Delicious Christmas Candy Recipes (2025)

FAQs

What is the best Christmas candy? ›

Most candies will keep 2 to 3 weeks (if not longer) if stored tightly covered in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. It's best to avoid storing different types of candy together in the same container because hard candies will become soft and sticky, and soft candies will dry out.

Every trip past the candy dish yielded a handful of cut rock candy, rainbow gems, baby ribbons, chocolate-filled straws, filled raspberries, and other treats to suck on while opening gifts. Other Christmas classics include peppermint patties and candy canes.

Candy canes are one of the oldest Christmas candies, first appearing in the 17th century in Europe. They were originally straight white sticks of sugar that were meant to symbolize shepherd's crooks.

In the study, the retailer found Peppermint Bark has made a a comeback to be the top candy. In 2022, it had dropped from the no. 1 spot in six states following a strong showing in 2021. This year, however, it regained its strength in 3 states, particularly in the Midwest.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the No. 1 selling candy brand in the United States, consisting of white fudge, milk, or dark chocolate cups filled with peanut butter.

Trumped by Halloween, Easter is known as the second best-selling candy holiday in the nation. Americans spend an average of $2 billion on Halloween candy, $1.9 billion on Easter candy, $1.4 billion on Christmas candy and $1 billion on Valentine's Day candy.

"All but a very small portion is sold, the rest may go to a food pantry like Second Harvest. But every retailer has to deal with their own leftover inventory on their own."

Candies such as Lemonheads, Red Hots, and Atomic Fireballs are each individually wrapped, which creates a barrier and protects the candy from the hot temperatures outside. And, because pan candy is on the harder side itself, it's less likely to melt when you take it out of its packaging.

Which candy has the longest shelf life? ›

Hard candy - hard candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in a cool, dry location. Jellied candies - if the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be stored away from heat and light at room temperature of about 70 degrees. Stored in this manner, the candy should last 6-9 months.

Animal Crackers Were Originally a Christmas Treat – Animal crackers were first introduced aro0und Christmastime in 1902. the string on the ox was originally intended to be used to hang the boxes on Christmas trees.

A candy cane is a cane-shaped stick candy often associated with Christmastide, as well as Saint Nicholas Day. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint, but the canes also come in a variety of other flavors and colors.

Come 13 days before Christmas, Icelandic children will place a shoe beneath their bedroom window in hopes of receiving something from one of the 13 Yuletide-lads. (Read: the Icelandic version of Santa Claus.) Well-behaved children will get little treats such as candy or chocolate stuffed into their shoes.

According to a 2020 survey, turkey's the main event for 73% of Americans, with prime rib (69%), roast beef (66%), steak (65%), chicken (64%), roast pork (64%) and ham (62%) also coming in as popular contenders.

Halloween (October 31)

Arguably the most candy-centric holiday in the U.S., Halloween sees millions of children (and adults!)