4 Ways to Use Candy Canes

When I was a little girl, my Mom always bought boxes of candy canes for us to hang on the Christmas tree. Every night I would sneak into the living room and change the direction of the hanging candy canes. It used to drive my Mom crazy! (insert maniacal laughter here) I may have been a wee bit mischievous.

Anyway, after Christmas we would have tons of candy canes lying around to be snacked on or used to stir hot cocoa. So, in honor of this most festive and traditional of holiday candies; here are 4 Ways to Use Candy Canes this season!

1. Chocolate Peppermint Chunk Cookies
Only one of the best cookie recipes ever! Recipe here

2. Candy Cane Hot Cocoa
In a saucepan, heat 4 cups milk until hot, but not boiling. Whisk in 3 (1 ounce) squares of semisweet chocolate chopped, and 1 crushed candy cane. Stir until melted and smooth. Pour hot cocoa into four mugs, and garnish with whipped cream and crushed candy canes. Serve each with a candy cane stirring stick.

3. Chocolate Dipped Candy Canes
Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper and set aside. Melt your favorite chocolate, semisweet, white or bittersweet chocolate in a double boiler or microwave, stirring until melted. Dip the straight end of the candy cane into chocolate and place on cookie sheet to cool. Drizzle with a second chocolate or sprinkle with crushed candy cane for extra decoration!

4. DIY Candy Cane wreath - source
1- 12" styrofoam wreath form
80-100 mini candy canes
hot glue
red ribbon for hanging
clear sealant like Mod Podge

Directions
1. Unwrap the candy canes and begin gluing the candy canes to the outside of the wreath. Because of the way wreaths curve, the candy canes won't be able to touch each other from length to tip. Instead, place them so that they touch at the inner edge of the wreath (the non-curved tip) and then naturally diverge a little at the curved tip.
2. Continue to glue the candy canes to the wreath until the entire front surface is covered with candy canes radiating outward.
3. Brush a clear craft sealant, like mod podge, over the candy canes and let it dry completely.
4. Loop a wide ribbon through the middle of your candy cane wreath and hang!

Illustration by Ann Shen for Freutcake

SIDE NOTE: A BIG congratulations to Ann for having her illustrations featured on Ban.do's new line of iPhone cases for Anthropologie! You can shop them all right here.