Christmas bon bons (or Christmas crackers, depending on what you call them) are one of my biggest festive pet peeves. They’re used for about five minutes, then immediately thrown in the bin — plastic toys, paper hats, random bits of packaging… all for a brief novelty.
But the good news? You can easily make your own DIY Christmas bon bons at home using things you probably already have, for little to no cost. They’re fun, customisable, and a much more frugal, low-waste alternative to store-bought crackers.
Here’s how to do it.
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Watch: Making DIY Christmas Bon Bons
Below is a quick step-by-step video showing exactly how to make these DIY Christmas bon bons at home. 👇
How to Make DIY Christmas Bon Bons
What You’ll Need
To make your own homemade Christmas bon bons, you only need a few simple supplies.
Bon Bon Materials:
- Empty toilet rolls
- Small lollies, chocolates, or prizes (optional)
- Trivia questions or fun facts (great for kids and adults)
- Wrapping paper (leftover or recycled if you’ve got it)
- Ribbon or string
- Sticky tape
- Scissors
Optional:
- Christmas cracker “snap” strips if you want that traditional crack sound.
Step 1: Prepare Your Fillers
This is where you can really personalise your DIY bon bons.
I like to use trivia questions or fun facts instead of the usual plastic toys. For example, I went with Australian trivia — the question goes on the outside of a little folded piece of paper, and the answer is tucked inside.
You can also add:
- A small lolly or chocolate
- A handwritten joke
- A family challenge or conversation starter
Simple, meaningful, and zero landfill junk.
Step 2: Cut Your Wrapping Paper
Cut a piece of wrapping paper large enough to wrap fully around the toilet roll. Make sure to leave extra paper on each end so you can twist or tie it closed
You can use:
- Leftover Christmas wrapping paper
- Brown paper
- Recycled wrapping paper
- Even colourful toilet paper wrappers like from Who Gives A Crap (they work surprisingly well!)
Step 3: Assemble Your Bon Bons
- Place your toilet roll in the centre of the paper
- Add your trivia, treats, or small prizes inside
- Roll the paper tightly around the toilet roll
- Secure the seam with a small piece of sticky tape
Step 4: Tie (or Don’t Tie!) the Ends
Once rolled, twist or scrunch the paper at each end and secure with ribbon or string.
If you’re using thicker or textured paper (like colourful recycled wrappers), you might find it holds itself closed without ribbon, which is even more low-waste and frugal.
Optional: Add the “Crack” Sound
If you want your DIY Christmas bon bons to make that traditional cracking noise, you can buy cracker snap strips online and place one inside before sealing.
I’ll link the ones I found on eBay below if that’s something you’d like to add.
That’s It — DIY Christmas Bon Bons Done
And that’s how easy it is to make your own Christmas bon bons at home.
No plastic toys.
No unnecessary waste.
Just a fun, simple, low-cost Christmas tradition using what you already have.
They’re perfect for:
- Frugal Christmas celebrations
- Simple living households
- Low-waste or eco-friendly holidays
- Families wanting a more intentional Christmas
Homemade Christmas bon bons, ready to go 🎄✨
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