There’s something about a sweet, festive treat that instantly brightens the holiday mood. This Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe is exactly that—fun to make, utterly charming, and perfect for sharing with friends and family around the kitchen. Let me show you how easy it is to create these delightful holiday pops!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’m genuinely excited to share this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe because it’s one of those simple pleasures that feels special without a ton of fuss. Every year, these pops add a sweet sparkle to our holiday gatherings, and friends always ask for the recipe!
- Super simple assembly: You just thread marshmallows onto candy canes, coat, decorate, and voila—holiday magic!
- Customizable fun: Whether you love sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or drizzle designs, you can make these your own.
- Perfect for gifting: Wrapped up nicely, these pops make charming edible gifts that everyone adores.
- Kid-friendly and festive: Making these with little helpers is a fantastic way to build holiday memories and keep everyone smiling.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The beauty of this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe lies in its straightforward ingredients, each chosen for flavor and ease. The candy canes provide peel-and-eat stems with holiday spirit, while the melting chocolates create a smooth coating that’s perfect for holding decorations.
- Candy Canes: Use unwrapped candy canes as sticks—they add peppermint flavor and serve as a handle for the pops.
- Large Marshmallows: Their size makes threading easy and ensures a satisfying bite in every pop.
- Melting Chocolate (milk or dark): Provides a rich, smooth coating; melting chocolate melts evenly without hardening too fast.
- White Melting Chocolate: Adds visual contrast and a sweet, creamy coating option for variety.
- Green & Red Melts: These colorful melts are perfect for drizzling on top, lending a festive look with minimal fuss.
- Crushed Candy Canes: Adds texture and reinforces that classic peppermint crunch.
- Holiday Sprinkles: Bright, colorful sprinkles bring cheer and fun to the final decorations.
Make It Your Way
I love tweaking this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe to fit the mood and who I’m sharing with. It’s so versatile that you can swap colors, flavors, or decorations to match any holiday theme or dietary need.
- Variation: One year, I dipped half the marshmallows in dark chocolate and the other half in white—guests couldn’t decide which they liked best!
- Dietary modification: You can use vegan marshmallows and dairy-free melting chocolate to make these allergy-friendly.
- Seasonal change: For a non-Christmas twist, try pastel-colored melts and sprinkles for Easter or heart-shaped sprinkles for Valentine’s Day.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe
Step 1: Thread Those Marshmallows with Care
I like to thread three large marshmallows onto each candy cane. If you leave the candy canes wrapped, give them a quick gentle wash to remove any sticky residue. Unwrapping can cause breakage, so if you're careful, wrapping them is fine for a no-mess start.
Step 2: Melt Your Chocolates Gently
Place each type of chocolate and colored melts in separate microwave-safe bowls. Heat in 20-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth and velvety. This prevents burning or seizing, which can happen quickly if you rush.
Step 3: Coat, Decorate, and Drizzle
Using a spoon, gently drizzle melted milk or white chocolate to coat half the marshmallows. Work quickly so the chocolate stays smooth and even. While still wet, sprinkle on crushed candy canes and festive sprinkles. For that extra holiday flair, drizzle red and green melts over some of the pops with a piping bag or fork.
Step 4: Let Them Set and Enjoy!
Place your pops on parchment paper and let the chocolate harden for at least 5 minutes. Once set, they’re ready to serve or package as gifts. It’s a satisfying moment watching those chocolates turn solid and glossy, signaling your pops are ready to dazzle.
Top Tip
From making these pops numerous times, I’ve learned a few small tricks that make a big difference in results—and your enjoyment. These little tips will help you avoid common pitfalls and up your marshmallow pop game:
- Choosing Candy Canes: Pick sturdy candy canes to avoid breakage when threading marshmallows; sometimes the thin ones snap too easily.
- Chocolate Melting: Stir frequently while melting; leftover lumps can cause uneven coats or surprise clumps in your final pops.
- Decorating Quickly: Have your sprinkles and crushed candy ready before coating so you can decorate while the chocolate is still wet.
- Setting the Pops: Let them harden on parchment paper at room temperature—if it’s too warm, the chocolate can get sticky or soft.
How to Serve Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe
Garnishes
I usually stick to crushed candy canes and holiday-themed sprinkles because they bring that perfect crunch and busyness to the look. Red and green chocolate drizzle is my secret touch—it makes the pops look way more professional and festive without extra effort.
Side Dishes
These marshmallow pops are great on their own, but I love serving them with hot cocoa or a platter of freshly baked cookies for a cozy holiday spread. They also pair wonderfully with fruit platters—or simple cheese and cracker plates—to balance sweet and savory.
Creative Ways to Present
For gift-giving or party display, I like to arrange the marshmallow pops upright in a decorated jar or a festive tin filled with candy cane bits or tissue paper. Wrapping each pop individually in cellophane with a ribbon makes for adorable, ready-to-gift treats that everyone will remember.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once your pops have set completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature if your home isn’t too warm. This keeps them crisp and fresh for up to a week. Living somewhere warm? The fridge is your friend here—just be mindful that condensation can make the chocolate a bit cloudy.
Freezing
I don’t recommend freezing Christmas marshmallow pops because marshmallows can change texture when thawed, and chocolate coatings sometimes lose their smooth finish. It’s best to enjoy them fresh or within the first week.
Reheating
You won’t really need to reheat these pops, but if the chocolate softens too much, a short stint in the fridge can help firm it back up quickly. Avoid warm or humid spots to keep them looking and tasting perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Regular chocolate can be used, but melting chocolate or candy melts are specially formulated to melt smoothly and harden with a nice shine, which is ideal for coating marshmallow pops. Using baking chocolate or chocolate chips works too, but you may need to add a little vegetable oil to get a smoother melt.
Thread the marshmallows gently and evenly on the candy cane; sometimes warming the candy cane slightly helps the marshmallows grip better. You can also twist the marshmallows as you thread them to help them sit securely.
Absolutely! This is a perfect kid-friendly holiday activity. Just supervise them when melting the chocolate, and let them have fun threading marshmallows and decorating with sprinkles. It’s a great way to keep little hands busy and festive spirits high.
Stored properly in an airtight container at room temperature, these marshmallow pops stay fresh and tasty for up to 7 days. Keep them away from heat and humidity to maintain their texture and appearance.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe has been a favorite of mine for years because it’s truly simple and endlessly fun. I love how it brings friends and family together—not just to eat, but to create, laugh, and enjoy the season. I hope you’ll give these pops a try and that they add your own touch of sweetness to your holiday celebrations. Happy decorating!
Print
Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
Festive and fun Christmas Marshmallow Pops are delightful holiday treats made by threading marshmallows onto candy canes, coating them in melted chocolate and colorful candy melts, and decorating with crushed candy canes and holiday sprinkles. Perfect for gifting or enjoying as a sweet snack during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Marshmallow Pops
- 6 candy canes unwrapped
- 18 large marshmallows
Chocolate Coating
- 1 cup melting chocolate
- 1 cup white melting chocolate
- ¼ cup green melts
- ¼ cup red melts
Decorations
- 2 tablespoons crushed candy canes
- 2 tablespoons holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Assemble: Thread 3 marshmallows onto each candy cane. It is best to keep the candy canes wrapped while threading to prevent breaking, but if unwrapped, handle gently or wash carefully before use.
- Melt the chocolate: Place the melting chocolate, white melting chocolate, and colored melts (red and green) into microwave-safe bowls. Microwave each in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and fully melted. Follow package instructions if they differ.
- Coat the marshmallows: Quickly dip or spoon melted brown chocolate over half the marshmallows, and melted white chocolate over the other half, covering them completely except for the candy cane loop. Place them on parchment paper to set.
- Decorate: While the chocolate coating is still wet, sprinkle crushed candy canes and holiday sprinkles on top. Use colored candy melts drizzled with a piping bag or spoon for additional festive designs. Let the pops sit for about 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden.
- Serve: Once hardened, the marshmallow pops are ready to enjoy or package as holiday gifts.
Notes
- Storage: Store marshmallow pops in an airtight container at room temperature up to 7 days, or refrigerate if in a warm climate to keep them firm.
- Freezing is not recommended as it may affect texture and decorations.
- Crush candy canes easily with a food processor or place in a ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- Allow the candy coating to fully harden before storing or packaging to prevent smudging.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pop
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg

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