There’s something truly magical about the holidays when sweet treats start popping up everywhere. This Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe is one of my favorite festive delights — it’s easy, colorful, and brings that cozy holiday feeling with every bite. Trust me, these pops look impressive but are super simple to pull together!

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

This Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe has become my go-to holiday project for gifting and decorating. They’re fun to personalize, quick to make, and bring so much joy to kids and adults alike—plus, they're the perfect excuse to get creative with colors and sprinkles!

Simple & Fun: You don’t need to be a pro to make these — just a little melting chocolate and marshmallows, and you’re set.
Festive Flair: The red, green, and white colors make these pops instantly recognizable and perfect for holiday parties or stocking stuffers.
Customizable: You can mix up the decorations with crushed candy canes, sprinkles, or chocolate drizzles to make each pop uniquely yours.
Kid-Friendly Activity: It’s a great recipe to get kids involved in the kitchen — from threading marshmallows to decorating their own 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

This Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe uses ingredients that come together effortlessly but create something festive and absolutely delightful. Here’s why each one is important:

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: They act as both a stick and a seasonal treat, adding peppermint flavor and a whimsical hook shape.
Large Marshmallows: The fluffy, soft base that’s perfect for coating and holding up to the decorators’ touch.
Melting Chocolate: Provides that luscious, hardening coating that seals in marshmallow goodness and looks beautiful when glossy.
White Chocolate & Colored Melts: These add contrast and festive colors so you can have variety and make your pops pop!
Crushed Candy Canes: Sprinkle on for an extra crunch and minty burst that screams holiday.
Holiday Sprinkles: Because a little sparkle and color instantly up the festive fun.

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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

One of the reasons I keep coming back to this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe is how easy it is to tailor it. You can swap out classic peppermint for cocoa powder in the chocolate to make it richer or change sprinkles to suit different themes. I’ve tried a version with crushed nuts too—for a little crunch—and it was a hit!

Variation: Last year, I dipped some marshmallows in dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate and drizzled white chocolate on top. It gave a beautiful contrast and a more sophisticated feel.

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

Step 1: Thread the Marshmallows

First things first, gently thread three large marshmallows onto each candy cane. I usually leave the candy canes wrapped while threading to avoid breaking them, then give them a quick gentle wash afterward. This little trick keeps them sturdy and easy to handle.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolates

Next, melt your chocolates—regular, white, and colored melts—in separate microwave-safe bowls. I heat them in 20-second bursts, stirring well in between to prevent seizing. Following package instructions helps, but that gentle approach is what’s saved my batch from ruined chocolate more than once!

Step 3: Coat the Marshmallow Pops

Now the fun part: dip your marshmallow pops carefully in the melted chocolate. I coat about half in milk chocolate, half in white chocolate for a nice variety. Use a spoon to help drizzle the chocolate over every inch except the candy cane itself. Work quickly—chocolate sets fast!

Step 4: Decorate and Set

While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle on crushed candy canes and your holiday-themed sprinkles. You can even drizzle more of the colored melts on top for extra flair, using a piping bag or simply a spoon. Then, set the pops aside on parchment paper for about 5 minutes to let everything harden.

Top Tip

From my many festive baking sessions, I’ve learned a few things that make this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe come out perfect every time.

Gentle Threading: Leave candy canes in their wrapper while threading marshmallows to prevent breakage, then wash them quickly before decorating.
Chocolate Melting: Heat chocolate in short bursts and stir often to avoid overheating or burning, which causes clumping.
Work Quickly: Chocolate sets fast, so have your sprinkles and crushed candy canes ready before dipping for smooth decorating.
Use Parchment Paper: Always place finished pops on parchment to stop them sticking and to make cleanup a breeze.

How to Serve Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe

Christmas marshmallow pops - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love topping these pops with colorful holiday sprinkles and crushed candy canes because they add texture and a festive crunch. Sometimes, I add a little edible glitter for a bit of sparkle — it makes them look like candy-coated mini presents!

Side Dishes

These marshmallow pops pair beautifully with a cup of hot cocoa or a tray of gingerbread cookies when you want the perfect holiday spread. They’re also amazing alongside warm apple cider for a cozy treat lineup.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I arrange these pops standing upright in a decorated polystyrene foam block wrapped with festive paper. Adding some pine sprigs or holly leaves in between the pops instantly elevates the display. I've also presented them in mason jars filled with red and green sugar for a charming gift idea.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After the chocolate has fully hardened, store your Christmas Marshmallow Pops in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you live somewhere warm or humid, I’d suggest refrigerating them so the chocolate doesn’t get sticky or melt.

Freezing

I don’t recommend freezing these pops since the marshmallows can become rubbery and the chocolate may lose its smooth texture when thawed. It’s best to enjoy them fresh or within a week of making.

Reheating

Since these are meant to be enjoyed cold or at room temperature, reheating isn’t necessary. If chocolate looks dull after storage, just give it a few minutes at room temperature to soften slightly and restore that lovely shine.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use different marshmallow sizes for this recipe?

While large marshmallows work best because they’re easier to thread and decorate, you can use mini marshmallows if you’re careful. Just keep in mind the coating and decorating steps will be fiddlier and quick setting chocolate can be tricky on smaller sizes.

What’s the best way to crush candy canes?

The quickest method is putting candy canes in a sealed plastic bag and using a rolling pin to crush them gently. Alternatively, a food processor works like a charm and requires less elbow grease—just pulse until you have the desired size of pieces.

Can I make the pops ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make these pops a day or two ahead and store them in an airtight container. Just keep them at room temperature or refrigerated depending on your climate. This way, you can have your festive treats ready before the holiday rush.

Can I substitute candy canes with skewers or sticks?

Yes, you can use wooden skewers or lollipop sticks instead of candy canes for ease and variety. Just keep in mind you’ll lose the peppermint flavor and the fun candy cane hook shape, but they do make decorating and handling a bit simpler.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe is one of those easy, feel-good treats I always come back to during the holidays. It’s quick, colorful, and brings a little sparkle to any gathering or gift bag. I know you’ll enjoy the fun of making these as much as eating them — so grab your candy canes and marshmallows and get ready to add some extra magic to your Christmas celebrations!