Add a touch of whimsy to your Christmas treats this holiday by making Chocolate Santa Suit Candy Cups. You can fill them with candies, pudding, chocolate mousse, or nuts.
Last week, during a few free hours, I had some fun experimenting in the kitchen and created some festive Christmas recipes including Sugar Cone Santa Hats, Rudolph Candy Bars, M&M Candy Christmas lights, and these completely edible Santa Suit Candy Cups.
It was a fun week in the kitchen and I hope you enjoy making some of these cute Christmas treats.
Today, I'm going to show you a step-by-step tutorial (and NEW VIDEO) so you can make these sweet treats at home.
These white chocolate candy cups decorated to look like Santa suits can be filled with candies to use for party favors or they can be filled with chocolate mousse, cheesecake mousse, or even homemade no-churn vanilla ice cream and served as a dessert.
Edible Santa Suit Candy Cups
Ingredients
- red candy melts
- white candy melts
Supplies
- microwave-safe measuring cups with spouts for easy pouring
- small plastic cups - I used small Hefty bathroom cups. You can also use plastic shot glasses.
- metal spatula
- food-use-only
- ruler
- pizza wheel or knife
- small square cutter, X-Acto knife, or sharp knife
Products used to make this project are available on Amazon.com. I earn a small commission when you make a purchase using any of the Amazon affiliate links on this blog at no extra cost to you.
Wilton Red Candy Melts® Ca...Shop on Amazon
Hefty White Plastic Bathroo...Shop on Amazon
Wilton Candy Melts, Bright ...Shop on AmazonBefore you begin, if you don't have experience working with confectionery coatings or modeling chocolate, read my detailed Chocolate Making Tips page (here.) If you work with pure chocolate, you can use them here instead of the confectionery coating/candy melts.
Instructions
Make red candy cups.
Melt red candy melts in the microwave on high power using 30-second bursts of power, stirring after each.
Allow the candy melts to cool enough that you can still pour it easily, but thick enough that it will coat your plastic cups with a thick layer.
Pour the red candy melts into a small plastic cup, filling it to the top.
Let it sit at room temperature for 3-5 minutes. Turn it upside down and allow the candy coating to drip out. Tap the cup a few times to help remove the excess candy coating.
If your candy coating is really thin, you will need to do this process twice, creating two layers of candy coating for your cups.
Clean off the top edge of the cup.
Use a spatula or knife to scrape across the open edge of the cup to remove the dripping candy.
Wipe the edge of the cup clean using your finger.
Place the cup in the freezer for 4-5 minutes until your candy hardens. Do not leave the cups in longer than 5 minutes or your candy may crack.
Repeat to create as many cups as you want. You will have to re-heat your candy coating during this process to keep it at a pourable consistency.
Tips
Do not allow the candy cups to air dry as they can become spotted or streaky.
Unmold candy cups.
To remove the candy cups from the plastic cups, tug on them carefully and just slide them out. If they won't come out, push on the bottom of the cup allowing the suction to release then pull the candy cup out.
If you didn't do a great job of cleaning the edge of your candy cups, you may have to break the seal around the edge by running a small sharp knife around the edge to remove excess candy.
Allow your edible candy cups to come to room temperature before decorating.
Adding the white candy fur to the cups.
Allow your melted white confectionery coating to cool slightly so that it thickens a bit.
Use a spatula or paintbrush to frost just the top edge of each candy cup with the white candy coating. You want to create the look of fur.
Freeze the cup for 1-2 minutes after adding the fur or just let the candy air dry.
Decorate your candy cups.
Dust a cutting board lightly with powdered sugar.
Roll out white modeling chocolate and some black modeling chocolate to 1/16" thickness.
Cut small squares from the white (I used a small square fondant cutter in the video I used square plunger cutters) and ⅜ inch by 6 inch bands from the black using a knife or pizza wheel. Cut a smaller square out from the inside of each small white square creating a buckle.
Lightly brush some water on the back side of the buckle and attach it to the belt.
Lightly brush some melted confectionery coating on the back side of a black belt and wrap it around the middle of your candy cup, cutting off any excess modeling chocolate.
To serve, fill your candy cups with candy or your favorite dessert like Cookies and Cream Mousse, Peppermint Mousse, or Raspberry Chocolate Mousse.
Storage
You can store the empty or candy-filled Santa Suit Candy Cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month. Do not fill with mousse until just before serving.
Video
Related Recipes
If you enjoy making these cute Santa Candy Cups, you might also have fun making these other Christmas treats.
Recipe
- 12 ounces melted red colored confectionery coating/candy melts
- 3 ounces melted white confectionery coating
- 3 ounces black and white modeling chocolate/candy clay
- powdered sugar to dust cutting board
- candies nuts, trail mix, dried fruit, mini cookies, chocolate mousse, pudding, ice cream, etc.
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Fill a small plastic cup with melted red candy melts.
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Let the candy filled cup sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes.
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Pour wet candy out of the cup, leaving just the outer shell of candy melts in the cup.
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Set cup, upside down, on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
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Freeze for 4-5 minutes.
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Remove and pull candy cup out of plastic cup.
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Allow white candy melts to cool slightly.
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Brush white candy melts over the top edge of the candy cup so that it looks like fur.
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Roll out black candy clay.
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Cut into ⅜ inch by 6 inch long belts.
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Roll out white candy clay.
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Cut out small square buckles.
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Lightly brush water on the back of the candy clay buckle.
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Press the candy buckle onto a black candy clay belt.
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Brush candy melts onto the back of the candy belt.
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Immediately wrap the candy belt around a candy cup and cut off the excess.
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Fill cups with candy, trail mix, dried fruit, mini cookies, chocolate mousse, pudding, or ice cream.
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Anonymous says
Hi,
I have a few questions.
I have no idea what is made off , I am from Australia and have not heard of the ingredient you have listed lol. And it has no quantity to use. I would love to make this for a family get together on Boxing day (3 generations at least are coming as they do most years and this would be amazing 🙂
beth says
The candy cups are made from confectionery coating, which is like white chocolate, only it's made with oil instead of cocoa butter, and is very easy to work with. It doesn't need to be tempered like pure white chocolate does. You can use white chocolate to make these cups, as long as you temper it. Just color it red using red candy coloring.
For more information regarding this subject, see my Chocolate Making Tips page -> https://hungryhappenings.com/p/chocolate-making-tips.html
Imma says
I follow you on Pinterest!
Imma says
I like you on Fb
Imma says
What a fun and cute idea for the kids on Christmas!!!! I;ll try to make them for the kids party! Hope they'll be cute as yours!
Deb says
I saw the Peanut Butter cup reindeer and ended up following about 10 of your boards on pinterest. I have a 4 year old grandson - who loves to help in the kitchen and was looking for ideas to make. Saw so many - I can't wait to try.
beth says
Thanks for stopping by and sticking around, Deb. I'm so glad you found my site and hope you and your grandson enjoy making some of my recipes.
Annette says
I follow on Twitter (@SunflowrCreate)
Annette says
I Follow Hungry Happenings on Pinterest
Annette says
Great idea
Annette says
Great idea!
Anonymous says
I love these! They would be so cute as little grab bag gifts
Kate says
so creative!!! This is awesome!
jmommymom says
Those are awesome. I had to pin them. http://pinterest.com/jmommymom/
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com says
Super cute cups! Love them!
Rachel Harwood says
Love, love, LOVE! You're being featured at this week's For the Kids Friday Link Party over at SunScholars!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Thanks, Rachel! Merry Christmas 🙂
BadgerFiend says
Guess Whose making santa cups for christmas? 🙂
Anonymous says
The directions for the edible Santa cups are so easy. Love this idea!
Sheryl Conley
Krynn Parham says
Happy Holidays
Krynn Parham says
Happy Holidays
Anonymous says
Great idea! I want to try this, would be a great gift idea for the kids at school.
Jessica Trovato says
All of these things are awesome. I want to try the cups they look so cute! Great Idea's Thank you, Jessica