Holiday Candy Ideas

The holiday season is upon us once again. It’s a time to gather with friends and family, exchange gifts, and celebrate both the year that’s passed and the one to come. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or all of the above, candy is an important part of the festivities.

Show the kids you care with personalized treats and wow adults with beautiful displays. Our bulk candy options mean you can impress everyone on your list without breaking your holiday budget. From candy gifts to candy crafts, we have the scoop on all the candy you need to have a happy holiday.

Your ultimate holiday candy guide gives you an overview of the great candy options for Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa and New Years Eve.

Christmas

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without candy. From Christmas exclusives like Crayola Giant Candy Canes and Santa Beard Pops to holiday redesigns of your favorites like the Hershey’s Holiday Stocking Stuffer pack, the trick isn’t finding great Christmas candy, it’s choosing your favorite from among all the options.

Candy canes are a must have item, whether you’re eating them, gifting them or crafting with them. Go for Spangler 3” bulk candy canes and classic six inch red and white candy canes for the traditional Christmas look and te, or surprise the kids with Sour Patch Kids Candy Canes and Crayola Color Your Mouth candy canes. For some of our favorite candy cane crafts revisit our blog post on the subject.

If you’re planning a Christmas party and want favors for your guests, try Primrose Holiday Striped Taffy, Holiday Buttery Toffee in red, green and gold wrappers, Holiday Starlights and Fancy Filled Ovals . They’re so lovely, you won’t need the gift wrap.

Hanukkah

Candy makes great Hanukkah gifts. Stick to tradition and make the kids smile at the same time with Fort Knox Chocolate Coins in blue foil or Palmer Gold Half Dollars.

If you’re keeping kosher, our Ultimate Guide to Kosher Candy will help you stay within the rules and standards of Jewish Dietary Law while still enjoying the sweet treats of the holiday. Did you know that Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, Hershey’s Kisses, and M&M’s are all kosher certified? Check the guide for more kosher favorites.

For a truly stunning display, assemble a Candy Menorah using clear glass or plastic containers and colorful candies. We recommend Navy Blue Sixlets and silver candy beads. They come in 2 lbs bags so you’ll have plenty of candy to build your Menorah and eat some too.

Ramadan

Sharing sweets and candy with friends, family and neighbors is the perfect way to celebrate yhe feast of Ramadan. After all, the Prophet himself said “The love of sweets springs from faith.”

Almonds and other nuts are a traditional part of the Ramadan feast, which is what makes candy almonds the perfect treat for the occasion. With 5 lb bulk candy bags, you’ll have enough for all of your guests. They come in a range of colors to match your theme.

Set them in a decorative dish on the table or present them to guests in organza bags. They also make a perfect garnish for brownies or other baked goods.

Talking about garnish candy crumble is the perfect topping for cupcakes. Create a beautiful display with lavender, lime, pink or powder blue candy. Or try sweet and tangy candy beads in traditional red and pearl white

For the perfect ending to your Eid al-Fitr feast made your own party crackers out of cardboard tubes and crepe paper. This guide from MarthaStewart.com will show you how. Let the kids help you decorate them and then fill them with their favorite treats and candy. We recommend foil bubble gum coins, Hershey Gold Kisses with Almonds , and red foil chocolate balls.

Kwanzaa

Employ some Kuumba (creativity) in creating beautiful candy crafts that make thoughtful gifts for children and adults alike this Kwanzaa.

Custom candy bar wrappers are the perfect way to recognize a child’s accomplishment. Decorate them in traditional black, red, and green or print the child’s name on the label. Techwalla has directions for how to download and design your own candy bar wrappers in Microsoft Word. With Hershey Candy Bars available in bulk candy, you’ll have plenty of candy bars for every child (and adult) on your list.

Create festive mason jar treats by filling mason jars with layers of black , red and green sixlets. Customize each jar with a small square of fabric screwed under the lid.

After you share a Kwanzaa meal, finish with a sweet treat. Individually wrapped buttermints in black, red and green are the perfect end to the holiday meal.

New Years Eve

Ring in the new year with the perfect celebratory treats whether you’re throwing a big bash or having a quiet evening at home.

Celebrate the new year right with a beautiful Candy Buffet. Pick some clear plastic containers and fill them with gold and silver candies. We suggest individually wrapped treats like Hershey kisses , gold foil chocolate balls, and Fort Knox Chocolate Gold Coins. Shimmer Silver Gumballs, sixlets and candy beads create an effect that’s as classy as it is tasty. For tips and tricks, visit our guide to the Perfect DIY Candy Buffet.

Everyone loves a good pun. Help your guests ring in the new year with candy rings or ring pops.

Adults traditionally toast the new year with champagne. Let kids join in the fun with Jelly Belly Champagne Bubbles candy. They’re alcohol free and they taste great. Or get really creative with Mocktails for kids. Put a stick of rock candy or a handful of gummy bears in a plastic champagne flute and pour sparkling cider over the top.

Any Holiday

Candy crafts are a hit for any holiday. With some creative thinking and some slight color adjustments, many of these crafts can be repurposed to work for every holiday on the list.