Christmas Candy Crafts: 12 Sweet Gifts and Decorations Anyone Can Make in an Evening

Christmas candy crafts are the easiest way to make a whole stack of gifts and decorations in one cozy evening, using nothing more than a bag of peppermints, a box of candy canes and a glue gun. Remember the candy trees and candy cane reindeer that sat on Grandma’s side table every December? They are back, and they are everywhere online this month. One crafter on MSN filled a round container lid with mints, and seconds later it looked like a Christmas tree. These ideas cost a few dollars each, they look adorable on a teacher’s desk or a neighbor’s doorstep, and nobody needs any special skills. Put on a holiday movie, pour a cup of cocoa and pick your favorites below. Just keep the glued pieces as decorations, and keep a separate bowl of candy for snacking..

Peppermint Candy Tree, the Christmas Candy Crafts Classic

This is the one that started the whole trend. A small foam cone covered in rows of round peppermints turns into a striped little tree that looks like it came from a fancy candy shop. Start at the bottom and work your way up so every row sits snug on the one below it. A gold paper star on a toothpick finishes it off. Make one for your own table and two more for the neighbors, because everyone who sees it will ask where you bought it. Which room would you put yours in..

You will need: A 9 inch foam cone, one large bag of round peppermints (about 120), a low temp glue gun, a gold card star, a toothpick, a small round plate or cardboard base.

How to make it: 1. Glue the cone onto the base so it stands steady. 2. Glue a ring of peppermints around the bottom edge, then add rows upward, keeping them tight. 3. Glue a toothpick into the top and attach the gold star. Adult help with the glue gun.

Candy Cane Reindeer Christmas Candy Crafts

Candy cane reindeer are the classic classroom gift, and they still make grown ups smile. The hook of the cane becomes the head, a brown pipe cleaner twists into antlers, and a tiny red pom pom becomes a bright red nose. You can make twenty of them in less than an hour while you watch a movie. Tie one onto a gift bag, a mug or a cookie tin and your wrapping suddenly looks thoughtful. Who on your list would love a little reindeer on their present?

You will need: Wrapped candy canes, brown pipe cleaners, small googly eyes, mini red pom poms, craft glue or a low temp glue gun.

How to make it: 1. Wrap a pipe cleaner around the hook of each cane and twist both ends up into antlers. 2. Glue two eyes just below the antlers. 3. Glue a red pom pom on the end of the hook for the nose.

Candy Bar Sleigh Full of Chocolate

A candy bar sleigh is the gift that makes coworkers gasp. Two candy canes become the runners, a full size chocolate bar sits on top as the sleigh bed, and smaller foil wrapped chocolates stack up like presents. A ribbon around the whole pile holds it together and a sprig of holly adds a pretty finish. It costs about four dollars, and it beats any gift card. Make a row of them for your team, your bus driver or your mail carrier. How many do you need this year?

You will need: 2 candy canes per sleigh, 1 large chocolate bar, 4 to 6 small foil wrapped chocolate bars, red satin ribbon, a holly sprig, double sided tape or a low temp glue gun.

How to make it: 1. Tape the two candy canes side by side under the large bar, hooks facing the front. 2. Stack the smaller bars on top like a pyramid, taping each layer. 3. Tie the ribbon around everything and tuck in the holly.

Giant Peppermint Christmas Candy Crafts From Paper Plates

Giant peppermint candies are the porch decoration everyone is copying this year, and they are made from paper plates. Paint red swirls on two plates, glue them face to face, then wrap the whole thing in clear cellophane and twist the ends with red ribbon so it looks like a huge wrapped candy. Tuck them into a wreath, line the walkway or hang them from a tree branch. Each one costs less than a dollar and looks like a store display. How many would you line up on your steps?

You will need: Sturdy white paper plates, red acrylic paint, a pencil, a flat brush, a glue stick or hot glue, clear cellophane, red ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Draw a swirl pinwheel on the back of each plate and paint every other section red; let dry. 2. Glue two plates together, painted sides out. 3. Wrap in cellophane, twist both ends and tie with ribbon. Adult help with hot glue.

Candy Cane Heart Ornaments

Two candy canes turned toward each other make a perfect heart, and that tiny trick makes one of the sweetest ornaments you can hang. Glue the bottoms and the hooks together, then add a loop of thin ribbon. They look beautiful in rows on a garland, tied to the back of dining chairs or tucked into a holiday card for someone you love. Kids can help line them up while an adult handles the glue. Who would you send a candy heart to this year?

You will need: Mini wrapped candy canes, a low temp glue gun or strong craft glue, thin red or white ribbon, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Lay two canes with the hooks facing each other to form a heart. 2. Glue where the hooks touch and where the bottoms meet. 3. Tie a ribbon loop through the top of the heart for hanging.

Marshmallow Snowman Christmas Candy Crafts

Big fluffy marshmallows stack into the cutest snowmen, and this is one of the few Christmas candy crafts you can actually eat. Pop two or three on a cookie stick, add candy eyes and an orange sprinkle nose with a dab of melted chocolate, and drop them into mugs of hot cocoa. Wrap a few in clear bags with a ribbon and they become a cozy gift for the neighbors. They are a fun job for kids too, because nothing needs a glue gun. Would you dunk yours in cocoa or keep it as a decoration?

You will need: Large marshmallows, cookie sticks or paper straws, candy eyes, orange sprinkles or candy melts, a little melted chocolate, clear treat bags, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Push two or three marshmallows onto a stick. 2. Use dots of melted chocolate to attach eyes, buttons and an orange nose. 3. Let them set, then bag and tie with ribbon.

Peppermint Swirl Lollipop Bouquet

A bunch of red and white swirl lollipops arranged in a vase looks like a bouquet of Christmas flowers. Push the sticks into a block of foam hidden inside a mug or a small pot, cover the top with green shred or pine sprigs, and tie a bow around the outside. It is a bright, happy gift for a teacher, a nurse’s station or a front desk, because everyone can grab one. It is one of the most cheerful Christmas candy crafts for an office. Use a pretty thrift store mug and the gift doubles as a keepsake. Where would you leave a candy bouquet?

You will need: 12 to 15 swirl lollipops, a mug or small pot, a piece of floral foam, paper shred or pine sprigs, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Cut the foam to fit snugly inside the mug. 2. Push the lollipops into the foam at different heights so they fan out. 3. Cover the foam with shred or pine and tie a ribbon around the mug.

Peppermint Bark Gift Tins

Of all the edible Christmas candy crafts, peppermint bark looks the most like it came from a fancy catalog, yet it takes three ingredients and about twenty minutes. Melt dark chocolate, spread it on a lined tray, let it set a little, then pour white chocolate over the top and sprinkle crushed candy canes. Once it is firm, break it into rough pieces and pack it into tins lined with parchment. A homemade tin of bark beats a store bought box every time. Who would be thrilled to open one of these?

You will need: Dark chocolate, white chocolate, 6 candy canes, parchment paper, a baking tray, a zip bag and rolling pin for crushing, gift tins or boxes.

How to make it: 1. Melt the dark chocolate in short bursts in the microwave and spread it on the lined tray; chill 10 minutes. 2. Melt the white chocolate, spread it over the top and sprinkle crushed candy canes. 3. Chill until firm, break into pieces and pack into tins.

Candy Filled Ornaments: Christmas Candy Crafts for the Tree

Clear plastic ornaments filled with colorful candy are one of the prettiest Christmas candy crafts you can make in minutes. Pop off the cap, pour in small candies or chocolates, and tie a bow at the top. Hang them on the tree as edible decorations, use them as place settings, or give them as stocking stuffers. Mix colors for a cheerful look or keep each ball one shade for a calm, elegant tree. Which candy would you fill yours with first?

You will need: Clear plastic fillable ornaments, small candies or mini chocolates, a paper funnel, ribbon, small gift tags.

How to make it: 1. Remove the ornament cap and set a paper funnel in the opening. 2. Pour candy in until about three quarters full and replace the cap. 3. Tie a ribbon bow at the top and add a name tag.

Gingerbread Cookie and Candy Jar

A big glass jar packed with gingerbread cookies, cinnamon sticks and wrapped candies is the kind of gift that sits on a kitchen counter all season. Pick a jar with a glass lid from a thrift store, tie a ribbon around the neck, and add a homemade tag. It looks generous and old fashioned, and it is easy to refill. If you love this idea, our Candyland Christmas decorations show how to turn the whole house into a sweet shop. Who would get this jar from you?

You will need: A large glass jar with a lid, gingerbread cookies or ginger snaps, wrapped candies, cinnamon sticks, ribbon, a kraft tag.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the jar well. 2. Stack cookies on their sides around the edge and fill the middle with candies and a few cinnamon sticks. 3. Close the lid, tie a ribbon and add a tag.

Candy Cane Table Scatter for Christmas Dinner

Sometimes the prettiest table needs no glue at all. Lay a long line of fresh pine down the middle of the table, then scatter candy canes, shiny red ornaments, pine cones and a few gold stars along it. The red and white stripes look crisp against a white cloth, and guests can take a candy cane home after dinner. It takes ten minutes, costs a few dollars and makes any table look styled. Simple candy gifts and decor like this are all over the dollar store gift videos on MSN this month. Would you keep it simple red and white or add some gold?

You will need: Fresh pine or cedar clippings, a box of candy canes, shatterproof red ornaments, pine cones, a few paper or wooden stars, a white tablecloth.

How to make it: 1. Lay the greenery down the center of the table in a loose line. 2. Tuck the ornaments and pine cones into the greens. 3. Scatter candy canes along the line, some crossed in pairs, and add the stars last.

Candy Cane Christmas Tree Theme

A tree hung with nothing but candy canes looks like something out of an old holiday movie. Against frosted or white branches the red stripes really pop, and it is the cheapest theme you will ever try, and the easiest of all Christmas candy crafts. Hang a hundred mini canes in a loose spiral, add plain white lights and finish with a red ribbon. Leave a basket of extra canes by the tree so visitors can take one home. It is the kind of nostalgic look that grandparents love. Would you mix them with other ornaments or go all candy?

You will need: About 100 mini candy canes, a white or flocked tree, warm white LED lights, wide red ribbon, a small basket.

How to make it: 1. Light the tree first with the LED strings. 2. Hook candy canes over the branch tips, working in a loose spiral from top to bottom. 3. Weave red ribbon through the gaps and set a basket of spare canes below.