Is it even Christmas if there aren’t sweets around the house? These tried-and-true homemade candy recipes bring comfort, joy, and just the right amount of indulgence to the holiday season.
The countdown to Christmas is always so hectic, isn’t it? No matter how much I plan, there are always last-minute details like shopping, wrapping, and cooking that keep me on my running. When I need a break from the chaos, I try to set aside an afternoon for candy making.
I love having a tray or tin of homemade Christmas candies. They bring back memories of holidays past, make wonderful gifts for friends and neighbors, and are often even easier to whip up than you might think.
I’ve gathered together some of my favorite candy recipes to inspire your own traditions this season. This collection includes things like creamy fudge, nutty pecan pralines, and even a bacon topped toffee!
Cranberry Pistachio White Chocolate Bark
This quick and easy to make elegant Cranberry Pistachio White Chocolate Bark features tart, chewy cranberries with buttery pistachios in decadent white chocolate for the ultimate no-hassle holiday treat.
Easy Vintage Haystacks Candy
Four ingredients and just 10 minutes are all you’ll need to make this Easy Vintage Haystacks Candy recipe. Crunchy chow mein noodles, butterscotch, and peanut butter collide in this no-bake treat for the holiday season or any time of year. It’s an easy to make vintage candy recipe that’s a perfect combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy!
Saltine Cracker Toffee
This Saltine Cracker Toffee, also known as “Redneck Toffee” or “Poor Man’s Toffee,” is a quick and easy pecan toffee made with semi-sweet chocolate morsels and (believe or not!) saltine crackers.
Homemade Marshmallows
You’ll make perfectly tender, vanilla-scented Homemade Marshmallows with this easy recipe. Perfect for cocoa and beyond!
Easy 5-Minute Microwave Fudge
This unbelievably easy, 5-Minute Microwave Fudge will melt in your mouth! Rich, creamy, chocolatey fudge squares without the hassle of making temperamental, old-fashioned stovetop fudge. Your guests will never guess that your fudge was made in the microwave!
Homemade Southern Pecan Pralines
Enjoy a taste of the South with these Homemade Southern Pecan Pralines. They’re perfect little treats loaded with creamy, caramelized sugar and just the right amount of toasty pecan crunch.
Easy 3-Ingredient Salted Butterscotch Fudge
This 5-minute Salted Butterscotch Fudge recipe is loaded with warm notes of brown butter and molasses from the butterscotch chips. The chips are combined with a silky smooth whipped cream cheese icing and topped with salt flakes for a decadent fudge like no other!
Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Add a nice extra touch to your Thanksgiving dinner with this Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Brittle. This recipe takes classic peanut brittle and swaps out the peanuts for pumpkin seeds and adds a touch of cinnamon. The perfect garnish for your pumpkin pie or simply served on its own.
Bacon and Pecan Topped Toffee
Attention all bacon lovers! My Bacon and Pecan Topped Toffee is made with layers of rich, buttery toffee, semi-sweet chocolate, toasted pecans, and crumbled bacon for the perfect sweet and salty treat.
Homemade Mounds Bars Candy
This Homemade Mounds Bars Candy is an old-fashioned recipe similar to the famous Mounds Bar. Add this one to your holiday cooking list.
Classic Homemade Peanut Brittle
Classic Homemade Peanut Brittle with salty, roasted peanuts suspended in a sweet sugary brittle. Always a part of our Christmas holidays.
Christmas can feel so rushed and harried, but taking time to make a batch of homemade candy just has a way of slowing things down and quieting my soul. A quiet afternoon in the kitchen that results in a plate of sweets to share with others is sometimes all it takes to bring back the real spirit of the season. I hope you’ll find one or two recipes here that you and your family will love.
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I’m Lana Stuart, an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, and lifelong cook raised deep in Southwest Georgia. I started Lana’s Cooking in 2009 to share the tried-and-true recipes I grew up with. Around here, the food is full of flavor, the traditions run deep, and there’s always room at the table.
I could have any of these all year round. In fact I am craving those homemade marshmallow right now.
I have a serious sweet tooth…these all look great!
These candies all look so good! I can’t decide which I like best! :)
Amazing treats Lana! I haven’t been brave enough to try to make my own marshmallows but seeing this, I am going to give it a whirl this weekend.
I LOVE homemade candy. Christmas is the perfect time to make piles of it…yum!
What a sweet round up of holiday treats! I don’t know which is my favorite so I’ll have to try each one ;)
Christmas is such a great time for candy making – love all your choices!
I want to make all of these Lana!