Christmas Candy and Sweets Favorites

Chrisrtmas time is coming, and we all know that aside from Valentine's Day, it's the sweetest time of the year. When the lights get put up, and the mistletoe is hung, you know it's about time for children, and sometimes adults, to start bouncing off the walls in a fit of sugar. Here are some sweet favorites that are popular at Christmastime. Perhaps you may get a few sweet ideas.

1. Candy canes: These sweet treats are not only a favorite holiday candy, but are also iconic with Christmas. Aside from seeing boxes of them piled high for purchase, you also see these curved candies on Christmas cards, Christmas ornaments, and even cookies shaped to look like candy canes. These candies aren't just available in refreshing mint anymore. There's an array of flavors, including a plethora of fruit flavors, as well as bubblegum and licorice. My favorite is Hershey's chocolate-mint candy canes.

2. Red and green M&Ms: One of your favorite snacks that can be packaged to represent any holiday. For Christmas, red and green M&Ms are packaged in a candy cane-shaped tube, which makes a great stocking stuffer. Also for Christmas, there is a "winter mix," which has M&Ms of blue and white hues.

3. Chocolate Santas: As long as there are candy molds, there will always be chocolate Santas. This beloved Christmas character and be found in milk, dark, and white chocolate most commonly.

4. Chocolate covered cherry cordials: You may be able to find these in some stores throughout the year, but they most commonly come out of hiding when it's Christmas. With milk chocolate shells that hold a creamy white filling, as well as a liquidy cherry filling and a cherry with a bite, these make for decadent, rich treats.

5. Fudge: If ever there was a candy that has become synonymous with Christmas, fudge would be it. Since the recipe was invented, fudge has been a tasty Christmas candy usually made in just chocolate. However, peanut butter fudge is becoming increasingly popular.

6. Candied fruit: Although not as popular, I have seen these sweet and fruity delights out on trays at Christmas parties. This a a great alternative for people who don't like chocolate very much.

7. Chocolate oranges: Terry has made this treat a real hit. For the lover of fruit and chocolate, this candy is in the shape of a real orange, but is chocolate infused with orange oil, stuck together in sections like a real orange.

8. Tootsie Rolls: Although Tootsie Rolls are enjoyed throughout the year, most commonly at Christmas, you see them packaged differently. To give kids a sweet treat and incentive to save their allowance, the Tootsie Rolls are packaged in a carboard tube, then capped with removable piece of plastic that has a slit in it large enough for coins to pass through. Even though I've only seen these in original Tootsie Roll flavor, there are apparently the same packages available in the flavored Tootsie Rolls.

9.Thin ribbon candy: I'm not a huge fan of it, but others enjoy the shiny, colorful, ribbonesque visual of ribbon candy, and savor several different flavors-- anywhere from peppermint to clove.

10. Marshmallow Peeps Snowmen: Again, I'm not a fan, but from the makers of the baby chicks that come out at Easter, Marshmallow Peeps has marshmallow snowmen, and other iconic holiday items made into marshmallow edibles, for the holidays.

And with your mouth left watering, there are ten most popular Christmas candies. I hope you may now have some ideas of what to stuff into stockings this season!