These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (2024)

FAQs

Which candy is associated with Christmas? ›

Along with candy canes, gingerbread is possibly the most iconic holiday candy that isn't regularly eaten at other times of the year. Making gingerbread families and houses is an activity that families have been doing for a long time, and it is one of the most well-known Christmas traditions.

A Christmas legend

There's some mystery surrounding the origins of candy canes because there are no exact records of their invention. One well-regarded story suggests that in 1670, a choirmaster in Cologne, Germany, gave out sugar sticks to the children as a way to soothe them during the long nativity ceremony.

Candy canes, chocolates, and gummy candies in holiday shapes and flavors became common treats. Modern Era: Today, Christmas candy comes in a vast array of forms and flavors. Traditional favorites like candy canes, gingerbread cookies, and fruitcakes still hold a special place in holiday celebrations.

Peppermint bark is also the No. 1 loved Christmas candy in eight states and in the top three in 20 states. Reindeer corn is the No. 1 candy in just one state (Alabama) and ranks in the top three in 15 states.

CandyStore.com highlighted Kit Kat as making the strongest push. "Having never made a #1 showing, this year Kit Kat has two of them," the site explained. "Massachusetts and Oklahoma both prefer Kit Kats at Christmas. Interestingly, both states had candy canes at #1 last year.

There are people who claim that it has a religious origin, saying the white represents purity of Jesus, and the red represents the blood of Jesus. That's a completely fabricated Christian folklore legend which has no basis in truth. Candy canes originated in the 1800s as a Christmas holiday treat.

In 1847, he made a candy to symbolize Christ. The cane's "J" shape stands for Jesus; when turned upside-down, it becomes a shepherd's staff. The white color signifies purity; the red represents Christ's blood, shed for the world's sins, and three red stripes symbolize the trinity.

Or course, today, there's nothing more iconic when it comes to candy than the alternating red and white stripes of the candy cane, but, according to Schildhaus, for 200 years, before mass-production was automated, they came in just one color: white.

The dire crop outlook recently pushed wholesale cocoa prices to the highest in almost 45 years, and sugar to the most in over a decade, further raising the cost of making treats before Christmas.

What is the flavor of Christmas? ›

- Peppermint is a classic holiday flavor, often found in candy canes, chocolates, and seasonal beverages like peppermint hot chocolate. - Gingerbread spices, including ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, create a distinctive flavor associated with holiday cookies and cakes.

Christmas Candy Quick Facts

72% of people eat a candy cane starting on the straight end, the rest start on the curved end. Approximately 150 million chocolate Santas are produced annually. The largest candy cane in the world was made in Switzerland. It was 51 feet long.

Snickers is listed as the most popular candy in the world. M&Ms, with annual sales of over $500 million, is the most popular candy brand in the United States. In duty-free shops, Toblerone is the best selling candy. KitKat's popularity is the highest in Japan, with over 200 distinct flavors available such as green tea.

The first candy cane most likely took shape in 17^th century Europe when people were enjoying pulled sugars, the parent to today's candy sticks. At that time, somewhere in Germany, an unknown person added a hook to the stick.

Here they are, the holiday classics! These are the top-rated main dish and side dish recipes you need for a perfect traditional Christmas dinner. They cover the savory side of Christmas dinner, from prime rib, baked ham, and roast turkey to scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.