s favorite Christmas candy, coconut haystacks! They’re super easy and quick to make and this version tastes like an Almond Joy candy bar!
3 Ingredient Almond Joy Haystacks Recipe
12 oz. chocolate chips
3-4 cups shredded coconut
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
Melt chocolate. Add coconut and almonds. Place by spoonfuls on waxed paper or silpat on a cookie sheet. Place in the fridge to harden.
Christmas Candy Recipes And More!
Some of these easy Christmas candy recipes come from volume 1 of our cookbook. If you would like to save money and time making food faster and more easily than eating out and if you’d like to keep more of your money, check it out:
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I love these so easy, right up my alley.
I can’t wait to try these with my granddaughter.. this is the holidays for me..
These candy recipes are a lot easier to make than the recipes I use to make candies with. I’ll have to try some of these.
Can the applesauce candy be made in candy molds?
Yes it can
Need your recipe for your husband’s favorite Christmas candy he called Three Musketeers. Thank you so very much!!
Can you use milk chocolate chips in place of almond bark for the 3 ingredient rocky road bars? And if so about how much? My great aunt had a 3 ingredient rocky road bars , the chocolate was Hershey candy bars, but I thought I would try it with chocolate chips this year.
Hayley the thing is sometimes the chocolate chips don’t set up as well but I would just use a handful of chocolate chips, add a few marshmallows to it and a couple of almonds and see what it does before you make a whole batch.
My Mom made it years ago and used semi-sweet chocolate chips it was perfect every time! I don’t like semi-sweet chips (I actually think they are sweeter and bitter), I use milk chocolate chips and I also add a tablespoon of butter to mine while melting and so far so good. Let me know if it works for you! Merry Christmas!
Hayley don’t use the butter. Someone just told me not to tell you that because someone told them that and it didn’t work. I’m still going to use it but I don’t want anything to happen to yours.
I think maybe that person used margarine but I don’t know for sure.
Yeah margarine would ruin it with the water content in it
I’ve never heard of that applesauce candy aka Jelly Candy…I’m so making that today. Curious to the hilt. Thanks so much, I make Christmas Baskets every year & mail to my family all across the USA. I’ll add a couple of these this year!
How much of each ingredient do you use to make the butterfinger candy
ou use equal amounts of peanut butter and candy corns. For example if you have a 1/2 cup candy corn melt 1/2 cup peanut butter with it. The chocolate chips you just need about 1/2 cup to melt. You can either spread over the top when the other is hard or you can cut into pieces and dip them in the chocolate. The recipe calls for dark chocolate but I prefer milk chocolate so it is what ever you like.
Our jelly candy didn’t set up enough although we did everything correctly. Any ideas what happened?
Not really sure Barbara – it could be your applesauce was a little juicier, altitude, humidity or something like that. Next time you could try cooking it for 30 sec. longer than the 2 mins. or add 1/4 cup of applesauce.
I put mine into the fridge covered overnight the applesauce might not be boiled down long enough and make sure jello is dissolved and applesauce is hot enough to dissolve. Hope that helps
Regarding the butterfinger recipe… you never posted the quantity of any of the ingredients
Sorry Melanie will have to go in and correct that. It is equal parts candy corn and peanut butter then dip in chocolate.