Oh my goodness, I’m dying to update this post, which shares several of my family’s Old-Fashioned Vintage Christmas Candy recipes, along with those from a good friend! Many of these recipes are well over 70 years old, so I had to replace the margarine with butter and make a few other minor changes.
Digging through my mom’s recipes and those from my friend, Leanne, is fun. I met Leanne through my blog, and I sincerely wish we were neighbors because we chat online as if we’ve known each other for years. Plus, we share ideas for preparedness. Thank you, Leanne!!
I’m looking at Facebook, and people are sharing pictures of their decorated Christmas trees. It’s not too early to get started with Christmas decorations! Luckily, Kay emailed me about a Christmas tree sale at Target! It was drastically discounted, and I bought it, and they shipped it for free. We needed a small, thin tree, and this was perfect!! Thanks again, Kay!
Old-fashioned Christmas candies hold a special place in American holiday traditions, weaving together memories of grandparents’ kitchens, church socials, small-town candy shops, and simple homemade gifts wrapped in wax paper. These treats, fudge, divinity, peanut brittle, ribbon candy, chocolate bark, and molasses taffy, represent a time when families celebrated the season with creativity, resourcefulness, and a whole lot of sugar.
A Brief History of Vintage Christmas Candy
Early American Tradition
Homemade holiday candy began appearing in American households in the 18th and early 19th centuries, when sugar became more widely available. Early settlers often reserved sweets for special occasions, and Christmas quickly became the ideal time to indulge. Simple recipes using basic pantry staples—molasses, honey, butter, and nuts—became popular because they were affordable and easy to produce at home.
The Rise of Christmas Candy in the Victorian Era
The Victorian era (1830s–1900) dramatically shaped what we now consider classic Christmas candy. As Christmas celebrations grew more elaborate, candy became a symbol of hospitality and festivity. This era gave us many iconic treats:
- Hand-pulled taffy
- Peppermint sticks and early candy canes
- Ribbon candy, created by New England Confectioners
- Molasses and nut brittles
Candy-making became a beloved family activity, often done around the hearth as a full-day event.
Early 20th-Century Candy-Making Boom
By the early 1900s, improvements in sugar production, the availability of corn syrup, and the spread of home candy thermometers made candy-making more reliable. This era brought:
- Fudge, especially chocolate and maple
- Divinity, the fluffy white nougat-like candy
- Peanut brittle, a Depression-era favorite
- Rock candy, used for both decoration and gifting
- Old-fashioned caramels, soft or chewy depending on the cook
Women’s magazines, newspaper columns, and community cookbooks exploded with homemade candy recipes during this time.
Wartime & Depression-Era Adaptation
During the Great Depression and World War II, candy recipes were often adapted to shortages. Many families substituted ingredients (like molasses for sugar) and created “make-do” treats. These resourceful recipes became treasured heirlooms—proof that even in hard times, sweetness could be found during the holidays.
The Mid-Century Candy Revival
The 1940s–1960s brought a resurgence of holiday candy traditions. Families relied on tried-and-true recipes passed down for generations, often making large batches for cookie swaps, school events, and homemade gifts. The era cemented many treats we still cherish:
- Church-basement chocolate fudge
- Classic divinity with pecans
- Coconut snowballs
- Chocolate-covered cherries
- Peppermint bark
These candies became iconic features of mid-century Christmas celebrations.
Why Vintage Christmas Candy Still Matters
Old-fashioned Christmas candy recipes endure today because they represent:
- Simplicity – Basic ingredients and straightforward methods.
- Tradition – Generational recipes that tell family stories.
- Togetherness – Candy-making as a holiday ritual.
- Nostalgia – Familiar flavors that take us back to childhood.
From hand-pulled taffy to melt-in-your-mouth fudge, these recipes connect us to the warmth of past holidays and the timeless joy of sharing something sweet.
New Christmas Traditions
We’ve moved back to Northern Utah and will spend the holidays with our dear family and friends. We’ve missed them so much, and it is so good to get back together now and for all future special holidays and other special activities.
Mark and I have lived with, and now live near, our daughter and her family for over four years. Our home took longer than expected to build. We now have our own kitchen and enjoy cooking our favorite recipes. It’s so fun to have everything finally organized so we can cook, chop, and bake our favorite foods and treats again! Here’s a glimpse of my kitchen/living room combination.
Remember, we have a little over 1000 square feet. We don’t have room for a kitchen table; we have four barstools, only one couch, and two ottomans. It’s cozy, we love having our own space, and it’s so easy to keep clean. This is where I make recipes for my blog and so much more. Of all the places we’ve lived over our 56-year marriage, this is my favorite kitchen. I’ve got nice deep drawers below the countertops, making it easy to find things when needed.
I hope you find the following recipes as fun to make and eat as our family does. As you make them, be sure to take stock of what is needed, how many ingredients you have readily available, and which ones you had to make a quick trip to the store to buy items to complete the recipe. It’s a great time to evaluate your pantry inventory and replenish what’s missing. That’s all part of being prepared, not just for the holidays but for emergencies, too.
Kitchen Items You May Need:
- Chopper for Nuts
- Cookie Sheets
- Candy Thermometer
- Hand Mixer
- Cake Pan ( 9″ by 13″)
- Glass pan ( 6″ by 10″)
- Cake Pan ( 9″ by 9″)
In case you missed this post, You Don’t want or need Christmas Gifts
Vintage Christmas Candy Recipes
Christmas and candy seem so natural to be used in the same sentence. You can’t have one without the other and still call Christmas a special time of year. I know we all should try to watch what we eat during the holidays, and I get it. But being with family and having treats we usually don’t see during the rest of the year makes the time unique and memorable. So, try out these tasty recipes and cherish every minute as you share them with those you love.
1. Chocolate Almond Bar Candy by Leanne L.
Chocolate and almonds seem like BFFs in the food world. They go together so well and taste delicious together. Almond Joy is one of my favorite candy bars. Yes, they have coconut, but adding almonds to quality chocolate makes for a memorable treat. Give this candy bar a try; you’ll love it, too!
Chocolate Almond Bar Candy by Leanne L.
Ingredients
- 1 large Almond Chocolate Bar – grated
- 1 cup finely chopped almonds
- Spread ½ of the chopped nuts in a small greased pan(I use a 6” X 10” glass pan)
- Top the nuts with ½ the grated almond chocolate bar.
- Set aside.
- Combine in a pan over medium heat
- 1 cup butter (salted) no substitutes
- 1 cup brown sugar
Instructions
-
Note: my mom also used walnuts and pecans when she had them.
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Bring to a rolling boil – takes a while and will burn very easily. Don’t rush. Once the butter/sugar mix is boiling, boil for 12 minutes – no longer.
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Pour hot butter/sugar mix over prepared pan and immediately cover with the rest of the grated chocolate bar, then the rest of the nuts. Press lightly into the hot sugar mixture.
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Let cool completely. When cool, use a butter knife to break the candy up. The pieces will be irregular.
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Leanne's mom also used walnuts and pecans when she had them.
2. Mom’s Honey Taffy by Leanne L.
It doesn’t seem like I see many recipes that use honey. I love honey and often use it as a sugar substitute. Honey is a natural sweetener and, as such, is healthier for us. As a child, I remember watching my mom “pull” the taffy we’d enjoy eating during the holidays. As mentioned in the instructions, be careful not to get burned by the hot taffy while doing the “pulling” part. This can be a fun family activity; think about how buff your arm muscles will be.
Mom’s Honey Taffy by Leanne L.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Touch of vanilla
Instructions
-
Cook the first 4 ingredients without stirring to the hard ball stage.
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Remove from the heat and add the vanilla.
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Cool on greased dinner plates until cool enough to handle.
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Grease your hands and pull until creamy colored. We used butter to grease the plates and our hands.
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The faster it cooks the better, but watch it carefully so it doesn’t scorch.
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My Dad NEVER pulled taffy. He said it melted in his hands.
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I really think it was because the candy was so hot still and could cause blisters!!
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Wrap in waxed paper.
3. Cinnamon Glass Candy by Leanne L.
Cinnamon can be such a tasty addition to many recipes. I like mine, which is very cinnamon-flavored, while Mark likes his a little more subdued. Either way, I can picture myself sucking on a chunk of this candy while waiting for Santa to make his entrance at family gatherings. Be sure to watch kids with this candy so they don’t get it stuck in their throats. Enjoy.
Cinnamon Glass Candy by Leanne L.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon oil
- Red food coloring
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup water
Instructions
-
Prepare a jelly roll pan (the cookie sheet with sides) by lightly greasing OR line the pan with foil that is lightly greased.
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Mix sugar, syrup, and water together in a large heavy pan.
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Bring to the hard crack stage (300°F – 310°F). Stir constantly.
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Add cinnamon oil and food coloring to reach the desired color. Pour into prepared pan. Cool completely. Break into pieces.
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Please note: I used mint flavoring and green food coloring; both flavors are great! Linda
4. Mom’s Homemade Divinity
My view of divinity is a white, melt-in-your-mouth, hard-to-describe, heaven-sent candy. I haven’t made this one for a while, but it’s one of those should-have, could-have situations. Of course, with the suggested nuts and candied cherries, not all the good stuff will melt in your mouth. I think I’ll make some changes this year and add this to my “need-to-have” desserts. You have to love a new treat to share!
Mom’s Homemade Divinity
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 2-1/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 egg whites
- 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cups chopped nuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped candied cherries (optional)
Instructions
-
Combine the sugar, water, corn syrup, and salt in a large heavy pan.
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Bring this mixture to a boil and continue boiling until it reaches a "hard ball stage" (265°F) = (129°C).
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Now, beat the egg whites until stiff, then slowly pour the hot syrup over the egg whites, beating at high speed on your mixer.
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Add vanilla and continue beating for 4-5 minutes, or until the candy starts to take shape.
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Fold in nuts and cherries. Quickly drop teaspoon-sized pieces of the candy onto a buttered cookie sheet.
5. Peanut Brittle by Leanne L.
Peanuts may not be the most common ingredient in Christmas treats, but using them as the base for a brittle dessert makes the treat exceptionally flavorful. This is one of those treats you relish as you break off a piece to munch on throughout the holidays. Just be careful and ensure your teeth are still in place as you crunch this delicious combination of some of your favorite snack choices.
Peanut Brittle by Leanne L.
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cup nuts (mixed nuts work great!)
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
-
Prepare a jelly roll pan by lightly greasing OR line the pan with foil and lightly grease the foil.
-
In a heavy pan, bring the sugar, syrup, and water to the hard ball stage. Remove from the heat and stir in the nuts.
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Return to the heat and continue to cook until tan. Remove from heat.
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Add the baking soda and stir. Pour into the prepared pan. Cool completely. Break into pieces.
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Leanne's NOTE: Mom always used salted mixed nuts – she actually did not like peanuts! So, to peanut or not to peanut, that is the question!
6. Rocky Road Fudge
When I hear the words Rocky Road together, I immediately think of one of my favorite ice cream choices. Anything with that name has to include chocolate, marshmallows, and nuts. The great thing about this recipe is that as you bite into the resulting treat, you get to enjoy a whole bunch of flavors! You’d better get a plate or napkin; this one will melt in your hands.
Rocky Road Fudge
Ingredients
- 12 ounces chocolate chips
- 1 cup butter (cut into pieces)
- 4 cups sugar
- 1-1/2 cups evaporated milk (not Eagle Brand)
- 20 large marshmallows cut into pieces (then freeze them)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups chopped nuts
Instructions
-
Grab a large bowl and add the chocolate chips to the cut butter. Set aside.
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Now, combine the sugar, milk, and 20 cut frozen marshmallows, then bring to a boil over medium heat.
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Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
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Pour this mixture over the chocolate chips and butter mixture. Stir until thick.
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Add the nuts, the vanilla, and the frozen marshmallows.
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Pour into a buttered 9-inch by 13-inch pan.
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Chill until firm. Cut into squares.
7. Easy To Make Caramels
Talk about a tooth and tongue teaser. These taste awesome and can melt in your mouth if you’re patient. The butter, sugar, and syrup make these a real sweet treat. Be careful with this one if your usual approach to candy is to chew it. Caramels have been known to pull tooth fillings out, which you don’t want to deal with during the holidays. Yes, be patient and let it melt in your mouth.
Homemade Caramel’s
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup white Karo Syrup
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions
-
Butter a 9-inch by 9-inch pan.
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Combine the ingredients in a medium to large-sized heavy pot and cook over medium heat until it reaches (240°F) = (115°C) (or a firm ball stage).
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Add the chopped nuts if desired. Pour into the buttered pan.
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Let the caramel set overnight.
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Cut into one-inch squares and wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap.
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This recipe makes about 50 one-inch squares.
Final Word
I hope you enjoy trying some of my and Leanne’s families’ old-fashioned Vintage Christmas Candy recipes. As I think of cherished memories regarding Christmas and the holidays, one thing that makes them so special is the variety of special desserts and between-meal treats, as highlighted in this post. Please don’t be shy; give your family some special offerings they’ll remember for a long time.
Old-fashioned vintage Christmas candy isn’t just about sugar, butter, and nostalgia; it’s about preserving the traditions that make the holiday season feel magical. These time-honored recipes remind us of simpler days, when families gathered in cozy kitchens, stirred bubbling pots of caramel, and wrapped homemade candies to share with neighbors and friends.
Whether you’re recreating a classic childhood treat or discovering a new favorite to pass down, these vintage recipes bring joy, comfort, and a touch of timeless charm to every celebration. May your kitchen be filled with sweet aromas, warm memories, and plenty of old-fashioned holiday cheer this Christmas season. Thanks again for being prepared for the unexpected. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Green Broken Glass Candy Depositphotos_183655980_L, Chocolate with Almonds Depositphotos_12637408_S, Salt Water Taffy AdobeStock_92318989 By pamela_d_mcadams, Fluffly Homemade Divinity Candy AdobeStock_713611293 By Ashley, Peanut Brittle Depositphotos_36857159_S, Rocky Road Fudge Depositphotos_56575609_S, Soft Caramels in Wrappers AdobeStock_732052637 By pamela_d_mcadams, Candy Canes On A Table Depositphotos_848224948_S
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