Let’s be honest. The best part of the holidays isn’t the presents or the carols—it’s the sugar rush. But what if you could take that mountain of festive candy and turn it into something even more magical? Forget just eating it; we’re talking about transforming peppermints, gumdrops, and candy canes into stunning decorations, adorable gifts, and edible works of art. I’ve scoured the internet (and maybe raided my own candy stash) to bring you the ultimate list of Christmas candy crafts that are almost too cute to eat. Almost.
1. Peppermint Wreath Ornaments
This classic craft is a perfect starting point. All you need are some peppermint candies, a hot glue gun, and a ribbon. Glue the candies into a circle, layer them for a 3D effect, and tie a festive bow at the top. The result is a beautifully fragile, sweet-smelling ornament that looks stunning on the tree. Just try to keep it away from direct sunlight, or you might end up with a very sticky situation.
2. Gingerbread House Candy Landscapes
Move over, basic gingerbread houses. This year, use candy to create entire winter wonderlands on your roof and yard. Use green gumdrops for tiny Christmas trees, lay out a path of licorice allsorts, and create a snowy river with white chocolate. This is where your creativity can truly run wild. Who needs architectural precision when you have a bag of Skittles?
3. Candy Cane Reindeer
This is a quintessential Christmas candy craft that never gets old. Simply turn a candy cane upside down, glue on some googly eyes, a red pom-pom for the nose, and use pipe cleaners for antlers. You instantly have a whole herd of Rudolphs ready to hang on the tree or adorn your gift packages. They’re the perfect, no-bake activity for little hands.
4. Lifesaver Christmas Lights
String up some edible holiday cheer! Thread different colored Lifesavers onto a piece of string or licorice lace. Use a mini marshmallow or a dab of frosting to “attach” them to the string and add a green Mike & Ike or gumdrop as the base of the light. Drape this colorful candy garland across your mantel or on your tree for a playful, retro vibe.
5. M&M Christmas Tree Cones
Grab a sugar ice cream cone, turn it upside down, and cover it with green frosting. Now for the fun part: decorate your edible tree with M&Ms as ornaments! You can use a single color scheme or go for a rainbow effect. A yellow Starburst cut into a star makes for the perfect tree topper. It’s a craft and a snack, all in one.
6. Marshmallow Snowman Pops
Stack three marshmallows on a lollipop stick, use a little frosting as glue, and decorate your snowman. Black icing makes the eyes and mouth, an orange candy corn sliver is the perfect nose, and a fruit roll-up scarf finishes him off. These are adorable party favors or a fun project for a snowy afternoon.
7. Gumdrop Topiaries
Add a touch of elegant, old-world charm to your decor. Take a Styrofoam cone and completely cover it with gumdrops using toothpicks. You can create color patterns or go for a monochromatic look. Place it on a small pot for a stunning centerpiece that looks incredibly sophisticated but is secretly just a bunch of candy on a stick.
8. Chocolate Bar Santa Sleighs
Why leave chocolate bars under the tree when they can *be* the tree? Use a full-size chocolate bar as the base of the sleigh. Glue on candy canes as the runners and fill the “sleigh” with all sorts of small, colorful candies like Hershey’s Kisses and jelly beans. It’s a gift within a gift!
9. Rock Candy Crystal Ornaments
Rock candy on a string already looks like a magical, frozen crystal. Tie a few pieces together with a beautiful ribbon and hang them in a window. When the light shines through, they create a dazzling, jewel-toned effect. It’s one of the easiest and most beautiful candy Christmas decorations you can make.
10. Cereal & Candy Wreaths
Remember those classic Cheerios wreaths? Let’s give them a holiday upgrade. Use green-tinted frosting or marshmallow glue to attach a mix of green cereal (like Green Apple Cheerios) and small green candies to a cardboard or bagel wreath form. Add red hot candies as berries for a pop of color.
11. Lollipop Flower Bouquet
Brighten up any room with a candy bouquet that never wilts. Wrap colorful tissue paper around lollipop sticks to create “flowers” and arrange them in a vase filled with more candy. This makes a fantastic and unexpected hostess gift. It’s a burst of color and sugar that’s guaranteed to bring a smile.
12. Candy Cane Heart Ornaments
Take two candy canes and turn them into a sweet symbol of love. Hot glue the two curved ends together at the top to form a heart shape. Tie a ribbon at the joint, and you have a simple, beautiful, and fragrant ornament. It’s a lovely way to add a little non-traditional shape to your Christmas tree.
13. Jelly Bean Filled Ornaments
Take a clear, fillable plastic ornament from any craft store and pour in a rainbow of jelly beans. It’s that simple. You can theme the colors—red and green, winter whites and blues, or a full-spectrum rainbow. These ornaments are vibrant, modern, and a huge hit with kids.
14. Stained Glass Gingerbread Cookies
Elevate your cookie game. Cut a shape out of your gingerbread dough, then cut a smaller shape out of the center. Crush hard candies like Jolly Ranchers by color, fill the center hole, and bake. The candy will melt into a beautiful, translucent “stained glass” window. They taste as incredible as they look.
15. Hershey’s Kiss Mice
These are almost illegally cute. Turn a Hershey’s Kiss on its side, add two sliced almond ears, a red hot nose, and a string licorice tail. Use a tiny dot of frosting to attach two mini chocolate chips for eyes. Suddenly, you have an army of adorable chocolate mice perfect for scattering across your holiday dessert table.
16. Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Spoons
This is a practical and delicious craft. Melt some chocolate, dip a spoon in it, and then roll the chocolatey part in crushed candy canes. Let it harden. When you gift it, the recipient just has to stir it into a mug of hot milk for an instant peppermint hot chocolate. You’re basically gifting coziness in a spoon.
17. Gummy Bear Snowflake
Create a colorful, edible snowflake using gummy bears and toothpicks. Connect the gummy bears at the centers to form the arms of the snowflake. Use different colors for a vibrant pattern or stick to white and light blue for a frosty feel. Hang it on the tree or use it as a cake topper.
18. Peppermint Bark in a Jar
Layer the ingredients for peppermint bark in a mason jar for a beautiful, ready-to-make gift. Start with white chocolate chips, then crushed peppermints, then dark chocolate chips, and more peppermints. Attach a tag with simple instructions: “Melt, spread, cool, and break!” It’s a thoughtful, homemade gift that looks store-bought.
19. Licorice Picture Frames
Grab a plain wooden or cardboard picture frame and use colorful licorice laces or belts to decorate it. You can wrap them around, create stripes, or even make a chevron pattern. Glue a festive holiday photo inside, and you have a sweet, personalized gift for a grandparent.
20. Smarties Stacked Snowman
This is a great craft for fine motor skills. Stack rolls of Smarties using royal icing to build a snowman. Use black icing for the details and a fruit roll-up for a scarf. It’s a fun, tubular alternative to the marshmallow version and just as charming.
21. Christmas Train with Candy Cars
Choo-choo-choose your candy! Use small cardboard boxes or empty tissue rolls as the base for each train car. Cover them in construction paper and then let the kids go wild decorating them with all sorts of candies. A milk carton makes a perfect engine. This becomes a fantastic, interactive centerpiece.
22. Starburst Star Ornaments
Unwrap Starbursts and gently warm them in your hands to make them pliable. Then, mold and press five pieces together to form a five-pointed star. Use a toothpick to create texture and a hole for a string. These colorful, fruity-smelling stars are a bright and cheerful addition to any tree.
23. Candy Button Card
Create the sweetest holiday card ever. Glue strips of candy buttons onto a cardstock Christmas tree shape or use them to write a message like “JOY.” It’s a fun, textural, and edible greeting that stands out from the usual store-bought cards.
24. Chocolate-Dipped Pretzel Rods
This is a classic for a reason. Dip pretzel rods into melted chocolate—white, dark, or milk—and then immediately roll them in festive sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or mini M&Ms. They’re salty, sweet, crunchy, and utterly addictive. Package a bunch together with a ribbon for a simple, always-appreciated gift.
25. Gumball Machine Centerpiece
Find a clear vase or apothecary jar and fill it with red and white gumballs. It instantly becomes a festive, polka-dotted centerpiece. After the holidays, you can let the kids have a gumball or two. It’s a decoration that literally keeps on giving.
26. Swedish Fish in a “Fishbowl”
For a quirky and fun decoration, fill a clear glass bowl or ornament with blue rock candy “water” and red Swedish Fish. It’s a playful, unexpected nod to the classic fishbowl that will definitely get people talking. Who says Christmas can’t have a little nautical flair?
27. Necco Wafer Roof Tiles
If you’re building a gingerbread house, skip the tedious frosting and use Necco Wafers as roof shingles! Their perfect round shape and pastel colors create a beautiful, whimsical roof. Plus, it saves you a ton of time you can spend on other details, like a licorice fence.
28. Candy Bracelets for the Tree
Those elastic candy bracelets aren’t just for wrists. String a few together and drape them on your Christmas tree for a pop of bright, beaded color. They’re especially great for a kid’s themed tree or a playful, retro holiday look.
29. A Giant Candy Cane “29”
We started with a classic and we’re ending with a bang. To commemorate our list of 29 Christmas candy crafts, why not make the number “29” out of giant, red and white swirl lollipops or by carefully gluing regular candy canes together? It’s a meta-craft that makes for a fantastic photo op and a sweet reminder of all the fun you can have with holiday candy.
So there you have it—29 ways to turn your kitchen into a holiday craft studio where the main currency is sugar. From elegant gumdrop topiaries to delightfully silly chocolate mice, these projects prove that candy is the most versatile decoration in your pantry. The best part? If your ornament breaks, you can just eat the evidence. Now, go raid that candy aisle and get crafting! Your sweetest holiday season yet awaits.