Justine Sterling
Ariana Losch
Danny Palumbo
The best Christmas candy is more than just regular candy packaged in red or green foil. We’re looking for something more—something indulgent and, above all, festive. That can be anything from a snowman-shaped mint chocolate to an over-the-top truffle in a gift-ready box. Whatever form the candy takes, we just want it to feel like a rare holiday treat you only get to experience once a year.
Christmas candy—with all of its cooling peppermint, fancy chocolate, and toffee-centered treats—is underrated, and we should talk about its contributions more. Halloween and Easter are the tried-and-true candy holidays, but there’s a ton of Christmas chocolate and holiday candy that deserves to be put up on a pedestal and given a rousing round of applause. There’s a wealth of delicious Christmas candy out there waiting to be unwrapped, so we set out to find the best Christmas candy to buy this year, whether you’re looking for stocking stuffers or just want some holiday candies to stash in your desk.
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- Twix Snowmen
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I have complicated feelings about these snowmen-shaped Twix. First, on paper, that’s all they are—Twix, but shaped like snowmen. Not very exciting, right? Well, what if I told you that the snowmen were very, very cute? That can count for a lot, okay?! But more importantly, the cookie-chocolate-caramel ratios are different from your standard Twix, so you end up with a product that, if you tasted blind, could really be its own thing—something that’s objectively not as great as a normal Twix, but still, in the realm of Christmas chocolate, a nice treat. The cookie is much thicker (a pro or con depending on your tastes), the chocolate is definitely over-the-top (and a little more fake-tasting, to be honest), but the caramel? The caramel hits, man. I’d argue it’s even a little richer here than the regular version. Anyways, I feel I’ve given you all the information, so it’s up to you to decide if this festive chocolate bar is for you. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Brach’s Candy Cane Forest Mellowcreme Candy
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Brach’s candy corn on winter steroids? I’m all about it. This “candy cane forest” might be a little kitschy, but that’s part of its charm. Where else can you try a Frosted Sugar Cookie Narwhal (think candy corn meets edible cookie dough) or snack on Peppermint Candy Canes, Toasted Marshmallow Snowmen, and Maple Syrup Elf Hats? The peppermint candy canes are especially refreshing—perfect as a post-meal mint. For candy corn enthusiasts, this is hands down the best Christmas candy. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Hershey’s Kisses Hot Cocoa
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We have to give Hershey’s credit: They finally figured out how to make a good marshmallow creme filling. You can close your eyes and imagine these are stuffed with pure melted marshmallows. Each kiss is wrapped in the classic Hershey’s milk chocolate, a flavor combo that doesn’t rock the boat too much. Sporked contributor Griffin Parker had the brilliant idea of swapping it for dark chocolate for a better contrast when he reviewed them, but as it stands, I think these kisses are an overall crowd pleaser. So take down that mistletoe, ya weirdo, and put these out in a bowl instead. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- York Peppermint Pattie Snowflakes
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These are the York Peppermint Patties you’re familiar with, but shaped like snowflakes. The shape doesn’t really add too much except for some pleasing Christmas aesthetic, but York Peppermint Patties deserve a place on this list of the best Christmas candy because they’re just so good at what they do—cool and delight with chocolate-mint flavor. Yorks have a chocolate candy shell that reminds me of an ice cream bar. Plus, the gooey, minty center is just divine. Cool, sugary, and chocolatey, York Peppermint Patties are a perfect Christmas peppermint candy. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Toasty Holiday Peanut M&M’s
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As we discovered when they launched last year, these Toasty Holiday Peanut M&M’s are an instant classic. They have a subtle maple quality that we’ve never tasted from M&M’s before but would sure like to see again in a permanent flavor. The crunchy shell, rich peanut, and hint of toasty sweetness make these a festive and comforting treat. They’re the kind of Christmas candy you’ll want to snack on by the fire—or hoard in your pantry during the months when they’re out of stock. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Cadbury Mini Snow Balls
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If you like Cadbury Robin Eggs, then you’ll love these Christmas chocolates—because they’re essentially the same, just rounder and colored red, green, and white. The candy coating is super crunchy. The chocolate inside is very creamy and has that distinct Cadbury flavor that’s just a touch fruity. If you put a bowlful of these Christmas chocolates out at a party, people would be thrilled. At least, I certainly would be thrilled. And I am invited to your party, right? —Justine Sterling
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark Snowmen
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What I like about Ghirardelli’s Peppermint Bark Snowmen is that they’re minty without being overwhelmingly so. If you think York Peppermint Patties and Andes chocolates have too much of a toothpaste flavor, I promise you’ll like these. Smoothness is the prevailing theme here. These are delicious and rich and beg to be lovingly savored. Plus, they’re shaped like little snowmen. Snowmen! You know we had to include them on this list of the best Christmas candies. (That said, if you’re looking for the actual best peppermint bark, check out our ranking.) —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Lindt Lindor Milk Peppermint Cookie
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These are the Thin Mints of the Lindt chocolate lineup, and that’s all you really need to know about them. I mean, I’ll expound, because that’s my job, but you should really just grab a bag off that sales pitch alone. The peppermint has bite (better than plenty of the plain peppermint bark we’ve tried over the years), yet the truffle is so smooth, so it’s a fun little contrast for your taste buds. This special little Lindt truffle (currently coming in at #6 of 40—yes, 40—flavors in our ranking) is only available during the holiday season, so you better try it while you still can! —Ariana Losch
Credit: Merc / World Market
- Trolli Sour Brite Abominable Snowmen
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Between Mountain Dew collabs and freaky frozen gummy pops, Trolli is really on a roll-i this year. And I’m surely crazy for saying this, especially when (spoiler) Trolli Mountain Dew is a leading contender for our favorite new Mountain Dew of the year, but these gummy abominable snowmen are honestly my personal favorite product from them yet. The fruit blends are super unique (the blue raspberry-guava tastes especially bright), the wiggly arms and big, round tummies are quirky and festive and fun for a gummy shape, and, look, I just like chewin’ on them. The best Christmas candy should instill a sense of childlike wonder, I think. This accomplishes that. Trolli, whatever’s happening over there at your HQ, keep it up. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Merc / Target
- Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels
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These little Christmas chocolates come in a gift-ready box adorned with drawings of snowflakes and mistletoe—complete with a little to/from card. And they are good enough for gifting, for sure. Each box is filled with four square chocolates filled with gooey caramel and topped with sparkling granules of sea salt from the Dead Sea. The chocolate is thick and dark with an underlying coffee flavor. The caramel is gooey and rich. And the salt is crunchy. It’s a wonderful bite of Christmas chocolate that tastes like it costs far more than it does. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s
- Hershey’s Kisses Candy Cane
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With their delicate wrapper, bell shape, melty chocolate, and bite-sized quality, Hershey’s Kisses are synonymous with the holiday season. For years now, they’ve been experimenting with different Hershey’s Kiss flavors for Christmas, and the one that’s really stuck is Candy Cane. Delicious, Hershey’s white chocolate and crunchy, sugary, and minty candy cane bits are a wonderful combination that’s too good to ignore. These melt in your mouth while providing some extra crunch. It’s all about the texture with these holiday candies. Hershey’s Kisses are pure Christmas, and these are the best of the bunch. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Target
- Trader Joe’s English Toffee Bites
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Eating one of Trader Joe’s English toffee bites, my eyes lit up like I just tried hard drugs for the first time. These consist of a crunchy, buttery center enrobed in milk chocolate that’s been sprinkled with chopped nuts. There’s a lot of different flavors and textures going on here, but it doesn’t feel too convoluted. Everything works together to create a buttery, crunchy, rich, and nutty holiday candy. I like that it’s a little bite-sized snack, too—you can take the whole thing down in one bite for a rich sensory experience. It’s a perfect chocolate Christmas candy. Good job, TJ’s. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Williams Sonoma the Original Peppermint Bark
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Peppermint bark: it’s some of the best old fashioned Christmas candy you can have around for winter. It’s actually what I imagine grows in Santa’s enchanted North Pole—a common snack for elves, and a luxury for us. And boy oh boy, is Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark a luxury (no, not just because of the price). It’s the perfect crunchy thickness, with nicely sized peppermint candy on top and a richly balanced dark chocolate coating. Year after year, we absolutely adore retrying this beloved Christmas candy and solidifying it as one of our favorite holiday treats. It’s Sporked and Santa-approved. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Merc / Williams Sonoma
Best Caramel Flavor
Best “Christmas Corn”
Runner Up, Best Hershey’s Kiss
Best Holiday Makeover
Best White Chocolate
Best Pure Chocolate
Best Shaped Candy
Best Lindt Truffle
Most Fun
Best for Gifting
Best Hershey’s
Best Toffee
Best of the Best
Other products we tried
Sprouts Peppermint Puffs, Hershey’s Kisses Sugar Cookie, Hershey’s Kisses Mint with Stripes, Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate Hugged by White Creme, Hershey’s Chocolate Santas, Reese’s Trees, Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark, Peeps Gingerbread Men, Trader Joe’s Festive Chocolate Collection, Hershey’s Peppermint Bark Bells, Reese’s Holiday Lights, Reese’s Shapes Assortment, Tate’s Cookie Bark, Sweet Tarts Candy Canes, Hershey’s Cordial Cherry, Crazy Candy Co. Holiday Hard Candies, Sour Patch Kids Santa & Elves Soft & Chewy Holiday Candy, Brach’s Holiday Spicettes Jelly Candy, Lifesavers Gummies Holiday Shapes
Hebba Gouda
