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What are the Different Types of Christmas Candy?

Sherry Holetzky
Sherry Holetzky

One of the most delicious aspects of the holiday season is the many different types of Christmas candy made available. From cordial cherries to Christmas themed treats and candy canes, there is something for even the most discerning tastes. Whether you prefer ribbon candies, hard or gel filled candies, cream filled delights, truffles, almond bark, or specialty chocolates, you’ll find something to appeal to your sweet tooth.

Thin mints are tasty treats any time of year but they are also a popular Christmas candy. They are used to fill candy dishes when holiday guests are expected. Guests are also treated to melt-in-your-mouth dinner mints, cordial cherries, truffles, and other fine chocolates, which all make great gifts too. You can often find Christmas candy in decorative boxes ready for gift giving.

Chocolate.
Chocolate.

Children will enjoy the many flavors of Christmas candy that are offered in holiday shapes. These include marshmallow snowmen, chocolate Santa bars, and tasty treats wrapped in bright, festive foils for the holidays. Other fun shapes could include as chocolate crisps shaped like teddy bears, caramel or peanut butter filled Christmas trees, and gold foil wrapped chocolate coins. Pick up some “coal” candy and sneak it into a stocking as a joke.

Chocolates covered in coconut flakes.
Chocolates covered in coconut flakes.

Candy canes are a traditional Christmas candy, now available in many different flavors besides peppermint. While spearmint isn’t new, cherry, strawberry, blueberry, bubble gum, cotton candy, sour apple, and chocolate mint are some of the exciting flavors now available. Candy canes also come in trademark character packaging, often with their own distinct flavors. Don’t forget oversized canes and lollipops too.

A gift basket with Christmas candy.
A gift basket with Christmas candy.

Look for plastic ornaments and candy cane shaped tubes filled with individually wrapped treats or loose candies such as M&M’s and Skittles. You can find banks filled with candy that can be used to save change once all the treats have been eaten. Look for Christmas candy puzzles, bracelets, and necklaces too. They make great stocking stuffers and grab bag gifts.

Pretzels can be dipped in white or milk chocolate for Christmas candy.
Pretzels can be dipped in white or milk chocolate for Christmas candy.

If you’re planning to create gift baskets, decorate gifts, or make special wreaths with Christmas candy, you can also purchase bulk candy in order to save money. You can find bulk candy stores in malls and online. Bulk candies are available wrapped or unwrapped. Some of these include white or milk chocolate dipped pretzels, sour balls, salt water taffy, or party mixes with chocolate covered nuts and raisins.

Discussion Comments

amypollick

When I think about Christmas candy, I always think about the shiny little striped "pillows" that come in the cans. My grandmother used to keep it at Christmas, along with those white nougat things with the green Christmas tree shapes in the middle. Both of those always remind me of Christmas when I was a child.

amypollick

@pleats: Look for the Southern Living microwave peanut brittle recipe. It's a great one, and very easy. The easiest fudge recipe is the one with Eagle Brand Milk. That's available online, too. There's also a "wonder fudge" or something along those lines that my cousin makes. It uses peanut butter and butterscotch chips, too, along with chocolate.

Rum balls aren't difficult, and neither are haystacks. All of these recipes are available online. Good luck!

amypollick

@anon130958: Look for sweets labeled "cream filled chocolate drops" or something like that. I've seen them every year. You should be able to track them down by looking for that term.

anon130958

I am in a panic here. I have been searching for a particular chocolate candy that we used to get around Christmas. I've heard them called "Ant Hills", and "Mounds". They are chocolate covered with a white and sometime pink sweet inside. They were the best. I'm afraid they are no longer made. That would be a real shame.

pleats

Do you guys have any really good Christmas candy recipes? I've just moved into a new house, and I want to throw a Christmas party, so of course I want to offer a lot of Christmas candy.

I'm feeling particularly home-maker-y, so can anybody give me a brief run-down on the basics of Christmas candy making, and some good recipes to start off with?

It doesn't have to be super fancy; I'm not talking about personalized Christmas candy or anything, but maybe just a fudge recipe or some good tips on making peanut brittle.

Can anybody help me out?

EarlyForest

I love Christmas candy (honestly, who doesn't?), but I've never quite gotten the whole idea of putting Christmas candy on a tree.

That just seems like so much work, especially since people are just going to take it off to eat it.

I mean, what's wrong with a bowl? When I overindulge my sweet tooth, I don't want to have to pick my sugar off a tree -- I want it accessible!

Of course I'm partially kidding, but really -- why go through all that work for something that's going to be ripped into the second people come to your house?

LittleMan

I absolutely should not have read this article -- now I am going to be obsessing about Christmas candy ornaments and decorations until they finally come out in the stores!

I really do love Christmas candy for gifts though. I think it's really great for stocking stuffers, because unless somebody in your family is anti-candy, then everybody likes it and it's also not terribly expensive.

My personal favorite among the Christmas candy frenzy are those Christmas candy wreaths that some people put up in their houses -- talk about taking care of your guests!

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    • Chocolate.
      Chocolate.
    • Chocolates covered in coconut flakes.
      Chocolates covered in coconut flakes.
    • A gift basket with Christmas candy.
      By: archana bhartia
      A gift basket with Christmas candy.
    • Pretzels can be dipped in white or milk chocolate for Christmas candy.
      By: michelaubryphoto
      Pretzels can be dipped in white or milk chocolate for Christmas candy.
    • Peppermint candies are commonly served during Christmas.
      By: VIPDesign
      Peppermint candies are commonly served during Christmas.