What are your favorite holiday treats?  Unwrapped on the Food Network has researched into what we eat and gave us a rundown of what our favorite treats are and how they’re made.

Candy Canes

Spangler Candy has been making candy canes for over 50 years (they also make Dum Dums!) and usually makes 2.5 million candy canes a day.  The striping is all done by hand on a large 100 pound log which is then rolled into much thinner logs.  The wrapping is done before the cane is hooked into its familiar shape.

Champagne

Originating from Champagne, France, this bubbly drink is a staple at most holidays but was originally thought to be wine gone bad.  Korbel now makes its Champagne in California and each bottle is said to have 50 million bubbles.  The amount of dosage (pronounced doh-sahge) added to each bottle is what makes it sweeter or dryer.

Holiday Ham

The first holiday ham was provided in Virginia in the 1600s.  Since then, the Glazed Honey Ham Company in Lubbock, Texas, has stepped into the role of provider with their glazed hams.  The hams are spiral sliced and a mixture of honey and sugar are used to coat the hams.  A blowtorch is then used to harden the glaze before the hams are shipped out.

French’s Onions

I’m not sure if you knew this (I didn’t) but French’s actually uses real globe yellow onions (about 25 million pounds a year).  Each onion is thoroughly washed and peeled then battered and fried.  The onions are laid out to dry completely before packaging so they get their signature crunch!

Chocolate Coins

Chocolate coins, known as “Gelt,” are mainly used for Hanukkah and were originally given as rewards for studying in the medieval times.  Silver is the traditional color, but many colors are made.  In the past, the coins have had a bad reputation on taste, but now the coins are made with rich Dutch chocolate.

Pumpkin Pie

Sara Lee has been making pumpkin pie for 40 years and makes about 4.5 million a year.  Believe it or not, all of the pumpkin filling and dough are still handmade.  The filling is frozen at the factory and ready for you to bake yourself.

Gingerbread Houses

The Gingerbread Construction Company makes fully edible gingerbread houses and accessories (save for the trees).  Each house is made completely by hand, from the walls to the icing to the non-pareil shingled roof.

Cheesecake

Harry and David introduced their cheesecake line in 1970.  Over 200,000 cheesecakes are made and shipped each year.  All decorations are still done by hand!

Fruitcake

The Beatrice Baking Co.

produces one million lbs of fruitcake each year.  Every step is done by hand - from the placing of the fruit to the wrapping.  The recipe is closely guarded so no secrets revealed here!

Macaroons

Many people don’t know that there are two kinds of macaroons: those made with coconut and those made with almond paste.  The James Candy Company (the same that makes that excellent saltwater taffy) make both kinds of macaroons for the holidays.  They make over 2400 almond paste macaroons a day!

Peanut Brittle

See’s Candies uses 2100 pounds of peanuts and 2600 pounds of butter a day for their fantastic peanut brittle.  Huge machines flip and stretch the warm brittle and give it the proper shape.  Each bag gets one and a half pounds of brittle for your enjoyment.