There’s something utterly joyful about festive sweets that bring back childhood memories, and this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe does just that. They’re whimsical, colorful, and so simple to make, making them a perfect treat for holiday gatherings or just sharing some seasonal cheer.

A close-up of a festive treat held by a woman's hand, showing one layer of white coating covered with small round sprinkles in red, green, and white. The treat is shaped like a long cylinder on a red and white striped candy cane stick that the woman's hand holds at the bottom. Behind the treat is a white plate with several other similar treats, including some coated in dark chocolate with white and red sprinkles and others with swirled red and yellow coatings. The background surface has a white marbled texture with some holiday decorations barely visible in soft focus. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

From the first time I popped these marshmallow pops into my mouth, I knew they were a holiday game-changer. They’re festive, fun to make (especially with kids), and taste like a holiday party in every bite.

Easy to Make: No baking required - just assemble, dip, and decorate, which means you can whip these up in a flash.
Customizable Fun: You can swap colors, decorations, or even chocolate types to match your own holiday style.
Perfect for Gifting: These pops look adorable wrapped in cellophane, making them a thoughtful, homemade holiday gift.
Kid-Friendly Activity: Getting the little ones involved is a breeze, and they love customizing their own marshmallow pops.

Five candy canes are each covered with a thick layer of chocolate or icing, arranged in a row on a white plate against a white marbled surface. The first candy cane is coated in milk chocolate with small red, white, and green round sprinkles. The second candy cane has a milk chocolate layer decorated with red and yellow icing lines crisscrossing. The third candy cane is covered in white icing with red and green round sprinkles. The fourth candy cane has a milk chocolate coating topped with small pieces of crushed white peppermint candy. The fifth candy cane is covered in white icing with red and yellow icing lines in a crisscross pattern. To the right, a glass bowl holds white marshmallows, and there are extra plain candy canes and bowls of red, green, and white round sprinkles in the background. Some green Christmas tree branches and a red ribbon are partly visible on the upper left corner, and a red, green, and white plaid cloth lies below the white plate. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

These ingredients come together beautifully not just because of their taste, but because each plays a unique role in the festive magic of this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe. Here’s why I love each one and a few tips to keep you on track when shopping.

Flat lay of six red and white striped candy canes, eighteen large white marshmallows, a small white ceramic bowl filled with rich melted dark chocolate, a small white ceramic bowl of smooth white melting chocolate, a small white ceramic bowl with vibrant green candy melts, a small white ceramic bowl containing bright red candy melts, a small white ceramic bowl holding crushed candy cane pieces, a small white ceramic bowl scattered with multicolored holiday sprinkles, arranged symmetrically and naturally on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Candy Canes: Using candy canes as the base adds that perfect peppermint crunch and fun handle for these pops. I find leaving them wrapped until just before use protects them from breaking early.
Large Marshmallows: Big, fluffy marshmallows create a soft foundation and allow the chocolate coating to stick nicely.
Melting Chocolate: Smooth and glossy, the chocolate coats the marshmallows beautifully and hardens with a shiny finish. I like to use good quality melting chocolate for the best flavor.
White Melting Chocolate: Adds contrast and gives you the chance to create classic festive color combos.
Green & Red Melts: These are great for drizzling and adding that extra pop of color and holiday spirit. If you don’t find colored melts, candy melts or food coloring can work too.
Crushed Candy Canes: Adds texture and accentuates the peppermint flavor – plus, the little crunch is delightful.
Holiday Sprinkles: I love using festive sprinkles because they make each pop uniquely joyful and vibrant.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

What’s most fun about this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe is how approachable it is for tweaks. Whether you want to make them without chocolate for a simpler sweet or use different candy colors to match other holidays, customization is part of the magic.

Variation: I once tried using dark chocolate instead of milk for a richer taste, and it was such a treat. You could also swap candy canes for pretzel sticks for a salty-sweet combo.
Dietary Adjustments: If you want to make these vegan, just look for vegan marshmallows and dairy-free melting chocolate – it works just as well!
Seasonal Changes: I like to swap the red and green colored melts for pastels if I’m making these for Valentine’s or Easter parties.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe

Step 1: Prepping Your Candy Cane Skewers

Start by threading three marshmallows onto each candy cane. I prefer to keep the candy canes wrapped until this step because they’re fragile and prone to snapping. If you do unwrap them first, give them a quick rinse and dry to remove any residual candy dust.

Step 2: Melting the Chocolate with Care

Pop your melting chocolates into microwave-safe bowls. Heat in short bursts of 20 seconds, stirring in between – this prevents scorching and ensures a smooth, glossy result. Repeat for your milk chocolate, white chocolate, and colored melts separately. Trust me, this gentle melting approach saves you headaches!

Step 3: Dipping and Decorating

Working rather quickly, coat half of your marshmallow pops in the brown (milk) chocolate, and the other half in the white chocolate. Use a spoon to drizzle chocolate gently, covering all marshmallow surfaces but not the candy cane handle. Place them on parchment paper to set. While still wet, sprinkle with crushed candy canes and holiday sprinkles for that festive flair. Drizzle colorful melts over some pops with a piping bag or spoon for eye-catching designs.

Step 4: Letting Them Set

Give the chocolate about 5 minutes to harden fully before handling. This step is crucial — rushing it can smudge your beautiful decorations!

Top Tip

Through many tasty trials, I've picked up a few pointers that help keep these marshmallow pops picture-perfect and delicious every time.

Chocolate Melting: Avoid overheating by heating in short bursts—this keeps your chocolate silky, not clumpy.
Candy Cane Handling: Leave candy canes wrapped as long as possible to prevent breakage, and wash them quickly if unwrapped first.
Decoration Timing: Sprinkle or drizzle the toppings while the chocolate coating is still wet to ensure they stick nicely.
Storage Readiness: Wait for the coating to set fully before attempting to package or move your pops to prevent smudges.

How to Serve Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe

Christmas Marshmallow Pops - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick with classic crushed candy canes and festive sprinkles because they add both texture and color. Sometimes I’ll add edible glitter for a little holiday sparkle—that always brings smiles!

Side Dishes

These marshmallow pops pair beautifully with hot cocoa or a cozy holiday punch. For a savory-sweet balance, try serving alongside spiced nuts or cheese and cracker boards.

Creative Ways to Present

I like to arrange them upright in jars filled with festive colored sugar or crushed candy canes to keep them standing tall. Wrapping each pop in clear cello bags with red ribbons turns them into charming edible gifts too.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once the chocolate has fully hardened, I store these marshmallow pops in an airtight container at room temperature. In cooler climates or during winter, this works perfectly for up to a week. If it's warm where you are, I recommend keeping them in the fridge to avoid melting.

Freezing

Freezing isn’t something I usually do for these pops because the texture can suffer after thawing. The marshmallows might get a little soggy, and the chocolate coating could dull or crack.

Reheating

Since these are best enjoyed fresh, I don’t typically reheat Christmas marshmallow pops. If you want to warm them slightly, a quick blast of warm air with a hairdryer (on low) can freshen the shine on your chocolate coating without melting the marshmallow inside.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of melting chocolate?

While regular chocolate chips can work if melted carefully, they often don't melt as smoothly as melting chocolates and may result in a clumpy texture. If you use them, chop finely and add a tiny bit of vegetable oil to help with smoothness.

What’s the best way to crush candy canes?

I prefer putting candy canes in a sealed plastic bag and smashing them gently with a rolling pin to control the size of the pieces. A food processor works too, but it can sometimes pulverize them too finely quickly.

Can I make this recipe without candy canes?

Absolutely! You can swap out candy canes with sturdy pretzel sticks or lollipop sticks depending on your preference, just be mindful the peppermint flavor is part of the charm but optional.

How long do Christmas Marshmallow Pops stay fresh?

They stay fresh for up to a week if stored in an airtight container at room temperature, or in the fridge if your home tends to be warmer. Just make sure the chocolate coating is fully set before storing.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe really holds a special place in my heart because it’s more than just candy—it’s simple holiday fun that anyone can enjoy making and sharing. Whether you’re looking for a festive treat to brighten your family gatherings or a sweet gift that shows you care, these pops will deliver smiles with every bite. Trust me, once you try them, they’ll become your holiday staple.