Are you ready to step into a land of colorful whimsy this Christmas? Turn those visions of sugarplums into decor with a brightly colored candy Christmas tree. Use my totally sweet tree for inspiration to create your own with the tips below.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

Don’t forget to check out the kickoff post, 50+ Ideas to Jump Start Your Holidays, to see the schedule for all of the 12 Days of Holiday Ideas Blog Hop. Plus get inspired for your holiday season with DIY projects, recipes, and games while you’re there!

[bctt tweet=”Are you ready to step into a land of colorful whimsy this Christmas? Turn those visions of sugarplums into decor with a brightly colored candy Christmas tree. Use my totally sweet tree for inspiration to create your own with these tips! #DIYAdulation #ChristmasTree” username=”diyadulation”]

I seriously can’t get enough colorful candy during the holidays. It’s in my decorations, on my tree, and, of course, the treats I make (like these fun Hello Kitty Sugar Cookies). To keep building my own personal candy land, I also try to add some new candy-themed DIY decor each year.

If you’re in love with color, sweet treats, and a healthy dose of glitter too, allow me to invite you to follow along each year as my brightly colored candy Christmas tree gets more decorations, more trimmings, and more style!

Use a White Tree

A white treat makes the best base for a glittery and colorful candy tree because it gives you this bright neutral backdrop to build your whimsical wonderland on. I also recommend using colored lights on the tree because they lend themselves to that candy look and feel that you’re going for. Don’t forget to make sure that the lights are set on a white cord. You don’t want lights on a green cord that stand out starkly against your beautiful tree.

Decorate with Bold Decorations

When you have a white tree as a backdrop to your decorations, you can truly afford to go bold on them. Bright colors, lots of glitter, and even large-scale ornaments on a smaller tree work really well. These ornaments don’t have to cost you a fortune, though. Here are 3 you can make at home on a budget:

DIY Candy Ornaments

Name: Easy Homemade Caramel Candies
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 2 h 35 min
Yield: 150
Ingredients: 1 Cup Unsalted Butter; 4 Cups Light Brown Sugar; 2 Cups White Granulated Sugar; 2 Cups Light Corn Syrup; 1.5 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream; 3 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

DIY Snowflake Cookie Ornaments | Easy Christmas Craft

DIY Kids Cotton Candy Ornaments

Fun and Colorful Giant Candy Ornaments

Glittery DIY Lollipop Ornament

Non-Traditional Tree Topper

One of the most fun things about a candy Christmas tree is that you can get crazy creative with your tree topper. I use these giant lollipops as a tree topper. Use twist ties to attach them to the top of your tree and done! I’ve also used a giant brightly colored Hello Kitty ornament in the past. The point is that you can really use your imagination and create something unique and playful to top your tree with.

Don’t Forget About Your Gifts

For a truly cohesive look, take your tree into consideration when choosing the wrapping paper for your gifts. The paper doesn’t have to be totally matching but containing the same colors or patterns brings the entire look together. You can also add handmade bows to the gifts for a beautiful overall look to your tree all season long.

This tutorial for a Glittery DIY Candy Wreath has a great simple handmade bow idea!

This brightly colored candy Christmas tree is blooming even more this year and I only love it more. If your style is as colorful and glittery as mine, I encourage you to ditch your traditional tree and start building your own fun candy tree. Not ready to take the leap? Then check out the other equally amazing Christmas tree ideas from my friends in the link up below!

See where I’m linking up!

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Indulgent desserts are a quintessential part of holiday entertaining. Do you need a delicious treat to serve for this year’s Christmas celebration? If so, you definitely need to check out these easy homemade caramel candies! They are totally yummy and way less expensive than store bought caramels.

This post is sponsored by Dixie Crystals Sugar. All ideas and opinions are my own. In addition, affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”It’s time to get your Christmas cooking on! Your friends and family are seriously going to love these easy homemade caramel candies for Christmas!” username=”diyadulation”]

I seriously can’t get enough caramel deliciousness during the holidays. My mom occasionally surprises us with awesome homemade chocolate caramel candy bars and they’re amazing. Luckily, even when she isn’t in the mood to slave away in the kitchen (and I totally don’t blame her) I can still get my caramel fix with these delicacies.

In addition to being the perfect treat to serve at any holiday party, they’re also a great way to save on stocking stuffers for your family. One batch makes a ton of caramels and they’re the perfect individually wrapped treat to top off those accessories hanging by the fireplace.

Lastly, of course, they also are an easy and budget-friendly gift idea for hostesses and teachers during the holiday season. Now it’s time to find out just how easy they are to make with the step-by-step recipe below.

Homemade Caramel Candies Ingredients

1 Cup Unsalted Butter
4 Cups Light Brown Sugar
2 Cups White Granulated Sugar
2 Cups Light Corn Syrup
1.5 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
3 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

Step 1

First, prepare a 9×13 inch glass baking dish by lining it with a sheet of parchment paper. Then set your dish aside.

Step 2

Next, cube your sticks of butter and toss them in a large sauce pot.

Step 3

Add your heavy whipping cream, light corn syrup, brown sugar, and granulated sugar to your sauce pan and put it on the stove over medium-high heat.

Step 4

Stir all of the ingredients in your pot together over the heat.

Step 5

Continue stirring your mixture constantly while heating until the mixture reaches 240° Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, stir continually for 35 to 40 minutes until large bubbles regularly appear in the mixture.

Step 6

Then remove your mixture from the heat and immediately stir in your vanilla extract.

Step 7

Immediately transfer your mixture to your parchment lined baking dish and then set aside to cool completely.

Step 8

Once your caramel is cooled, refrigerate for 1 hour.

Step 9

Then pull out your caramel and cut into small pieces with a butter knife.

Step 10

Finally wrap your caramels in pieces of parchment paper and twist the ends to seal.

Yield: 150-300 Caramels

Easy Homemade Caramel Candies

Cook Time 35 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes

Ingredients

1 Cup Unsalted Butter
4 Cups Light Brown Sugar
2 Cups White Granulated Sugar
2 Cups Light Corn Syrup
1.5 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
3 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

Instructions

First, prepare a 9x13 inch glass baking dish by lining it with a sheet of parchment paper. Then set your dish aside.
Next, cube your sticks of butter and toss them in a large sauce pot.
Add your heavy whipping cream, light corn syrup, brown sugar, and granulated sugar to your sauce pan and put it on the stove over medium-high heat.
Stir all of the ingredients in your pot together over the heat.
Continue stirring your mixture constantly while heating until the mixture reaches 240° Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, stir continually for 35 to 40 minutes until large bubbles regularly appear in the mixture.
Then remove your mixture from the heat and immediately stir in your vanilla extract.
Immediately transfer your mixture to your parchment lined baking dish and then set aside to cool completely.
Once your caramel is cooled, refrigerate for 1 hour.
Then pull out your caramel and cut into small pieces with a butter knife.
Finally wrap your caramels in pieces of parchment paper and twist the ends to seal.

Your friends and family are seriously going to love these easy homemade caramel candies for Christmas! Whip up a batch this week and be ready for every celebration this season… actually, you may want to make 2 batches so you have one to enjoy at home and one to give away. Now it’s time to check out the other amazing desserts from my awesome blogging friends at the link up below. Don’t forget that there’s still time to enter our holiday giveaway too. Find all the details you need under the link up!

Check out Dixie Crystals Sugar on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

See where I’m linking up!

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Must be 18 to win. Open to U.S. residents only.

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It happened again… with all of the chaos of the holidays you completely forgot about making the dish for the party tonight! Instead of dropping by the store for that container of cookies again, whip up these cheddar bacon and broccoli pinwheels. They’re quick, easy, and a sure-fire crowd pleaser!

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Looking for a super easy and totally tasty appetizer for your next pot luck? Check out these delicious cheddar bacon and broccoli pinwheels!” username=”diyadulation”]

I’ve totally been there more times than I care to admit. I’m crazy organized with my lists and planners but somehow, the big family Christmas pot luck falls through the cracks. It’s not that I forget about the event, only the cooking of the dish.

Then I run out of time and pick up something pre-made at the grocery store on the way there. I don’t know what it is about this particular task but I never seem to stick it in my brain. This year, I’m totally ready with these delicious cheddar bacon and broccoli pinwheels.

Luckily, they’re so easy to make, even if you’re not prepared (like I usually am not) you can easily whip up a batch to take with you. Even better? Everyone will absolutely love them!

Cheddar Bacon and Broccoli Pinwheels Ingredients

1.5 Cups Fresh Broccoli Florets
8 oz. Light Sour Cream
2.5 oz. Real Bacon Bits
1 Cup Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese
Pinch of Salt and Black Pepper
2 Cans Crescent Rolls

Step 1

First, preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set your baking sheet aside.

Step 2

Next, coarsely chop your broccoli florets and toss into a medium-sized mixing bowl.

Step 3

Add your sour cream, bacon bits, and shredded cheese to the mixing bowl and fold with a spatula until well-combined.

Step 4

Then add in a pinch of salt and pepper and fold into the mixture. Set mixture aside.

Step 5

On a separate piece of parchment paper (or other non-stick surface) roll out one can of crescent rolls dough.

Step 6

Next, pinch the seams of the crescent dough together so that there are no seams.

Step 7

Spread half of your sour cream mixture in an even layer on your crescent dough.

Step 8

Then roll your dough up starting with the long edge closest to you.

Step 9

Next, cut your rolled dough into 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide sections.

Step 10

Repeat steps 5 through 9 with your second can of crescent dough.

Step 11

Place your dough rolls on the parchment-lined baking sheet 2 inches apart.

Step 12

Bake for 13 minutes.

Step 13

Allow your pinwheels to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes and then transfer them to a cooling rack. This keeps them from falling apart when you transfer them to the rack.

Yield: 40 Pinwheels

Cheddar Bacon and Broccoli Pinwheels

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes

Total Time 23 minutes

Ingredients

1.5 Cups Fresh Broccoli Florets
8 oz. Light Sour Cream
2.5 oz. Real Bacon Bits
1 Cup Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese
Pinch of Salt and Black Pepper
2 Cans Crescent Rolls

Instructions

First, preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set your baking sheet aside.
Next, coarsely chop your broccoli florets and toss into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Add your sour cream, bacon bits, and shredded cheese to the mixing bowl and fold with a spatula until well-combined.
Then add in a pinch of salt and pepper and fold into the mixture. Set mixture aside.
On a separate piece of parchment paper (or other non-stick surface) roll out one can of crescent rolls dough.
Next, pinch the seams of the crescent dough together so that there are no seams.
Spread half of your sour cream mixture in an even layer on your crescent dough.
Then roll your dough up starting with the long edge closest to you.
Next, cut your rolled dough into 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide sections.
Repeat steps 5 through 9 with your second can of crescent dough.
Place your dough rolls on the parchment-lined baking sheet 2 inches apart.
Bake for 13 minutes.
Allow your pinwheels to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes and then transfer them to a cooling rack.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1 Pinwheel
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 66

Serve these delicious cheddar bacon and broccoli pinwheels on their own or mix up some ranch sour cream for dipping. No matter what, they’re crazy tasty and so easy to make that you can whip them up in time for your next pot luck! Now it’s time to check out some more awesome pot luck recipes from my friends at the link up below!

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

We have a BIG GIVEAWAY from our Sponsors this year!

Must be 18 to win. Open to U.S. residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway