Easy Peppermint Candy Canes
Create holiday magic in your kitchen with these **Easy Peppermint Candy Canes**—a festive treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat! This beginner-friendly recipe uses simple ingredients like granulated sugar, light corn syrup, and peppermint extract to craft vibrant, sweet candy canes with a classic minty flavor. Featuring a swirl of bright red and clear stripes, these candy canes are formed by twisting pliable ropes of sugar syrup into the iconic hook shape. Perfect for decorating your tree, gifting in holiday tins, or enjoying straight from the jar, this recipe comes together quickly with just 30 minutes of prep and a candy thermometer for precision. Dusted with powdered sugar and made with love, these homemade peppermint candy canes are the ultimate DIY holiday project for kids and adults alike.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups Granulated sugar
- 1 cup Light corn syrup
- 1 cup Water
- 2 teaspoons Peppermint extract
- 8 drops Red food coloring
- 0.25 cup Powdered sugar (for dusting)
- 1 as needed Cooking spray
Instructions
Prepare a clean work surface by dusting it lightly with powdered sugar. Spray a heatproof silicone mat or baking sheet with cooking spray and set it aside.
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, light corn syrup, and water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Use a candy thermometer and let the mixture cook without stirring until it reaches 300°F (149°C), known as the hard crack stage. Immediately remove the pan from heat.
Stir in the peppermint extract quickly and carefully as the mixture will be very hot.
Divide the mixture into two equal portions. Leave one portion clear, and add the red food coloring to the other portion. Mix well until the color is uniform.
Spray your hands with cooking spray, and working quickly, take small amounts of each color and roll them into long, thin ropes. Press one red and one clear rope together and twist gently to create the candy cane stripe pattern.
Cut the twisted ropes into desired lengths and shape them into the traditional candy cane hook. Place each candy cane on the prepared surface to cool completely.
Repeat with the remaining candy mixture. If the candy becomes too stiff to work with, warm it gently in the oven at 250°F (121°C) for a few minutes to soften.
Allow the candy canes to cool and harden completely before handling or packaging. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
203 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 4 mg | 0% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 52.0 g | 19% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Total Sugars | 51.5 g | ||
| Protein | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 3 mg | 0% | |
| Iron | 0.0 mg | 0% | |
| Potassium | 1 mg | 0% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
