Take a Break: Ten things to do with Candy Canes

Below are a variety of fun things you can make with candy canes, some of which you may want to give as gifts.

1. Candy Cane Heart WreathThis is one time you don’t want to use Dollar Store candy canes, as they can come in various sizes and it’s important that they are all the same length. Another option is using small candy canes to make a wreath. 

2 Dipped Candy Canes: Melt white chocolate, morsels in the microwave, checking at 30 second intervals as they can easily burn. Dip the candy canes in half way. If you want more “bling,” roll in white sprinkles. Package these with hot chocolate so they can be used to stir in extra flavor. An alternative is to dip the candy cane into dark chocolate and sprinkle with crushed candy cane.

3 Candy Cane Topiary Tree: Definitely shop at the Dollar store for supplies for this project. 

4 Candy Cane Mice 

5 Ornaments: Just hang on a tree as is. A tree with alternating candy canes, red and white bows and small twinkling lights would be stunning. To step it up, glue two together in a heart shape, add a red ribbon and hang. Don’t want to use glue? Unwrap the candy canes. Take two and place them so they form a heart onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 for a few minutes until they are just fused together. Left too long, they will run together, an altogether different project. After they cool, coat with modge podge, add a ribbon and hang.

6 White chocolate peppermint bark: This is as simple as crushing the candy canes and mixing with melted white chocolate. Pour onto wax paper and chill.

7 Candy Cane Vase: Glue or tape (double-sided) the candy cans to a cheap vase or hold them in place with a rubber band. Wrap a ribbon, wide enough to cover the rubber band, around the middle and voila, you have a festive vase, suitable for greens, roses or whatever strikes your fancy. It’s easiest if you use straight peppermint sticks minus the cane portion.

8 Candy cane heart chocolates: Using the small candy canes, position two so they form a heart shape, on wax paper.  Fill the center with melted white or dark chocolate-microwave works fine, just check frequently to make sure it doesn’t burn, and fill the center sufficiently that it will hold the shape. Sprinkle a little crushed candy cane on top. If you are concerned about the candy canes holding their shape, position them in their heart shape on parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees for a few minutes. Check frequently

9 Hot Chocolate on a Candy Cane: There are a few steps in making this and it will take several days:

Step 1: Make chocolate ganache blocks

Step 2: Take a marshmallow and spear with a skewer of some sort. Once you have a pre “drilled” hole, it will be easier to put on the candy cane.

Step 3: Skewer the chocolate gananche block onto the candy cane.

Step 4: Wrap in cellophane with a tag that says something along the lines of “swirl in an 8 oz cup of hot milk.”

10 Peppermint Heart Chips using Candy Canes 

Need more ideas; check out what you can do with left over candy canes