Top 16+ vintage Christmas candy recipes to make this holiday season

These old-school Christmas candies are a gift everyone on your list will love

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.

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Stained Glass Windows

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.

02 of 17

Chocolate-Covered Cherries

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 to 2 weeks for a softer interior. To prevent leakage, double-dip the bottoms.

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Old-Fashioned Molasses Taffy

"Have an old fashioned taffy pull with this delicious old time recipe. I used to make this 40 years ago when I was 9!" —Allrecipes member Teri Newman

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Saltine Cracker Toffee

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.

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Candied Lemon Peel

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.

06 of 17

Divinity

"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."

07 of 17

Chewy Caramel

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.

08 of 17

Candy Cane Fudge

"This peppermint fudge recipe is simple to make, festive, and irresistible! A platter of this fudge was brought to a cookie trade and it went very quickly!" —Allrecipes member Tina McKellar Musial

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Candy Strawberries

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.

10 of 17

Mom's Best Peanut Brittle

"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."

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Aunt Teen's Creamy Chocolate Fudge

This super creamy and chocolaty fudge comes together in just 30 minutes, 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 more easily with the other ingredients and is less likely to stick to the pan.

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5-Ingredient Peppermint Bark

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.

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Best Toffee Ever - Super Easy

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.

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World's Best Peanut Butter Fudge

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 a firmer fudge.

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Christmas Turtles Candies

These four-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.

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Torrone (Italian Nut and Nougat Confection)

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.

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More Sweet Inspiration

• 20 Easy Christmas Candies You Can Make with 5 Ingredients Or Less
• Our Top 20 Most Popular Homemade Christmas Candy Recipes
• Browse our collection of Christmas Candy Recipes.