The best Christmas candy in the U.S. for sweet holiday treats

Do these Life Savers gummies look like tiny, flexible wreaths? Kinda. Are they red and green, the traditional colors of Christmas? Absolutely. These “wreaths” (lovely rings of corn syrup) are just the right amount of festive. They’ll give you a pop of Christmas cheer as you strengthen your jaw, getting them down the gullet. When it comes to holiday candy, they do the trick in a pinch.

Best for: When you’re feeling generous enough to share your candy stash with the fam.

Ribbon candy is as gorgeous as it is delicious. It makes sense because the hard candy was invented in the 1800s so that shopkeepers had something to decorate their windows with every year. Talk about eye candy! Sure, it’s pure sugar—but it’s also pure nostalgia.

Best for: The long drive to Grandma’s house or getting through hearing your uncle’s story for the millionth time.

Gumdrops might not be as revered as seasonal favorites like chocolate and peppermint, but they certainly have their place in the Christmas canon. Think about it: Buddy the Elf had to cross the sea of swirly-twirly gumdrops before he arrived at the Lincoln Tunnel. Dots, America’s top gumdrop brand, offers combinations of cherry/green apple and strawberry/lime gummies to create gummy Christmas magic. Feeling Grinchy instead? Dots Lumps of Coal are a little less merry, but still delicious with blackberry and black cherry versions.

Best for: Decorating a gingerbread house and, of course, snacking while decorating a gingerbread house.

Ah, the great polarizer. You either hate them or you love them. But at this time of year, why be a hater? Indulge in this crunchy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside pillowy puffs at the holiday party with a cup of hot chocolate. And if you really don’t like them, regift them to the next person (just like you did with Aunt Barb’s coaster set). If Christmas trees aren’t your bag, there are also snowman, gingerbread man and stocking variations! And if the traditional marshmallow flavor isn’t quite Christmasy enough for you, there are candy-cane-flavored chicks.

Best for: Peep jousting in the microwave or making a holiday s’more.

Is there a more classic candy than M&Ms? Whether with popcorn at a movie theater or curled up next to a cozy fireplace, M&Ms fit right in during the holiday season. And though they don’t taste any different, the green-and-red mix certainly ups the festive feel. The many varieties of flavored M&Ms also make great stocking stuffers. But admittedly, we’re partial to the original—especially if you get them in the Christmas-tree-shaped box!

Best for: That early-morning chocolate fix in between opening presents.

The duality of SweeTARTS really is a parallel for the season. They’re sugary sweet (like the feeling on Christmas morning) with a tart side (like the feeling when there are no more presents left to open). Shaped like mini candy canes, these powdery confections get an A+ for seasonal creativity even if they don’t evoke the spicy goodness of a traditional holiday treat. Bonus points for being both delicious and an excellent decoration on your tree!

Best for: A mid-afternoon sugar rush after you’re all peppermint-ed out.

For stockings that need stuffing, Frosty Nerds will do the trick. Watermelon, wild cherry, and punch don’t exactly recall jolly Christmas memories, but in their own way, they offer a little super-sweet magic. Nerds are made by spinning tiny sugar crystals with more sugar, who doesn’t want sugar on sugar on sugar to power you through on Christmas morning? Whether you’re the type of person that savors them one by one, or the type that shoves a whole handful in your mouth, we support both methods of consumption.

Best for: A secret candy stash in your pocket while carolling in the snow.

The tiny little nuggets of Ferrero Rocher are usually gone before you have time to enjoy them. But not at Christmastime! Ferrero really super-sizes these bad boys for the holidays, turning their once-demure spheres of heaven into ornament-sized orbs of milk chocolate and hazelnuts. If Santa leaves your stocking with a bulge, let’s hope it’s one of these gold-wrapped treats and not a piece of coal.

Best for: Impressing your co-workers by having the best candy dish in the office. They are great office gifts!

Sour Patch Kids has been winning the “sour then sweet” sensation all over the world. During the holidays in the U.S., Sour Patch Kids lean into their naughty side and bring black-raspberry-flavored nuggets for your stocking. Even though we worked hard to be on the nice list this year, we’ll be happy with this coal.

Best for: Stuffing the stocking of a naughty-but-still-sweet relative.

Old-school candy lovers will want to fill their candy dishes with these soft and chewy bites of Christmas magic. Yeah, your grandparents might have these on their kitchen counter, but a classic is a classic for a reason. Brach’s Christmas Nougat mix has the quintessential peppermint plus new additions of wintergreen and cinnamon, all decked out in classic red stripes with green Christmas trees. These candies are so Christmas, and it shows.

Best for: Raiding your great aunt’s candy dish before dinner.

It’s hard to name a better combo than dark chocolate and peppermint this time of year—let alone any time of year—but the duo’s frosty bite seems just a bit more appropriate in the winter. Tingly peppermint hits like a chilly snowflake on the tongue, and dark chocolate provides a rich and cozy mouthfeel. We also love the festive red and green wrappers. Overall, snowflake-shaped York Peppermint Patties get two mittened thumbs up.

Best for: A quick freshening of your breath before stealing a smooch under the mistletoe.

What better way to warm your body and soul than with hot cocoa. But now you can skip the mug and go straight for the candy dish. The holiday-only hot cocoa version of Hershey’s Kisses packs all the flavor of a steaming cup of cocoa into a bite-sized chocolate. Put out a dish of these candies at the office and flick the remaining foil balls at your coworkers when you’re done indulging.

Best for: Filling your pockets with a little pick-me-up while scoping out the neighborhood Christmas lights.

Santa is everywhere during the holiday season: at the mall, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army and on the streets of New York. But the most delicious Santa is the chocolate Santa, obviously. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Santas (both in their traditional form and the newer “Build-a-Santa” variety) are holiday candy staples and an instant rush of nostalgia. These Santas are always welcome to come down our chimney. The only question is: Should you start with the beard or the hat?

Best for: Rewarding yourself for a job well done after all the presents are opened, like the Santa you truly are.

The number of Kit Kat flavors has absolutely blown up in recent years (everything from Key Lime Pie to Fruity Cereal), so peppermint stick isn’t exactly far-fetched. Peppermint-flavored creme coats crisp wafers and crunchy bits in this twist on the classic Kit Kat. We like how Kit Kats give us the option to easily share, but c’mon, we’re keeping this for ourselves!

Best for: A quick bite when you just can’t wait for the family dinner to be ready.

Candy canes are an irrefutable holiday classic—they double as Christmas tree ornaments, after all. While standard-sized candy canes are essential sweets, the miniature ones are so much more practical to eat. These minis are the perfect size for a sweet, minty treat that’ll dissolve into your mug of hot cocoa. Also, they’re small enough that you can always sneak one more (or three or four) if you’re still craving that Christmassy peppermint.

Best for: A minty treat while trimming the tree.

Is there anything more addicting than peppermint bark? Whether you choose to make your own from your grandma’s recipe, or opt for the drugstore brand, peppermint bark is a hefty part of holiday snacking. C’mon, when both layers of milk chocolate and peppermint come together in one bite… it’s the (second) best flavor of the holidays. The Ghirardelli squares are everything, so stock up to get your after-Christmas fix, too.

Best for: Munching while watching a Christmas classic.

What does your favorite candy say about you? Well, if your favorite candy is Reese’s Peanut Butter Trees, then it means you’re totally right. Sure, the only thing about this treat that says ho-ho-ho is the classic Christmas tree shape (it’s also a fact that a similar pumpkin-shaped version is an iconic candy for a certain October holiday, too). But maybe that’s all we need to get into the Christmas spirit—that and a sprinkling of Reese’s Pieces throughout the decadent peanut butter interior. 

Best for: Literally anytime. They are perfection.