Recently, I unwrapped a delightful surprise—a bag of Szaloncukor, the Hungarian Christmas candy we used to hang on our tree as kids.
Szaloncukor might not be a household name in the U.S. unless you've had the joy of wandering through a European deli during the holidays. It didn't make America's Favorite Christmas Candy A-list either, where Kit Kat ranked top in 13 states, followed by a tie between Skittles and candy canes.
But here's the thing: these little Hungarian gems will always hold a special place in my heart (and, if they make it there, on my tree).
Now, I'm curious—what's your go-to holiday treat? Are you a fan of traditional candies or do you opt for something more unique and off the beaten path?
Anything dark chocolate. Cathy's women clsn would make caramel and individually wrap each one in wax paper....It was a treat!!! But labor intensive so they would make a batch and some cookie batches - then people would get a medley of these delicious butter- sugar bombs!!
My mom was the maker of alllll the Christmas candy (for lots of extended family who spent most of Christmas Day together, plus work events, neighbors,etc) so those are my favorites. She made bourbon balls (in some places these are rum balls but Mom was from Kentucky, so...), peanut butter balls (aka Buckeyes), candy wreaths (like a rice krispy treat but with cornflakes, green food coloring and cinnamon red hots to look like holly berries) and so many more!
As an adult, I mostly do Christmas cookies. I try new ones most years. During Covid I learned to make macarons. This year I made a molasses ginger cookie with three types of ginger.
I don’t understand what KitKats (which are mid anyway) have to do with Christmas. Did someone at least pick Ferrero Roche?
I remember these colorful hard candies that I only saw at Christmas. My mom liked the ribbon ones that were yellow and white streaked or red and white. I liked the little red raspberry-shaped ones that had were hard on the outside and soft in the middle with a raspberry flavor filling. Also my parents always put out a bowl of mixed nuts that you had to use a nutcracker on.
We’re heavily into homemade Christmas cookies…friends and neighbors exchange plates every year. Fun and very personal. While they’re not exactly candy, they’re our excuse to have piles of sugar in the house.
KitKat, Snickers, and Starburst as *Christmas* candies?? That is so weird! I'm a fan of the special edition candy cane Hershey's kisses, and peppermint bark.
My favorite are those chocolate-covered mint creme discs, although I can't find them anymore. They're like York peppermint patties but thinner and they come in a long skinny box.
My dad has always loved Turtles - little mounds of pecans, caramel, & chocolate. Honestly, he's not wrong, they're delicious. I always buy him a box for his stocking, so he's not required to share. I should start getting myself one!
Try as I might to try new and exciting holiday candies (chocolate with Hatch chiles?), I always go back to Hershey’s kisses. The original - just a small hunk of Hershey’s chocolate wrapped in tin foil. Oh and I also love gumdrops and only buy them at Christmas when they are dyed red and green.
Anything dark chocolate. Cathy's women clsn would make caramel and individually wrap each one in wax paper....It was a treat!!! But labor intensive so they would make a batch and some cookie batches - then people would get a medley of these delicious butter- sugar bombs!!
Nonpareils?
Pralines, peanut brittle, rum balls, divinity, date rolls, and then there is cookies of all sorts.
Priceless! So I'm also adding Reese's peanut butter cups to that list, the mini ones.
My mom was the maker of alllll the Christmas candy (for lots of extended family who spent most of Christmas Day together, plus work events, neighbors,etc) so those are my favorites. She made bourbon balls (in some places these are rum balls but Mom was from Kentucky, so...), peanut butter balls (aka Buckeyes), candy wreaths (like a rice krispy treat but with cornflakes, green food coloring and cinnamon red hots to look like holly berries) and so many more!
As an adult, I mostly do Christmas cookies. I try new ones most years. During Covid I learned to make macarons. This year I made a molasses ginger cookie with three types of ginger.
I don’t understand what KitKats (which are mid anyway) have to do with Christmas. Did someone at least pick Ferrero Roche?
York Peppermint Patties are the taste of Christmas!
Kit Kat and Skittles aren't Christmas candy - ?
I remember these colorful hard candies that I only saw at Christmas. My mom liked the ribbon ones that were yellow and white streaked or red and white. I liked the little red raspberry-shaped ones that had were hard on the outside and soft in the middle with a raspberry flavor filling. Also my parents always put out a bowl of mixed nuts that you had to use a nutcracker on.
We’re heavily into homemade Christmas cookies…friends and neighbors exchange plates every year. Fun and very personal. While they’re not exactly candy, they’re our excuse to have piles of sugar in the house.
KitKat, Snickers, and Starburst as *Christmas* candies?? That is so weird! I'm a fan of the special edition candy cane Hershey's kisses, and peppermint bark.
My favorite are those chocolate-covered mint creme discs, although I can't find them anymore. They're like York peppermint patties but thinner and they come in a long skinny box.
My dad has always loved Turtles - little mounds of pecans, caramel, & chocolate. Honestly, he's not wrong, they're delicious. I always buy him a box for his stocking, so he's not required to share. I should start getting myself one!
Try as I might to try new and exciting holiday candies (chocolate with Hatch chiles?), I always go back to Hershey’s kisses. The original - just a small hunk of Hershey’s chocolate wrapped in tin foil. Oh and I also love gumdrops and only buy them at Christmas when they are dyed red and green.