40 Treats We Hope St. Nick Stuffs in Our Socks

Oreos and Candy Cane Chocolate Bark

There are incredible surprises in this festive bark, including dark chocolate, candy canes and cream-filled cookies. We keep a big supply ready for gift-giving. —Robin Turner, Lake Elsinore, California

Go to Recipe

Candy Cane Reindeer

We had a blast creating these adorable candy cane stocking stuffers! Rudolph and his friends never looked sweeter than they do with pretzel antlers, chocolate eyes, and candy noses made with Red Hots. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Mrs. Claus Cookie Pops

These cute Mrs. Claus pops would be great on a cookie platter or as a holiday gift or party favor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Candy Snack Mix

Chock-full of raisins, peanuts and M& M’s, this crunchy salty-sweet mix stays fresh for weeks. I keep it on hand to serve to unexpected guests or to fill decorative containers to give as last-minute gifts. —Mary Newsom, Grand Ridge, Florida

Savory Cracker Snack Mix

A Taste of Home recipe inspired this one! Because I love everything bagel seasoning, I decided to give this a try. A friend later suggested I make the mix more versatile with something other than oyster crackers, and now it’s a deliciously addictive snack! —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida—Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida

White Chocolate Truffles

I use this white chocolate truffle recipe to make homemade holiday gifts. The candies are so easy to make and will look so pretty in a gift box.—Gloria Nolan, Peoria, Pennsylvania

Double-Dutch Chocolate Holiday Cookies

Rich dark chocolate and crunchy, colorful M&M’s combine to make these cookies extra special. Who wouldn’t want to receive this mix as a gift? —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Goody-Goody Gumdrops

My jewel-toned squares are softer than store-bought gumdrops, and their terrific taste has a true old-fashioned quality people love. You can’t eat just one! —Richard Bunt, Painted Post, New York

Dulce de Leche Hot Chocolate Pods

Who doesn’t love a steamy mug of hot chocolate on a snowy day? Now you can give friends, neighbors, co-workers or anyone who deserves a treat the pleasure of this indulgent drink with these giftable hot chocolate pods. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Easy Reindeer Cookies

One year my son wanted to buy everyone in his class a present. I suggested we bake them a treat instead. We made these festive cookies using a cookie mix, pretzels, chocolate chips and Red M&M’s. —Gretchen Vandenberghe, Toledo, Ohio

Homemade Marshmallow Pops

Homemade marshmallows are fun to eat on a stick or to stir into your favorite hot chocolate. Their melt-in-your-mouth texture appeals to the young and the young at heart. —Jennifer Andrzejewski, Grizzly Flats, California

Cinnamon Spiced Pecans

Here is a treat enjoyed by people of all ages. Spiced cinnamon pecans are nice to have on hand during the Christmas season to serve as an appetizer or add to your cookie plate, or to give as gifts packaged in decorated jars or containers! I love making foods that will delight my family or guests.

Hard Maple Candy

During the war, the women at my grandmother’s church would donate sugar rations throughout the year so they’d have enough to make candy as a fund-raiser each Christmas. I’m lucky enough to have inherited this tried-and-true recipe. —Dorothea Bohrer, Silver Spring, Maryland

Buddy the Elf Bark

Drawing inspiration from one of our favorite holiday movies, this Buddy the Elf dessert incorporates ramen noodles with chocolate, candy and everyone's favorite—marshmallows. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor

Homemade Turtle Candies

I am a self-taught candy maker through trial and error. This turtle candy recipe is a favorite of friends and family. —Carole Wiese, New Berlin, Wisconsin

Chevron Ornament Cookies

My crispy, buttery cookie is playful and elegant. It’s so much fun to make the chevron pattern in the dough. After it’s rolled out, I like to use an old-fashioned ornament cookie cutter, but try any pretty shape. —Taste of Home, Aria Thornton, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pretzel Polar Bears

Stick these cool cuties in a mug of hot chocolate or show them off on a holiday cookie tray. Covered in white chocolate and coconut, they’re almost too adorable to eat. Almost. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

No-Bake Christmas Wreath Treats

Cornflakes take the place of traditional rice cereal in these sweet, no-bake Christmas wreath cookies. Dressed up with green food coloring and red candies, they’re a pretty addition to cookie platters and dessert buffets. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Reindeer Snack Mix

Rudolph and his pals will be dashing, dancing and prancing to gobble up this savory snack mix. Humans also will enjoy the buttery, perfectly seasoned and wonderfully crunchy combination. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Penguin Cutouts

Your children can help decorate these cute Christmas cookies. It’s a great way to get them involved in the kitchen. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ornament Popcorn Balls

These gooey-sweet treats are great for dressing up the tree with a little more than the classic popcorn string. And they’re yummier and fun for the family, too. — Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies

These cookies were a holiday tradition in my family since I was a young child. Now my own family requests them before any others at Christmas. —Pat Schmeling, Germantown, Wisconsin

Crispy Peanut Butter Balls

I make over 40 different types of treats during the holidays for friends and family. These crispy peanut butter balls are one of my favorite candies to give away as gifts.—Liz David, St. Catharines, Ontario

Peppermint Lollipops

These lollipops can be made with any shape cookie cutter. Gingerbread men, snowmen, Christmas trees and reindeer—there are endless color and design options, so let your creative juices flow! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Peppermint Fudge

Three of the season’s best flavors-nuts, chocolate and peppermint-combine in a delightful manner in this scrumptious fudge. The two distinct layers are eye-catching-another reason why this candy makes a great holiday gift. —Connie Denmark, St. Joseph, Illinois

Santa’s Stuffed Belly Cookies

I have been seeing “surprise inside cookies” for a few years and really wanted to come up with my own version. After a little brainstorming, I came up with the idea of making Santa’s belly cookies and filling them with miniature cookies. These are so much fun to give as gifts—just wrap in colored cellophane and tie with a festive ribbon. You can exchange the mini cookies for candy or anything you’d like; if desired, you can color the cookie dough red, too. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

Hazelnut Toffee

The Willamette Valley produces a lot of hazelnuts, so this recipe truly represents our neck of the woods. I always make plenty of this delicious toffee to serve at Christmas and give as gifts. —Earlene Ertelt, Woodburn, Oregon

Homemade Holiday Marshmallows

This recipe was my grandpa’s favorite. Every year, he would busy himself by making Christmas marshmallows for his family and friends. —Diana Byron, New London, Ohio

Puppy Chow

This snack mix is perfect for a late-night treat or a as pick-me-up any time of the day. I sometimes take a batch to work, and it’s always eaten up quickly. It’s a slightly different cereal snack because of the chocolate and peanut butter. —Mary Obeilin, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

Cinnamon Star Cutouts

These cookies fill your home with an irresistible aroma as they bake. My grandmother made them every Christmas when I was a child. I have fond memories of helping her in the kitchen. —Jean Jones, Peachtree City, Georgia

Crispy Christmas Trees

These holiday novelties will draw admiring comments wherever you serve them— a sprinkle of sugar supplies a yuletide touch to each fanciful hand-shaped creation. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Christmas Elf Cake Pops

Happy elves that happen to taste like PB&J can easily be part of the party decor—until dessert, when they’ll magically disappear! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Candied Pecans

I pack these easy candied pecans in jars tied with pretty ribbon for family and friends. My granddaughter gave some to a doctor at the hospital where she works, and he said they were too good to be true! —Opal Turner, Hughes Springs, Texas

Chocolate-Covered Cherries

Not only is this my family’s favorite festive dessert, but it makes a delicious holiday present, too. Best of all, you can (and should) prepare these ahead. The candy gets better as it’s stored, with the centers becoming even juicier. —Linda Hammerich, Bonanza, Oregon

Holiday Meringue Miniatures

My kids love these light melt-in-your-mouth cookies, and have fun making them. These were always on our Christmas cookie plate when I was a kid, and now the tradition continues. —Susan Marshall, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Old Fashioned Hard Candy

A dusting of confectioner’s sugar gives a frosty look to this old-fashioned holiday candy. The color is beautiful and people are surprised by the wonderful watermelon flavor! —Amy Short, Lesage, West Virginia

Southern Pralines

This recipe is truly Southern, and it’s been a family favorite for years. I’ve packed many a Christmas tin with this candy.

Spicy Popcorn

When I want to indulge in a snack, I make this spicy popcorn. One batch doesn’t last long at our house. You can add more or less red pepper flakes to suit your family’s tastes. —Kay Young, Flushing, Michigan

Swedish Spice Cutouts

My sister, Judith Landgren of White Sulphur Springs, Montana, brought this recipe with her when she came to the United States from Sweden in 1928.

Easy Mint Thins

My friends often try to guess the ingredients, but I never tell them how simple they are to make. They taste just like the Girl Scout cookie, and they’re perfect for Christmas and bake sales. —Jennifer Setser, Morgantown, Indiana