Holly Jollies – Christmas Candy On A Budget, In A Hurry!
This is the busiest time of year for most of us. We have all of the decorations to put up and tend to, presents to shop for and wrap, visits to Santa, to see lights, to see family…and on top of it all we really want to bake and prepare treats for those we love and appreciate!
I prefer, whenever possible, to give a homemade gift rather than a storebought, but sometimes I just don’t have the time in the kitchen that I’d like. Ironically, the time of year I’d like to cook the most is also the time of year I have the least amount of time to do it in. Holly Jollies come to the rescue! My kids love making these with me and you can easily turn out a customized candy in very little time and using very little money. Chances are, you may even have some of the ingredients on hand already.
For this tutorial, I made enough Holly Jollies to send to twelve teachers and staff members of my kid’s schools in about half an hour, start to finish! Could it get any better than that? It sure can – I only had one bowl and on spoon to wash when I was done! ~grins~
Ingredients are mostly up to you but they start with mini muffin papers and almond bark. I like to get a different color or pattern mini muffin paper for each variety, and then give an assortment to folks that they can easily tell apart. I love using almond bark in these because it is just a little over two dollars a package and each package, with add ins, will make about 36 mini muffin sized treats.
The kids really like rice krispies added in there but Ricky’s favorite is salted peanuts.
Now some folks will tell you to melt this big old hunk of chocolate in a double broiler but last I checked, not many of us had a hankering to make something difficult when it could be easy. So what we’re gonna do instead is plop this thing in a large mixing bowl and stick that puppy in the microwave.
Let’s microwave it for 90 seconds to start.
I know, I know. It doesn’t look like it’s making much headway but hang in there, honey bunches.
Now stick it back in for about 45 seconds and then stir it up a bit. The package says to microwave it for thirty seconds at a time but you know how I like to live dangerously and all that… Keep on doing this, stirring it after every thirty seconds, and in a few cycles it will be all smooth and creamy.
While that is melting, put your mini muffin papers in your mini muffin pan.
I bet y’all are ashamed of me for using this one. It’s old and stained, but I promise it’s clean. Usually, I make regular sized muffins for Southern Plate because I have what I call a “stunt pan” that I use only for posts so it doesn’t get all stained up like muffin pans tend to do. I’ve caught Ricky about to use that one a time or two and get this look of horror on my face as I seem to call out in slow motion “nooooo! That’s my stunt pan!”.
But hey, it’s Christmas, we’re all a bit overextended, so I figured y’all could just pretend this one was all pristine and such.
Looky here, almost done.
Smooth as can be and ready to go!
This is where I call in the experts. Everyone knows that candy tastes better if you let kids do it.
They’re just naturally sweeter than us 
Getting my kids in the kitchen is extremely important to me, but especially so at Christmas. If I’m making something for them to give, I want them to enjoy the happiness (and learn the importance) of giving something you personally had a hand in making. In my mind, this is one of those activities that helps them to grow up with their heads in the right place.
They are also very proficient at the latest quality control techniques and therefore will insist on tasting the rice krispies before they use them!
I use several things in these Holly Jollies, but I only do one ingredient per batch.
- Peanut holly jollies, with salted peanuts stirred in (Ricky’s favorite)
- Rice Krispie Holly Jollies, with rise krispies stirred in (kid’s favorite)
- Raisin Holly Jollies, with raisins stirred in (one of my favorites)
- Cranberry Holly Jollies with dried cranberries stirred into white almond bark. (My top favorite)
The sky is truly the limit with these.
Whatever add in you choose, you’ll want to add about two cups of it as Katy Rose is doing here.
Speaking of Katy Rose…
She goes to preschool in a church and brought this coloring picture home. She took it out of her backpack and brought it to me and asked:
“Mama, is Jesus wearing a Snuggie?”
~snickers~
And stir it well.
Once you have your add ins mixed in there well, spoon it into your mini muffin papers.
This is going to make about three dozen.
But what I do is once I fill up my muffin tin (it only holds 24), I just spoon the rest onto waxed paper.
Allow those to harden, it won’t take long.
Here are our muffin paper ones…
and here are the ones from the waxed paper.
Now just go crazy and have fun! I use a different add in for each package of almond bark. This is peanuts.
Remember to get the salted ones, they are just wonderful in this!
I love dried cranberries stirred into white almond bark and it’s really pretty for the holidays, too!
This would also be great with nuts added in as well, or why not just do the white with cashews or other dried fruit that you like?
Seriously, knock yourself out with these.
Once you get your chocolate melted you can have these babies done from start to finish in about five minutes and it only dirties up one bowl.
This is the most fuss free holiday recipe I have!
In about half an hour, I was able to turn out enough Holly Jollies for twelve teacher’s gifts.
I packaged them in the little clear cellophane party favor bags you get in the party section at Wal Mart or the grocery store (my Dollar General has them, too). You get about twenty for a little over a dollar. I LOVE THOSE THINGS, especially this time of year. I use them for so many things. They are perfect for candy, cookies, and even miniature loaves of bread. They are also pretty enough to just tie with some curling ribbon and deliver as is.
Most importantly, it allows you to create gifts for folks and not have to spend more on the packaging than you did making the gift!
For my Holly Jollies, I found these little tin buckets at Target for $1.00 each, and picked up a few. I normally don’t spend that much on packaging, though.
I also picked up a package of plastic Christmas themed cups at Wal Mart, they were three for $1.50 but you can also get others that are 5 for $1.00 there if you like. I just put my Holly Jollies in a clear party favor bag and stuck them down in there. I included a couple of each type of Holly Jolly with each cup for variety. The kids just loved being able to take these to school! Doesn’t it make you feel good to see kids so excited to be giving things to folks?
I love those little munchkins.
Holly Jollies are so quick, easy, and economical that you can afford to give treats to all of the kind people you encounter regularly throughout the year.
We always think of teachers, but what about the school’s support staff? Does your child eat in the lunchroom – what about the lunchroom ladies and the school janitor? All of these are folks who can make your child’s day with a smile and a kind word. I’ll just bet that if you sent them some Holly Jollies, you’d make theirs, too.
Holly Jollies
For Each Batch (about 36 mini muffin sized holly jollies):
1 Package Almond Bark (white or chocolate)
36 mini muffin papers
2 Cups of one or more of the following (get creative!)
- Salted Peanuts
- Rice Krispie Cereal
- Dried Cranberries
- Raisins
- Other salted nuts
- Your favorite dried fruit, chopped to the size of raisins
Line a mini muffin tin with mini muffin papers. Place almond bark in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave for a minute and a half; stir. Return to microwave and microwave for about thirty seconds at a time, stirring each time, until bark is smooth and creamy.* Remove from microwave and stir in two cups of your choice of add in. Spoon into mini muffin papers and allow to sit until cool and hardened. You can put them in the refrigerator to speed up the process if you like.
Package and give with a smile on your face and a grateful heart.
*Note: Take special care not to allow even the tiniest drop of water to get into the bark as it will clot up if you do.
Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.”
~ Peg Bracken.
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Sounds so easy and good! Who doesn’t like chocolate and rice krispies or peanuts. I bet cashews would be good as well with this!
This recipe was great with rice krispies- I used the white chocolate. Next time think I will add in Kix, or cheerios- or All of the above
great idea…. and so easy. Thanks for sharing. by the way my butterball was great.
Love this idea!! Gosh, so easy, and so tasty! Thanks for sharing. I must say though, my favorite part of the post was your daughter’s question about Jesus wearing the Snuggie!! I am still laughing!!! That’s the best!
ROFL on the snuggie!!! I have been doing these “clusters” for years and I use all kinds of nuts and all kinds of cereals! Your imagination is you guide! I also use the white bark with colorful ingredients!
What about crushed peppermints? That sounds good and would look nice in the White chocolate.
Another stir in that I always made for my Dad was coconut. We called them haystacks. Christmas mugs make nice little packaging containers. I pick them up at yard sales and thrifts shops all year round-usually between a dime and a quarter in price. Wash them and a quick dip in bleach rinse and I feel confident they are saniitary.
Hi Christy!
Making holiday candy is something my hubby and I do together and have a blast. Two other ideas… we add to white chocolate is crushed up candy canes… and also to white chocolate is crushed up oreos…. the oreos are heaven!
Thanks for the great ideas!
Tracie
Wow!! I was just thinking today about making little tins for the girls in the office! I think these would be wonderful. Macadamia nuts in the white chocolate/cranberry would be delicious!!
I loved the part about the snuggie, that was so cute and hilarious!!
Gall I love this!!! Bring some cranberry with white chocolate versions for me tomorrow to sneak in to the movies. lol I am totally going to do this!
Out of the mouth of babes…precious!! ~~giggles about the Snuggie~
Bountiful Blessings !
Thanks, Christy! You saved the day! I was honestly wondering what I could do for my son’s teachers and support staff and this is the answer!
I wanted to ask if it is difficult to get the candy out of the muffin wrappers or if they separate without much trouble?
Merry Christmas!
Thank you! Here is another EASY project I can do with my 3 year old. You’re so wonderful, Christy! Katy looks like an absolute doll – I love her hair ribbon!
Brilliant! I have had these with coconut before but it never dawned on me to use other things. Love the candy cane and oreo ideas others posted as well.
Thanks for the idea and the excellent site! I’m truly becoming addicted to this place lol
I almost fell outta my puter chair laughing at the snuggie comment! how precious!!
I love making these too. I have used marshmellows, andes mints crushed, oreos crushed in the white bark, I think you are right Christy… possibilites are truly endless.
Christy what a wonderful treat to make and give away or put on the Christmas table. I will make these for sure! My granddaughters will enjoy helping! Thank you!
The snuggie comment was soooooooo cute! I love the sound of this one
Thank you for the great idea. I was wondering what to do for the neighbors in the cul-de-sac. This will be perfect and I love it when my kids get to help me.
Yes sir, another BIG bonus with Christy and Southern plate, is all the variety of creative & fantastic tips/ideas that the readers add in the comments. I am REALLY starting to like this place ;}
So, I think I am gonna take some of these to the White House for the next State dinner that I am gonna crash to bribe the doormen. ~snickers~ Just kiddin’ ya’ll.
Christy……I sure hope you are NOT eating ckn stew when you read this, and don”t spew your food. tee hee
Sorry to show my ignorance here, but I’ve never heard of almond bark. Do you find it in the baking aisle?
Yes it should be near the chocolate chips and stuff, usually on a higher shelf in my market anyway.
Hi Carla,
Now, don’t you fret! Your not knowing about Almond Bark just means you have not come across a recipe asking for it. I learn new things every day about cooking, food and baking. From all my observations, the product is usually located on the top shelf of the baking items, usually above the morsels, etc.
Good luck w/ your Holly Jollies. ~waves~
How easy and fuss free! Thank you so much for the great idea. And yes, I am busting a gut over the snuggie comment too. Kids are great.
How cute! I bet you’re the favorite parent at the school- unless the teacher is on a diet!
I’m sure Jesus and friends would have loved Snuggies!
What a wonderful idea! And so easy! Thanks, Christy.
You are so funny! I don’t think I’ve ever seriously laughed while reading a recipe. You’re daughters Snuggie-Jesus comment: hilarious.
Great idea for gifts, btw! I think I may whip up a few for the in-laws!
I love this idea. You Rock and I love your cookbook. I bought cookbooks for all the women in my family for Christmas and I am so excited to share it with them!
Thanks so much Christy!
I make these every year, cause my mom made them too every year, along with peanut brittle and a drunken fruit cake, my fav! I have never heard them called this before, I actually give them as gifts alot, and people would ask me the name, and i didn’t know, I like this name alot, thanks for the tip on white chocolate and cranberries, that’s going to be my new fav! I actually just came back from the store with a big tray of peanuts to chocolate cover and eat! how funny.
Thanks for the idea of giving to the support staff! I’m sure they get left out a lot. The Snuggie comment had me laughing! Both my 4year old daughter and my 6 year old son both asked for Snuggies on there Christmas list.
Thanks for keepin’ it real and using your everyday muffin tin! Mine looks the same way! ;o) Love this recipe it’s quick and easy.. just what is needed during this time of year!!
Yeah, Patti, I have heard of a “stunt man” but never a “stunt pan”. Christy is keepin’ it real today.
Hi I found your site through Southern Savers. Is Jesus wearing a snuggie….hahahaha. Also, be careful living on the wild side melting chocolate too long. I accidentally melted my tupperware measuring bowl once doing that…and didn’t realize until I had already made the chocolate cheescake and scraped plastic into it. It was sad…
I like the idea of the candy cups. I have doing this for years but as “chocolate bark” then break it up.
Some other additions: pretzels, drained marachino cherries and/or peanut butter.
I’ve been reading here a couple months & am growing fonder all the time of “Southern Plate”. Love this simple but wonderful, AND QUICK, recipe! What about trying M’n'Ms, cut-up pb cups, or slightly crushed vanilla wafers as additions? Thanks so much, Christy, for Southern Plate in general & Holly Jollies in specific!
Oh–and your little girl’s query about Jesus’ attire was a HOOT and a half, LOL!
~~Bron
Ooh! That looks tasty! Usually, every Christmas, I do a dark chocolate peppermint bark (I like throwing in extra mint flavoring too) that everyone asks for each year. But this looks like it might become another favorite! Definitely going to try my hand at these.
I loved Katy Rose’s comment about the snuggie. It’s the best when you get a good glimpse into a child’s thought process. This may not be the best place to tell this story, but not too long ago my son (2 yrs.) went to the bathroom. He discovered something he had never seen before. He came and got me to show me and said, “I guess the leprechaun did it.” I’m sure you can guess what it was!
This recipe looks easy and delicious! I think we will make this along with our traditional cookies with nana.
Have you already published a cookbook? If so I have to have it!!!
okay okay, you got me this time Christy … most times I can figure out what you’re talking about, and find alternate ingredients, but what in the world is Almond Bark??? Is it just chocolate you melt down?
Hmmm… What could I put inside them?.. Junior Mints for my dad, Cashews for my brother.. and rocks for my sister. You’re right, The possibilities are endless!
Thanks for the wonderful idea. We are having an office party and I was having a hard time coming up with an idea, now I know what I can bring.
Katy Rose’s comment was too funny.
Christy, thanks for all you give us!
Thanks so Christy!! I have been perplexed about what to send for teachers this year on a very limited to budget! So with 4 kids I have an instant Holly Jollies assembly line ready for the weekend. Thanks!!
I have done white choc. with mini marshmellows, peanut butter capt crunch and dry roasted p-nuts…it’s really good!! I was trying to copy a candy sold at Priesters Pacans
These look fabulous. Thanks for the recipe! LOVE the Snuggie comment. That is just precious.
Visiting from Southern Savers. Didn’t have time to read all the comments, so this might have been posted already. But I use the white almond bark and add semi-sweet morsels and peanut butter. Melt, pour on waxed paper, and swirl with a fork to marbelize (looks very cool) and when it cooles break into pieces. A friend calls the recipe “tiger butter”. Easy and yummy.
Wow, a quick and easy gift idea! Love it! One ingredient I thought of was small marshmellows. (I think it was mentioned before) I would like them mixed in with the peanuts. Rocky Road Holly Jollies!
I just recently gave my mini muffin pan to my daughter, thinking I would never use it. Wouldn’t you know! So I’ll use the wax paper idea!
Thanks Christy. Can’t wait to try this one!
Dottie, I only had two mini muffin pans, so when those were full, I just put lots of the little muffin liners on a regular cookie sheet and finished off my batch of peanuts and chocolate. The paper liners held their shape and were no different than the ones in the pans.
Barb
What a great idea for something quick and sweet. I tried on a snugglie while in the TJ Maxx store and it was soooo soft and my husband always makes fun of me for doing that. I can’t wait to tell him that Jesus wears snuggies too! LOL.
This is such a great idea for busy moms like me!! Thanks so much for the idea. I can see this going out with my mini banana breads to all of our neighbors.
Love, love LOVE this! I have been reading your blog/recipes since last October when I was pregnant with my third baby and on some serious bedrest @ 21 weeks. Someone whose husband is a co-worker of your hubby told us about you. When I say us, I am referring to the Feb. 2009 What to Expect community. My husband and I are both teachers and we also have three young children- 9, 7, and 10m- all girls- so I really need to save money and this recipe is a great way to do it! I have been hung up on a recipe similar to this called Oreo Bark. I use the holiday colored Oreos in it and everybody raves about it. Keep up the amazingly sweet dialog and great recipes! Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Thanks for sharing! I’ve made these 100 times in years past, but never thought to put them in the little muffin papers! Thank you so much for sharing the snuggie story, too! That is hysterical and sounds like something my 3 year old would ask!!
[...] Holly Jollies – Christmas Candy On A Budget, In A Hurry … [...]
Absolutely love these! My little one and I had a blast making them and they are the hit of the office this year!
I mix melted semi sweet chocolate and butterscotch chips along with peanuts and drop by spoonful on waxed paper and let it set up. It tastes like the “bun” candy bars.
I voted for you on The Divine Caroline, Love This Site Award. Good luck
Crushed up pretzels in the white chocolate would be so good too!!! Maybe some salted peanuts with it. YUM! Can’t wait to make these!!
I linked to this from the Southern Savers website. It sounds SO Great and Easy. I Can’t wait to try it!! I LOVE your tutorial with all the comments, I was totally laughing about snuggie.
All the best, and Happy Holidays!
These sound SO yummy! I will definitely have to buy some almond bark (for the first time). I want one of your cookbooks as well…where can I buy one?!
Hey Christy! Obviously someone in Texas is paying attention to you! — we were grocery shopping last night at HEB (big grocery chain all over Texas) and they have a coupon next to their HEB brand almond bark (they call it “chocolate or vanilla coating”) If you buy it for $2.99, you get free: a bag of pretzels, a bag of mini-marshmallows, and a small bag of pecans. (yes, all three!) Coupon is good through 12/15.
I LOVED the Snuggie comment!! So cute!!
You inspired me yesterday to make multi batches of this incredibly easy, delicious candy!! Many people I know will be getting this for part of a christmas present this year!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!! Merry CHRISTmas!!!
THESE ARE AWESOME, FAST AND FUN TO MAKE WITH KIDS!! I made milk chocolate ones: one batch with salted cashews, one set with rice crispies.. then I made a batch with white chocolate with cranberry raisins (red color is so pretty at Christmas) and salted chopped cashews.. SOO GOOD!!!!!!
Thanks for the great idea! We tried our own variations and the best one was Peanut Butter Cups!! Just cover the bottom of the tin with the melted almond bark and put a dollop of peanut butter on top and then cover with more melted almond bark. Yum-o! Definitely our favorite!
What is Almond Bark? I live in Hawaii and have never seen it before. Is it like chocolate baking squares? Thanks, Margaret
Margaret – It is a big slab of choclate either white or brown.
Thank you! Thats what it looked like to me!
I just came up with a fun mix-in for these: S’mores! I added mini marshmellows and Golden Grahams cereal into the dark Almond Bark. It was rich and delicious. I blogged about it here (with kudos to Christy, of course!:
http://bitsofwhitt.blogspot.com/2009/12/holly-jollies-christmas-treat-on-budget.html
Sounds like another fabulous version … can hardly wait to make all of them!
These are wonderful!! I made about 100 tonight! I crushed up pretzels and mixed with the chocolate; those are my new favorite!! I also mixed andes baking bites in the vanilla favor which were also wonderful! This is one of my new favorite holiday treats! Thanks!
I am making a load of these this weekend. I plan on rice crispies, candy canes and peanuts. I have thought coconut and almonds would be good too!
I just made these I used white chocolate and cranberries! look super yummy not sure how many will make it out of the house
I made some of these last night and added 1 cup coconut,and one cup chopped pecans. Turned out pretty good
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Thanks for the great idea! We used chocolate chips and mixed in Cocoa Krispies – you can never have enough chocolate.
I’ve made these before with chow mein noodles (but just making “haystacks” on waxed paper. Never tried with the mini-muffin liners). The crunch of the noodles goes perfect with chocolate, too — just another idea. I like Alyssa’s hint about making them with coconut. Have to make one more batch just to try it!
These were a hit! I made the white with cranberries, and the chocolate with peanuts and raisins. YUM! They tasted like Chunky candy bars. I didn’t think my oldest son was going to be able to stop eating them! Thanks so much!
[...] Holly Jollies, Christmas Candy On A Budget [...]
Love the recipe. Thank you sooooooo much. Everyone I know received Holly Jollies for Christmas. Including myself.
Our WalMart isn’t a ’super’ store. Stupid of Central California, huh? Anywho, this will probably sound silly, but I don’t know where to find almond bark. Ideas?
I just love your recipes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Shirley