15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (2024)

Making old-fashioned Christmas candy is a time-honored holiday tradition, and let's be honest — homemade fudge, caramels, brittle, and bark are gifts from the kitchen anyone would be happy to receive. Whether you give them as presents to friends or enjoy them with your loved ones, these vintage Christmas candies will add some extra happiness and old-school fun to your holidays.

01of 16

Stained Glass Candy II

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (1)

Multicolored miniature marshmallows give the otherwise ordinary mixture of chocolate, coconut, and walnuts a dose of pizzazz. This classic candy recipe only requires five ingredients and 30 minutes of your time, and it's simple enough for the kids to get involved.

02of 16

Chocolate Covered Cherries

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (2)

Instead of purchasing a box of chocolate covered cherries this December, make your own — the process is easy, and the candy is so delicious you'll never want store-bought again. You can enjoy them as-is, right after you're finished making them, or let them "ripen" for 1-2 weeks for a softer interior. To prevent leakage, double dip the bottoms.

03of 16

Saltine Toffee Cookies

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (3)

Saltine toffee cookies are one of those treats that everyone loves, which makes them a great gift. This recipe is super simple and quick, but these crunchy treats taste so delicious people will think you got them at a candy shop.

04of 16

Candied Lemon Peel

View Recipe

Candied lemon peel is delicious on its own, but it also makes a nice garnish for frosted cookies and cakes, or a flavorful mix-in for quick breads. This simple technique works with other citrus peels, so if you want to switch things up, try it with orange and grapefruit as well.

05of 16

Divinity

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (5)

"I tried your recipe last night and it turned out great! I had no problem with it setting up and getting the right firmness," says community member MROSSON. "It tastes great also. It was the first time that I had ever attempted to make divinity I had always heard that it was very difficult but your recipe worked great for me."

06of 16

Chewy Caramel

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (6)

This simple recipe yields buttery and rich caramel that's delicious as-is or incorporated into other candies or baked goods. For a firmer candy, chill before wrapping and refrigerate overnight.

07of 16

Candy Strawberries

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (7)

In addition to being adorable, these easy candy strawberries are super sweet and have a lovely texture thanks to the inclusion of ground nuts. Feel free to use this technique with other flavors of gelatin and roll the candy into whatever shape you want.

08of 16

Mom's Best Peanut Brittle

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (8)

"I'd give this ten stars if I could! I made many batches of this and gave out for Christmas gifts and received RAVE reviews," says community member PAULABASKET. "You definitely have to have the ingredients ready to go while you are making this, but don't let that scare you off. Once you have done one or two batches, you definitely get a "feel" for the process."

09of 16

Aunt Teen's Creamy Chocolate Fudge

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (9)

This super creamy and chocolatey fudge comes together in just half an hour, and the process is so simple you'll never need another fudge recipe. Microwave the marshmallow creme for about 15 seconds before adding it to the pan. This way, it will mix in with the other ingredients much more easily and is less likely to stick to the pan.

10of 16

5-Ingredient Peppermint Bark

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (10)

This homemade peppermint bark is just as fun to make and give as it is to receive. You can also play around with this recipe and use candy canes or different types of chocolate.

11of 16

Best Toffee Ever - Super Easy

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (11)

Just like its name promises, this knockout toffee is easy and delicious. The toffee's thickness will depend on what size baking sheet you use — for thinner toffee, use a larger sheet, but if you prefer your toffee thicker, size down.

12of 16

World's Best Peanut Butter Fudge

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (12)

In the words of recipe creator Debby, this peanut butter fudge is too good to only make at Christmas. It tastes like peanut butter cookie dough or the inside of a peanut butter cup, but smoother. Let it refrigerate before cutting for firmer fudge.

13of 16

Christmas Turtles® Candies

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (13)

These 4-ingredient candies are so easy to assemble! Reviewers suggest melting the caramels with a tablespoon of milk or water to make them softer and easier to chew when they set up.

14of 16

Torrone (Italian Nut and Nougat Confection)

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (14)

This traditional Italian candy looks impressive, but it's actually quite simple to make. Be sure to factor in plenty of time for standing at the stove stirring.

15of 16

Luscious Chocolate Truffles

View Recipe

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (15)

These simple truffles only require three ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry: chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract. "The only problem with this recipe was the fact that i could not stop eating them," says community member *Lisa*. "They were so addicting!"

16of 16

More Sweet Inspiration

15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (16)

  • 20 Easy Christmas Candies You Can Make With 5 Ingredients Or Less
  • Our Top 20 Most Popular Homemade Christmas Candy Recipes
  • Browse More Christmas Candy Recipes
15 Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes to Make This Holiday Season (2024)

FAQs

What is the oldest Christmas candy? ›

One of the oldest traditional candies eaten for special occasions like Christmas is marzipan. This almond-based confection dates back centuries, with origins in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Each region has its own uses for the sweet.

What is the most famous Christmas candy? ›

To absolutely no one's surprise, candy canes - red and white, or red, green, and white, striped candy traditionally flavored with peppermint - are one of the signature Christmas candies, with most countries firmly associating them with the holidays. Candy canes are supposedly a German invention.

What is the traditional Christmas candy? ›

From peanut brittle to chocolate Santas, the holiday season is a time for sweets and celebration. Hundreds of millions of candy canes, chocolate Santas, and tins of peanut brittle are made each year, and millions of candy gifts are given each year.

How long is homemade Christmas candy good for? ›

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.

What is the least popular Christmas candy? ›

These Are the Most Hated Christmas Candies in America, and the List Will Make You Furious
  1. Reindeer Corn. Walmart/Allrecipes.
  2. Christmas Nougat. Walmart/Allrecipes. ...
  3. Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cordials. Walmart/Allrecipes. ...
  4. Candy Canes (Non-Peppermint) ...
  5. Peeps. ...
  6. Ribbon Candy. ...
  7. Old-Fashioned Hard Candies. ...
  8. Lifesavers Storybooks. ...
Dec 11, 2023

What candy was invented in 1977? ›

Though Reese's Pieces came out in 1977, they weren't wildly popular until 1982, when “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” hit movie theaters. The titular character in that film is crazy about Reese's Pieces and helped the then-struggling candy to become the hit it is today.

What is America's most loved candy? ›

Snickers, the most adored chocolate candy in the U.S., has won over the hearts of over 48 million Americans in 2020 alone. This isn't just any chocolate treat; it's a masterpiece created in 1930, named affectionately after a horse.

What is the number 1 bought candy? ›

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.

What is the most patriotic candy? ›

Top 5 American-made, Patriotic Treats
  • What's American-made, Patriotic and Better Than a Fireworks Show? ...
  • Stars & Stripes Nuts & Chews. ...
  • Sour Stars. ...
  • Stars & Stripes Assorted Lollypops. ...
  • Stars & Stripes Peanut Brittle. ...
  • Marshmallow Treats. ...
  • See's Candies – American-made Patriotic Treats Since 1921.

What is the traditional Mexican candy for Christmas? ›

What are the best holiday candies in Mexico?
  • Sweet and Spicy Fruit. During holiday celebrations in Mexico, you'll often find street vendors selling all kinds of holiday treats. ...
  • Turrón and Nougat. Sweet, creamy fillings are a classic in Mexican holiday candy. ...
  • Tamarindo Candy. ...
  • Mazapan. ...
  • Chamoy Candy. ...
  • Chocolate.
Dec 13, 2023

What is the Christmas symbol candy? ›

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.

What is Christmas candy corn called? ›

The Christmas variant, sometimes called "reindeer corn", typically has a red end and a green center.

What makes candy go bad? ›

There are several factors that can instigate candy spoilage, including moisture, light, heat, and a candy's fat content, according to food scientists from Kansas State University. Overall, general recommendations suggest the pantry is the best place to store sweets, away from light and moisture.

Should I put chocolate in the fridge or freezer? ›

So instead of the fridge: Store it in a cool, dry place. When chocolate is kept at a consistent temperature below 70°F (ideally between 65 and 68°F), and at a humidity of less than 55%, the emulsion of cocoa solids and cocoa butter will stay stable for months.

Can you eat candy 2 years out of date? ›

So even if your candy is a few months (or even years) past its expiration date, it's still usually safe to eat.

What is the oldest candy to exist? ›

The idea of candy began by the caveman who ate honey. The first candy was used by the Ancient Egyptians for cult purposes. In ancient times, Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese made candies with fruits and nuts that caramelized with honey. The two oldest candy types are licorice and ginger.

What is the oldest Christmas classic? ›

Among the earliest secular Christmas songs was "The Twelve Days of Christmas", which first appeared in 1780 in England (its melody would not come until 1909); the English West Country carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" has antecedents dating to the 1830s but was not published in its modern form until Arthur Warrell ...

What is the oldest Christmas song in the world? ›

Reportedly, one of the first known Christmas hymns is "Jesus Refulsit Omnium" ("Jesus, Light of All the Nations"), written by St. Hilary of Poitier in the fourth century.

What is the oldest Christmas tradition? ›

One of the oldest and most enduring Christmas traditions is the Yule log. It finds its origin in the Germanic and Scandinavian celebration of Yule, a winter solstice festival that dates back to ancient times.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jeremiah Abshire

Last Updated:

Views: 6513

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jeremiah Abshire

Birthday: 1993-09-14

Address: Apt. 425 92748 Jannie Centers, Port Nikitaville, VT 82110

Phone: +8096210939894

Job: Lead Healthcare Manager

Hobby: Watching movies, Watching movies, Knapping, LARPing, Coffee roasting, Lacemaking, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.