There’s something magically festive about bite-sized treats that sparkle with holiday cheer — and that’s exactly why I’m excited to share this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe with you. These marshmallow pops are as fun to make as they are to eat, bringing together sweet, minty, and colorful flavors that instantly lift your spirits during the holiday season.

A close-up of a woman's hand holding a white chocolate-covered treat shaped like a stick. It is fully covered with small round red, green, and white sprinkles, giving it a festive look. The stick itself is bright red and white striped like a candy cane. In the background, there is a white plate with several other similar treats: some are covered with chocolate and white sprinkles, and others are covered with red and yellow swirled candy. Small bowls with more sprinkles and candy canes are also seen blurred behind the plate. The whole scene is set on a white marbled surface. 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

Having made these Christmas marshmallow pops a few times now, I can honestly say they add an extra layer of joy to holiday gatherings. It’s one of those treats where the simplicity makes it easy for anyone to whip up, yet the results look impressive and taste delicious. Plus, they bring everyone together — kids and adults alike can jump in decorating these together, which just adds to the fun.

Simple to Make: Few ingredients and straightforward steps mean you can have these ready in under 30 minutes.
Customizable Decorations: Use colorful candy melts and festive sprinkles to match your holiday theme perfectly.
Perfect for Gifting or Parties: Individually wrapped or displayed on a platter, they’re little edible decorations everyone will appreciate.
Kid-Friendly Activity: A fantastic way to get the kids involved in cooking without any complicated prep.

The image shows five candy canes lined up on a white plate, each covered with different layers and toppings. The first candy cane is dipped in smooth milk chocolate and sprinkled with small red, white, and green round sprinkles. The second is covered in dark chocolate with thick red and yellow drizzle stripes running diagonally across it. The third candy cane has a white coating decorated with red, green, and white tiny round sprinkles all over. The fourth is coated in milk chocolate and topped with crushed white peppermint bits. The fifth candy cane is dipped in white coating with thick red and yellow stripes drizzled around it like the second one, but on a white base. Around the plate, there are a few plain candy canes, a glass bowl filled with large white marshmallows, and small white dishes containing multicolored sprinkles and crushed peppermint bits. The entire setup is placed on a white marbled surface with a piece of green, red, and white plaid fabric and a decorated Christmas pine branch nearby photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

These ingredients come together to create a beautiful balance of texture, flavor, and visual appeal. I always recommend shopping for good-quality candy melts and fresh candy canes to make your pops truly stand out. Here’s why each element plays such a key role:

Flat lay of six glossy red-and-white striped candy canes arranged neatly beside eighteen large, fluffy white marshmallows, a small white ceramic bowl filled with smooth, melted dark chocolate, another white bowl holding creamy white melted chocolate, two small white bowls containing vibrant green and bright red candy melts, a petite white bowl with finely crushed candy cane pieces showcasing sparkling red and white fragments, and a small white bowl brimming with colorful holiday sprinkles in red, green, white, and gold shades, all placed 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: They form a fun, festive "stick" and add a subtle peppermint flavor, which works wonderfully with the sweet marshmallows.
Large Marshmallows: Their pillowy softness is the perfect canvas for chocolate and decorations.
Melting Chocolate: Provides the luscious coating that hardens quickly and carries all your decorations.
White Melting Chocolate: Gives a nice contrast to the brown chocolate and allows for colorful drizzles.
Green and Red Melts: These bright colors scream "holiday!" and are perfect for drizzling or piping festive designs.
Crushed Candy Canes: Adds crunchy texture and extra peppermint punch on top.
Holiday Sprinkles: For that final festive touch — they bring color, fun shapes, and sparkle.

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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

I love switching up the decorations depending on my mood or who I’m gifting to. Sometimes I drizzle more of the colorful melts to create fun stripes or dots, other times I keep it minimal with just crushed candy cane. You can totally personalize these Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe treats to fit your style!

Chocolate-only version: When I’m short on time, I stick with just dark or milk chocolate dipped with crushed candy canes on top — still festive and so tasty.
Nutty touch: Adding finely chopped nuts or crushed peppermint bark gives an extra layer of crunch I adore.
Vegan-friendly: Use vegan marshmallows and dairy-free melting chocolate to include everyone at your holiday table.

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

Step 1: Thread marshmallows onto candy canes

Start by carefully threading 3 large marshmallows onto each candy cane. I find it easier if I leave the candy canes wrapped at first, then give them a quick gentle wash before unwrapping — it prevents breakage. The candy cane loop makes a charming little handle, so don’t damage that part!

Step 2: Melt your chocolates and candy melts

This is the fun part! Microwave your chocolates in short 20-second bursts, stirring in between, until perfectly melted and glossy. I usually do the milk or dark chocolate first, then the white melting chocolate, and finally the red and green melts. Make sure you follow package instructions if they differ — you want smooth, tangle-free coatings.

Step 3: Dip and coat the marshmallow pops

Working quickly so the chocolate stays melted, dip about half of your marshmallow sticks in the dark or milk chocolate, and the other half in white chocolate. Use a spoon to help coat evenly, letting the chocolate drip off so you don’t get clumps. Leave the candy cane loop clear for holding. Place each pop on parchment paper to set.

Step 4: Decorate before the chocolate sets

While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle on crushed candy canes and festive sprinkles. For extra festive pizzazz, drizzle the red and green melts over some pops — I like using a piping bag or even a zip-top bag with a tiny corner snipped off. Let the pops rest for about 5 minutes to harden.

Top Tip

From my many attempts, I’ve learned a few things that really make these Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe treats shine — and save you from common frustrations.

Gentle Handling: Marshmallows can squish or tear easily, so thread them gently to avoid breaking or deforming them.
Chocolate Temperature: Avoid overheating your melts; chocolate that’s too hot won’t set properly and can get clumpy.
Crushing Candy Canes: I usually pop candy canes in a ziplock and use a rolling pin — it’s quick, easy and keeps the pieces uniform.
Allow Full Hardening: Patience pays off! Let the chocolates completely harden before moving or storing so your designs stay intact.

How to Serve Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe

Christmas Marshmallow Pops - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually go classic with crushed candy canes and holiday-themed sprinkles — red, green, white, and gold. Sometimes I add edible glitter or tiny silver sugar pearls for a bit of sparkle. These little touches make your pops instantly gift-worthy or party-ready.

Side Dishes

These marshmallow pops are themselves a fun treat, so I love pairing them with warm drinks like hot chocolate or eggnog. Sometimes I set them alongside gingerbread cookies or peppermint bark for a festive dessert spread.

Creative Ways to Present

Try standing the pops upright in a festive box or a foam block wrapped in holiday paper. You can also lay them flat on a decorative tray lined with tissue paper or scatter additional sprinkles around as edible confetti. For parties, I’ve even bundled them in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon for easy favors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once the chocolate has fully hardened, store your marshmallow pops in an airtight container at room temperature. In my experience, they keep beautifully for about 7 days. If your home is warm or humid, pop them in the fridge to avoid melting or sticky coatings.

Freezing

Freezing isn’t my favorite for these pops — the texture of marshmallows can change when frozen and thawed, becoming less fluffy. I usually recommend enjoying them fresh for the best taste and texture.

Reheating

Since these pops aren’t reheated, I just bring them to room temperature if refrigerated before serving. This keeps the chocolate from being too firm and helps the marshmallows fluff back up slightly.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular chocolate instead of melting chocolate?

Regular chocolate can be used but it doesn’t melt as smoothly or set as quickly as melting chocolate, so the coating might be thicker and less glossy. If you use regular chocolate, temper it carefully and consider adding a little vegetable oil to thin it out.

What’s the best way to crush candy canes for topping?

I find placing candy canes in a sturdy zip-top bag and crushing them with a rolling pin works perfectly — you control the size of the pieces and it’s mess-free! A food processor also works well if you pulse carefully to avoid turning them into dust.

Can kids safely help make these marshmallow pops?

Absolutely! This is a great kid-friendly holiday activity. Just keep an eye on them during the chocolate melting (especially if using a microwave), and help with threading marshmallows if they find the candy canes tricky to handle.

How long do Christmas Marshmallow Pops last?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these pops last up to 7 days. If your home is warm, refrigeration is recommended. However, they are best enjoyed fresh for the fluffiest marshmallow and crispest chocolate coating.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe really brings out the childlike joy of the holidays for me — it’s festive, fun, and incredibly satisfying to see those simple marshmallows transform into colorful holiday delights you can proudly display and share. I encourage you to give it a go, whether you’re crafting homemade gifts, adding whimsy to a party, or simply settling in with a cozy drink on a cold winter night. Trust me, once you try these, they just might become a new holiday tradition in your home too!