Christmas Coal Candy is a fun 3-ingredient no-bake treat made with Oreo cookies, mini marshmallows, and butter. The whole batch costs just $5.58, or $0.16 per serving, and makes a cute Christmas gift for stockings, class parties, and cookie trays.
My kids love helping shape the little lumps of coal, and we always have fun deciding who deserves a stocking full! It’s one of those Christmas treats that gets everyone laughing in the kitchen and makes holiday baking more fun.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Only 3 ingredients – Oreos, mini marshmallows, and butter. That’s it.
- No baking, no thermometer – The microwave melts everything, so there’s no candy stage to watch for.
- No food coloring – Crushed Oreos give the candy its dark coal color, so no black-stained teeth.
- Makes a big batch – One batch makes about 36 lumps, enough for a whole classroom or a stack of stocking stuffers.
After more than 14 years of creating dessert recipes for busy families, I’ve learned that holiday treats don’t have to be complicated to be memorable. Crushing the Oreos into fine crumbs helps give the candy its dark color and makes it easier to shape into little pieces of coal.
For more easy treats, we love to make Christmas Crack and No Bake Christmas Desserts.
Ingredients
- Oreo cookies – Use the whole cookie, cream filling and all. Once it’s crushed, the cookie turns the candy dark and the filling helps everything stick together. Store-brand chocolate sandwich cookies work too and save a little money. Double Stuf works too, but the extra filling makes the mixture a little softer, so let it cool a minute longer before shaping.
- Mini marshmallows – Minis melt faster and more evenly than large marshmallows. A fresh bag melts smoother than one that’s been open a while.
- Butter – Keeps the marshmallow from getting too stiff and makes the mixture easier to shape. I use salted butter because it balances the sweetness of the marshmallows and Oreos.
Equipment: You’ll need a food processor or blender, a large microwave-safe bowl, and 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper. No food processor? Seal the cookies in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin until they’re fine crumbs – bigger chunks make the lumps fall apart.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Prep your pans. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper first. The mixture firms up as it cools, so you want to be ready to shape right away.
Step 2. Crush the Oreos. Blend the cookies until they look like fine, dark sand with no big pieces left. Fine crumbs mix in evenly and help the lumps hold together.
Step 3. Melt the marshmallows. Microwave the butter and marshmallows in 30-second intervals, stirring after each one, until smooth and glossy. Stop as soon as it’s melted – overheated marshmallow turns the finished candy hard instead of chewy. It usually takes me about 2-3 intervals.
Step 4. Stir in the crumbs. Work quickly and stir until every crumb is coated and there are no dry pockets. The mixture will be thick, dark, and sticky.
Step 5. Shape the coal. Break off pieces, about 1 tablespoon each, and squeeze them into rough, uneven lumps – lumpy and imperfect looks more like real coal. Lightly butter your hands so the mixture doesn’t stick. If the mixture gets too stiff, microwave it for 10 seconds. If little hands are helping, let the mixture cool for a minute or two first so it’s warm, not hot.
Step 6. Let them set. Place the lumps on the baking sheets and let them sit at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours, until they’re firm and no longer tacky to the touch. Don’t put them in the fridge to speed this up – the cold makes them firm and tough instead of chewy.
Step 7. Serve. Then the coal candy is ready to serve and enjoy!
Tips and Troubleshooting
- Too sticky to shape? Let the mixture cool for a minute or two and lightly butter your hands.
- Crumbly and won’t hold together? The crumbs were likely too coarse or the mixture cooled too much. Warm it for 10 seconds and squeeze firmly.
- Set too hard? The marshmallows were heated too long. Next time use shorter intervals and stop as soon as they’re smooth.
- Want sparkle? Roll the lumps in black sanding sugar or edible glitter while they’re still tacky.
Variations
- Crunchy coal: Stir in 1 cup crisp rice cereal with the cookie crumbs.
- Peppermint coal: Use mint Oreos, or add ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract to the melted marshmallow.
Naughty List Gift Bags
One batch makes about 36 lumps – enough for 9 small bags of 4 or 6 bags of 6. Pack them in clear treat bags, small kraft bags, or a mason jar, and add a tag like “You were a little naughty this year… but Santa still likes you.”
They’re perfect for stockings, teacher and neighbor gifts, class parties, and white elephant gag gifts. Make them up to 3 days ahead and bag them the day you hand them out.
What This Batch Costs vs. Store-Bought Coal Candy
Bags and boxes of “coal” candy show up in stores around Christmas, but you’re often paying extra for the novelty packaging. This homemade batch uses Oreos, mini marshmallows, and butter to make about 36 chewy lumps.
- Oreo cookies (13 oz): $3.67
- Mini marshmallows (10 oz): $1.18
- Butter (4 tablespoons): $0.73
Total: about $5.58 for 36 pieces, or roughly 16 cents each.
A 4-ounce bag of store-bought Christmas coal candy costs about $7.88 at Walmart. Making your own means you can fill every stocking, a whole classroom, or a stack of gift bags for less than the cost of one store-bought bag, and it tastes like a chewy Oreo treat instead of plain hard candy.
Storage
Store Christmas coal candy in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. If you’re stacking them, put parchment between the layers so they don’t stick together. They don’t need to be refrigerated, and the fridge can make them firmer.
To freeze: Freeze the lumps in a single layer until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature in the bag for about 30 minutes before serving.
FAQ
Like a chewy Oreo cookie and marshmallow treat – sweet, chocolatey, and nothing like the hard candy coal you buy in stores.
No. Store-bought coal is usually gummies, hard candy, or chocolate crisps.This version is a soft, chewy no-bake treat made with ingredients you probably already have.
Yes, melt the marshmallows in two batches so they heat evenly in the microwave.
More Fun Holiday Treats
Give this Christmas Coal Candy a try! Leave a review and let me know who in your family ended up on the naughty list!
Christmas Coal Candy
Ingredients
- 1 package Oreo Cookies 13 ounces
- 1 bag Mini Marshmallows 10 ounces
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place the Oreos in a food processor or blender and blend until the cookies are turned into fine crumbs.
- Add the butter and marshmallows in a large microwave safe bowl. Heat in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted and combined.
- Stir in the crushed cookies until combined.
- Break pieces off of the mixture and form the mixture into lumps that resemble coal.
- Place those lumps on the baking sheet. Continue this process until all the mixture is formed into coal.
- Let them sit at room temperature until set (1-2 hours). Then the coal candy is ready to serve and enjoy!
