Each year almost 2 billion (yes, billion!) candy canes are sold in the four weeks before Christmas and Hanukkah, according to Candy Cane Facts. You can share this and other fun candy cane trivia with your kids as you make these treats: The original shape of the candy cane wasn’t a hook but a straight rod. The first time candy canes are mentioned in the United States was back in 1847 when a German immigrant in Wooster, Ohio, used them to decorate his Christmas tree. To celebrate all things candy cane use them as a mix-in to make chocolate cheesecake candy cane bars and peppermint candy cane brownies. Or what about candy cane chocolate swirl fudge? Finish off your candy cane treat list by making peppermint-Oreo cookie balls. Make sure you have plenty of candy canes on hand before you start baking!
Candy Cane Cookies
Twist red-colored strips and regular dough together to make these candy cane cookies from Betty Crocker. Add peppermint extract to the dough for an added minty burst. The final touch is sprinkling crushed peppermints to the top of the just-cooked sweets.
Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies
Buttery, dense chocolate brownies get a minty makeover with this recipe for peppermint candy cane brownies from The Comfort of Cooking. Have your kids work on smashing peppermint candies into pieces using a rolling pin on a cutting board while the brownies bake. Once out of the oven, top the warm brownies with the peppermint.
Chocolate Cheesecake Candy Cane Bars
Can’t decide whether you want cheesecake, brownies or cake? These chocolate cheesecake candy cane bars from The Food Network are a combination of all those desserts in one, dense treat. The best part of these bars – a layer of chocolate glaze on top that’s then sprinkled with crushed candy canes.
Candy Cane S’mores
Combine a summertime treat with the flavors of winter. To make these candy cane s’mores from Roxana’s Home Baking, place 16 graham cracker squares on a cookie sheet. Bake for 2 minutes with a large marshmallows on each one. Meanwhile, melt chocolate and heavy cream. Drizzle each cookie with chocolate and then candy cane pieces.
Candy Cane Chocolate Swirl Fudge
Instead of milk or dark chocolate, try out this white chocolate candy cane chocolate swirl fudge from Sally’s Baking Addiction. To make the fudge, mix together white chocolate morsels and a can of sweetened condensed milk. The next step – swirling in mini-chocolate chips and crushed candy cane pieces.
Peppermint-Oreo Cookie Balls
Lots of crushing in the recipe – you’ll need to break both the candy canes and the Oreo cookies into pieces. Mix the Oreo cookies with softened cream cheese and some of the candy canes. Form into balls. Dip into melted chocolate and add the remaining candy cane pieces as the final decoration for these peppermint-Oreo cookie balls from Kraft.
