Nothing says festive quite like a sweet treat on a stick, and this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe is exactly that—fun, colorful, and irresistibly delicious. These pops are perfect for cozying up with a mug of cocoa or sharing as an easy gift at holiday parties.

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

I adore this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe because it’s a breeze to make yet feels like a festive work of art. Plus, everyone from kids to adults gets a kick out of creating and decorating their own treats.

Super simple assembly: Just thread marshmallows and dip—they’re perfect for even last-minute holiday fun.
Customizable decorations: You can go classic with crushed candy canes or get creative with colorful melted candy melts and sprinkles.
Festive and kid-friendly: These marshmallow pops are an activity and a treat rolled into one, making holiday gatherings extra special.
Perfect for gifting: Wrapped up nicely, they make adorable edible gifts or party favors that everyone will appreciate.

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

The magic of this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe lies in the simple yet complementary ingredients that come together to delight the senses — sweet, crunchy, and colorful all at once. When shopping, look for good-quality candy melts for smoother coatings and crunchy candy canes for that essential holiday snap.

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: These form the sturdy, festive "stick" and add peppermint flavor, essential for holiday vibes.
Large marshmallows: The fluffy base that's easy to dip and decorate — choose fresh ones for the best texture.
Melting chocolate: Smooth and rich, it coats half the pops for a deliciously classic chocolate flavor.
White melting chocolate: Provides contrast and a blank canvas for colorful decoration.
Green and red candy melts: Perfect for seasonal drizzle designs that add fun and festive color.
Crushed candy canes: Adds texture and extra minty spark when sprinkled on top.
Holiday sprinkles: Because no Christmas treat is complete without a colorful flourish!

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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 thing I love about this Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. I often switch up the colors and decorations depending on my mood or who I’m making them for, and you can too!

Holiday themes: One year, I made blue and silver pops for a winter wonderland twist—just swap out red and green melts for blue and silver sprinkles.
Dietary tweaks: Use dairy-free or vegan chocolate melts if needed, it works just as well and keeps everyone happy.
Add some crunch: Try adding chopped nuts or crushed peppermint bark for an extra festive texture variation.

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

Step 1: Assemble the Pops

I start by threading three large marshmallows onto each candy cane. I’ve tried unwrapping the candy canes first, but they tend to break easily—so now I usually leave them wrapped and give them a gentle quick wash instead. It keeps the pops sturdy and pepperminty without any mess.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate

Next, I melt the different chocolates in microwave-safe bowls. I always microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring in between, until the texture is silky smooth. This helps prevent burning and makes dipping a dream. I do this separately for brown, white, and the colored candy melts—following the package instructions closely for the colored ones.

Step 3: Dip and Decorate

Here’s where the fun gets messy—in the best way. Rapidly, I coat half of the marshmallows in the melted brown chocolate and half in white, using a spoon to help drizzle every inch without covering the candy cane loop. Then, while the chocolate is still soft and gooey, I sprinkle crushed candy canes and holiday sprinkles over them. For some pops, I melt the red and green melts and drizzle them on top with a piping bag; it really adds a festive flourish. They only need about 5 minutes to harden before you’re ready to dig in or gift.

Top Tip

After making Christmas Marshmallow Pops a handful of times, I've learned a few neat tricks that make the process smoother and the results look better. I want to share these so you can avoid some of the little mishaps I ran into.

Melting Chocolate Carefully: Use short microwave bursts and stir between each to avoid burning the chocolate—it keeps the texture glossy and perfect for dipping.
Crushing Candy Canes: I found that placing candy canes in a Ziploc and gently rolling over them with a rolling pin creates the best-sized pieces—not too big, not powdery.
Decorate Before Chocolate Sets: Sprinkles and crushed candy need to be added while the chocolate’s soft, or else they won’t stick well and might fall off later.
Storage Matters: Don’t refrigerate unless it’s super warm where you are—moisture can make your chocolate coats sweaty and lose their shine.

How to Serve Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe

Christmas Marshmallow Pops - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love using classic crushed peppermint candy canes and a mix of colorful holiday-themed sprinkles on these marshmallow pops. They add that crunchy texture and vibrant look that instantly screams Christmas. Sometimes, I throw in edible glitter for a frosty finish—kids especially love that sparkle!

Side Dishes

Serve these pops alongside warm drinks like hot cocoa or mulled cider—it’s a cozy combo. I’ve also paired them with gingerbread cookies or peppermint bark for an all-around festive dessert table that feels indulgent but not overwhelming.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I like lining the pops up in a tall mason jar filled with sugar or colorful beads to keep them upright. Wrapping each pop individually in cellophane tied with ribbon turns them into charming gift bags. And arranging them on a festive platter with fairy lights around really makes your dessert table pop!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once the chocolate coating has set, store your Christmas Marshmallow Pops in an airtight container at room temperature. In my experience, they stay fresh and tasty for up to a week. If it’s warm in your kitchen, the fridge works fine, but just be aware that condensation might dull the chocolate’s shine.

Freezing

I generally don’t freeze marshmallow pops, as the texture can get a bit off once thawed—marshmallows don’t take well to freezing, becoming extra chewy or sticky. It’s best to enjoy them fresh or within a few days.

Reheating

Since these are mostly a decorated treat, reheating isn’t usually necessary. But if you want to soften a bit of chocolate, you can gently warm the pops in a dry pan over very low heat just for a few seconds—watch closely so they don’t melt!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular chocolate instead of melting chocolate for this recipe?

Regular chocolate can work, but melting chocolate or candy melts are designed to melt smoothly and harden well without seizing. If you use regular chocolate, temper it carefully to avoid clumping or streaks.

How long can I store Christmas Marshmallow Pops?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they stay fresh for up to 7 days. Refrigeration is an option for warmer climates but can cause condensation. Freezing is not recommended.

Can kids help make this recipe?

Absolutely! Kids love threading the marshmallows and decorating the pops. Just supervise when handling melted chocolate to keep everyone safe.

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

Placing candy canes inside a zip-top bag and crushing them gently with a rolling pin or a heavy pan works great to get small, even pieces without making candy dust.

Final Thoughts

Making these Christmas Marshmallow Pops is one of my favorite festive rituals because it brings a little sparkle and sweetness to the kitchen without any fuss. They’re surprisingly versatile, delightfully kid-friendly, and add a homemade charm to holiday celebrations. I really hope you’ll give this recipe a try—imagine the joyful faces when you pull out a platter of colorful, peppermint-kissed marshmallow pops. It’s that little extra magic every holiday needs.