How To Make Santa’s Sack Christmas Marshmallow Pops
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These Christmas Marshmallow Pops are not just a delicious treat; they’re tiny bundles of joy bringing the festive spirit into your home! We’re thrilled to share this delightful recipe that’s as fun to make as it is to eat.
These cute Christmas marshmallow pops resemble Santa’s iconic red toy sack and are adorned with colorful icing decorations and holiday sprinkles.
They are perfect for the dessert table at holiday parties or as a party favor for your party guests. Wrap them up in a small cellophane bag with a bow, and they become a thoughtful gift for neighbors or teachers. And, of course, they are a perfect treat for Christmas Eve!
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While you may prefer to skip to the recipe card, we suggest reading the entire blog post to avoid missing valuable tips and substitution suggestions and to ensure you have the necessary ingredients, equipment, and understanding of the steps and timings.
If you don’t want to scroll through this post to the recipe card, we have a Printable Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe Card over in the Purple Pumpkin Printables Shop.
Christmas Marshmallow Pops
Move over Cake Pops and Cakesicles; it’s time for Marshmallow Pops!
Inspired by the gift sack that Santa has on the back of his sleigh, extra-large marshmallows are dipped into melted red candy and decorated with icing decorations and sprinkles.
We love how these Christmas treats become a canvas for creativity, with each one telling its own little festive story. Whether you’re making gingerbread men, snowmen, or gift box icing decorations, each pop becomes a unique piece of edible art!
Christmas Marshmallows for the Holiday Season
The Santa marshmallow pops pair wonderfully with other holiday favorite treats like Kris Kringle Cookies, Peppermint Bark Fudge, or Gingerbread Cookies.
They’re the perfect sweet ending to a holiday meal or a charming addition to a Christmas Sweet Snacks Charcuterie Board or Hot Chocolate Bar for stirring into hot cocoa!
One of the best things about these Christmas Marshmallow Pops is their universal appeal.
Kids adore the playful designs and sweet flavors, while adults appreciate the nostalgic charm and the joy these little guys bring to any holiday gathering.
They’re not just a holiday treat; they’re conversation starters and memory makers!
How To Make Santa’s Sack Marshmallow Pops
Number of Servings: 12
Prep Time: 45 minutes (plus drying time)
If you want the quick printable recipe card, scroll to the bottom of this post to print it out. But for all the tips for making festive Christmas marshmallow pops, continue reading! Don’t want to scroll? The recipe card is in the Purple Pumpkin Printables shop.
Step 1 – Gather The Ingredients
You may find some of these ingredients in your local craft store or grocery store—check the baking aisle.
The ingredients and tools in this recipe are conveniently linked to online retailers like Amazon or Amazon Fresh.
- Jumbo Marshmallows – This recipe works best with those lovely big marshmallows! If you have to use regular-sized ones, you may have to adjust the amount of icing decorations on them.
- Mini Marshmallows – These are stuck to the outside of the large marshmallow to create a base for the icing “fur”
- Red Candy Melts – You will need 2 (12 oz/340g) bags.
- Cookie Decorating Icing – You will need 1 (7-oz/200g) bottle/pouch of each color—white, green, red, brown (or chocolate). These are going to be used to create icing decorations to go into the marshmallow Christmas sack!
- However, if you’re not confident of your piping skills, you can buy ready-made Christmas Icing Decorations, which is also a great shortcut!
- Christmas Sprinkles – Use any type of sprinkles that you like. A mixture of different shapes, like gingerbread men, Christmas trees, nonpareils, jimmies, etc, are ideal.
- Red and White Striped Straws – Ensure you use sturdy straws to hold the marshmallow pops. Alternatively, you can use lollipop sticks or even a Candy Cane Stick!
The complete list of ingredients with measurements is on the recipe card at the end of this post.
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Step 2 – Kitchen Tools
- Baking/Cookie Sheet – This is for placing the candy-coated marshmallows on to dry and making the icing decorations. Depending on the size of your cookie sheet, you will need 1-2. You could also use a wooden board or serving tray covered with Parchment Paper – also known as baking paper or greaseproof paper.
- Microwave-safe Bowl – For melting the candy melts. You can also use a double-boiler or a dedicated melting pot—we have all the tips for using candy melts below.
- This recipe uses ready-made cookie icing; however, if you decide to make your own, you will need Piping Bags, sandwich baggies with the corner snipped off, or a squeeze bottle to put the icing in for piping.
Step 3 – Prep Work
Line 1-2 baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat and set them aside.
Step 4 – Make Icing Decorations
Using the different colored cookie icing, pipe mini gingerbread men, snowmen, and gift boxes onto the second prepared baking sheet.
You will need 2-3 mini decorations per jumbo marshmallow. When the decorations are completely set and dry, carefully remove them from the parchment paper with a small spatula.
RECIPE TIPS!
The icing decorations will need time to dry out and set. This may be just a few hours, or it may be overnight. If you can, make the decorations the day before assembling the marshmallow pops to avoid stress about them being ready to use!
Really pressed for time? Buy Ready-Made Christmas Icing Decorations to use instead.
Let each layer of icing dry before adding new details to avoid smudging.
If you are not confident with piping freehand, print out some festive designs and place them under the parchment to trace on top of.
Step 5 – Melt Candy Melts
Melt 1 cup of red candy melts as directed on the package directions and stir until smooth.
Melting Tips for Candy Melts
You can melt candy melts/wafers in the microwave or a double boiler, or if you plan on making lots of candy-covered treats in the future, we recommend investing in a Wilton candy melting pot as treat-making life is so much easier!
Try this PME one in the UK, as it is more affordable than Wilton Amazon.co.uk.
If you use the Wilton Candy Melting Pot, you can check out Wilton’s demo video on YouTube, which is helpful. They give tips on how to melt candy melts in the microwave and use the double boiler method.
The two most important things are
- Do not overheat – use an even melting temperature.
- Do not add water – it makes the candy seize up and become unusable. Ensure the equipment is completely dry, and avoid using utensils that retain moisture, like a wooden spoon.
If the candy is too thick, add vegetable shortening or (solid) coconut oil in 1 teaspoon increments, up to 1 tablespoon, and stir well.
Another reminder—do not add water. The first time we used candy melts, we got water in the bowl, which was ruined. Learn from our mistakes! Additionally, do not use vegetable oil, butter, milk, or other liquids, as this will make the candy seize.
If you use your microwave, test a small amount of candy melts first to see how it works. You may need to adjust the temperature and time to suit your machine.
Heat in 15-30 second increments, stirring the candy melts each time. They may not look melted, but they might have started melting from the inside. Stirring helps to distribute the heat.
Step 6 – Insert Straws
Place a small amount of melted red candy onto the top center of a jumbo marshmallow, then insert a straw through the candy into the marshmallow. Set on one of the baking sheets to dry and repeat with the remaining jumbo marshmallows.
Step 7 – Coat Jumbo Marshmallows
Remelt any leftover red candy from the previous step with the remaining candy melts and stir until smooth. Dip each jumbo marshmallow into the melted red candy, coating it to the top edge but not covering it completely. Place back onto the baking sheet to dry.
What Can I Do With Leftover Candy Melts?
- Make more Christmas marshmallow pops! We’ve got other ideas just before the printable recipe card.
- You can use them in our other Recipes That Use Candy Melts.
- Let the candy melts reset, then store it in an airtight container at room temperature to use another time. Cut the original expiry date from the packaging and attach it to your container so you know when they will expire.
Step 8 – Add Mini Marshmallows
Add a drop of white cookie icing to a mini marshmallow and stick it to the top edge of the jumbo marshmallow. Continue adding mini marshmallows to go all around the top of the jumbo one.
Then, add more white icing to cover the mini marshmallows to give it a fluffy look. Repeat this with all of the jumbo marshmallows and set them aside to dry.
Step 9 – Add Details
Use white icing to pipe drawstrings on the front of the jumbo marshmallows, and add extra white icing on top to cover completely.
Step 10 – Finish Decorating
When your icing decorations are dry, carefully place them on top of the white icing and sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles. Set the Santa Sack Christmas Marshmallow Pops aside to dry before serving. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
More Christmas Marshmallow Pop Ideas
If you’ve caught the marshmallow pop bug, here are some more creative ways to make them:
- If you can find some Christmas Tree-shaped Marshmallows,
- skewer them onto a lollipop stick and dip into green candy melts. Decorate with blobs of colored icing to look like christmas lights, add sprinkles as ornament, and you have some cute Christmas tree marshmallow pops!
- For reindeer marshmallow pops, make some antlers using melted dark chocolate, much like how the icing decorations are made in this recipe. When they’re dry, attach them to marshmallows that have been dipped into melted chocolate. Add a red candy nose and pipe on some eyes with a black icing tube.
- And finally, you could make some snowman marshmallow pops with white candy melts, but why not deconstruct this sweet treat and let guests make their own with our Frozen Olaf Party Favor – Do You Want To Build A Snowman!
Printable Christmas Marshmallow Pops Recipe Card
Below is the printable recipe card. To save ink, any demonstration photos on the recipe card are not printed out.
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Christmas Marshmallow Pops
Make your holidays extra special with these delightful Christmas Marshmallow Pops! This recipe is perfect for those who love to add a homemade touch to their celebrations.
Ingredients
- 1 (7-oz/200g) pouch light brown cookie decorating icing
- 1 (7-oz/200g) pouch white cookie decorating icing
- 1 (7-oz/200g) pouch green cookie decorating icing
- 1 (7-oz/200g) pouch red cookie decorating icing
- Red and white striped straws
- 12 jumbo marshmallows
- 1 bag mini marshmallows
- 2 (12-oz/340g) bags red candy melt wafers
- Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Using the different colored cookie icing, pipe mini gingerbread men, snowmen, and gift boxes onto the second prepared baking sheet. You will need 2-3 mini decorations per jumbo marshmallow. When the decorations are completely set and dry, use a small spatula to remove them from the parchment paper. The decorations may take between 2-24 hours to dry completely, so allow time for this step.
- Melt 1 cup of red candy melts as directed on the package instructions and stir until smooth.
- Place a small amount of melted red candy onto the top center of a jumbo marshmallow, then insert a straw through the candy into the marshmallow. Set on one of the baking sheets to dry and repeat with the remaining jumbo marshmallows.
- Remelt any leftover red candy from the previous step with the remaining candy melts and stir until smooth. Dip each jumbo marshmallow into the melted red candy, coating it to the top edge but not covering it completely. Place back onto the baking sheet to dry.
- Add a drop of white cookie icing to a mini marshmallow and stick it to the top edge of the jumbo marshmallow. Continue adding mini marshmallows to go all around the top of the jumbo one. Then, add more white icing to cover the mini marshmallows to give it a fluffy look. Repeat this with all of the jumbo marshmallows and set them aside to dry.
- Use white icing to pipe drawstrings on the front of the jumbo marshmallows, and add extra white icing on top to cover completely.
- Carefully place your icing decorations on top of the white icing and sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles. Set aside to dry before serving. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 144Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 73mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 0gSugar: 17gProtein: 1g
This site uses Nutritionix to provide estimated nutrition. Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Holiday Dinner Party Menu Suggestions
You’ve made the dessert, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to create a menu for a dinner party or special meal:
- Appetizer: Christmas Brie Crostini Appetizer with Orange-Cranberry Relish
- Soup: Loaded Cauliflower Leek Soup
- Salad: Apple Walnut Salad with White Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Main Dish: Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs
- Side Dish: Garlic and Chive Cauliflower Mash
- Beverage: Rudolph the Reindeer Spritzer with Bacardi & Ginger Ale
More Marshmallow Pop Recipes
Want to make more marshmallow pops? Check out these recipes next:
The Create the Holidays series on The Purple Pumpkin Blog features free printables, crafts, recipes, and more for Christmas and the Winter Holidays. Check out Create the Holidays (formerly Create Christmas) from 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.
