Best Candy Canes Recipes

HOMEMADE CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Grease two baking sheets with butter; set aside. In a large saucepan, bring the sugar, water, corn syrup and cream of tartar to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 280° (soft-crack stage)., Remove from the heat; stir in extract and food coloring. Immediately pour onto prepared pans in eight 8-in. strips. Let stand just until cool enough to handle, about 1-2 minutes., Working quickly, roll each strip into a 10-in. log. Cut each into two 5-in. lengths. Curve the top of each to form the handle of a cane. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Before you begin this recipe, please take a class from a professional on working with sugar. This is a skill that professional pastry chefs develop after years of experience. Working with sugar will burn your fingers so know before you start that your fingers will develop burn blisters. Place the sugar, vinegar and water in a saucepan over high heat. Insert a candy thermometer and cook until the sugar reaches 320 degrees F. Use a pastry brush to keep the inside of the saucepan clean as the sugar cooks or the sugar may recrystallize. To do this, dip a clean brush in cold water and brush the inside of the pan clean. Pour the cooked sugar onto 3 or 4 silicone baking mats. If you want to color and/or flavor the sugar with food colors and/or flavored oils, this is the time to do so. Add a few drops of color to the sugar. Mix with a wooden skewer. To get started, push the sugar from the sides toward the center. This process takes a little while. Try to keep the sugar divided by color. Use the mat to push the firm sugar around the edges toward the center. Use a folding motion to accomplish that task. The next step is to pick up the sugar with your hands. Place each color under the heat of the sugar lamp. Pull the sugar until it becomes glossy and the color is evenly distributed. You will need to pull the colors simultaneously. Keep them under the sugar lamp but keep an eye on them. The lamp can melt the sugar so it is important keep rotating it and folding it onto itself.
• Start with 2 pieces of colored sugar. I used red and green. Pull them into a rectangular shape that is about 1 1/2-inches wide by 3-inches long and 1/2-inch thick. Place the pieces side-to-side and let them stick together on the long side. Place a piece of white sugar that is about 1/2-inch wide by 3-inches long and 1/2-inch thick in the middle. Close the red and green around it. Roll it and twist it while pulling it. When it gets to the desired thickness, use a scissor to cut the length and shape into a cane. Allow to cool completely. The white is inside and will become apparent when eaten.
• Jacques? tips: Vinegar keeps the sugar from crystallizing. You will not taste the flavor. It serves as an acid in this recipe. Sometimes candy cane recipes contain corn syrup, which makes the sugar very dry and very hot. Adding corn syrup makes it more difficult to work with the sugar at home. Remember, the sugar is at 320 degrees F, and that will burn you. The ideal work surface is a silpat placed over cool marble or granite. If you do not have marble or stone, use wood. It is a good idea to use gloves to help protect your hands from the heat and to prevent burning.
• I use a special sugar box that includes a special heat source, If you don?t have one, you can work in front of the oven. Set the oven to 300 degrees F. Open the oven door and place the silpat on the oven door. It provides a similar effect to the sugar box heater.

HOMEMADE CANDY CANES

Steps:

• 1. In heavy-bottomed large saucepan or small pot, combine first 4 ingredients and stir until sugar dissolves. Cook, without stirring to hard-ball stage. (265 degrees.) Remove from heat and add peppermint extract. Divide into 2 portions, and add coloring to one part. Pour out onto buttered cookie sheets. (Pour half onto one sheet, then add coloring to the rest and then pour onto second sheet.) when it's cool enough to handle, start pulling each part seperately. (Best done with 2 people, but if doing alone, go back and forth pulling each.) When you feel like you just can't pull anymore, form into ropes and twist them together. Cut into 8" lengths, form into the shape of candy canes, and place on lightly buttered platter til fully hardened.

HOMEMADE PEPPERMINT CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, water, syrup and cream of tartar in a sauce pan and heat till the sugar has dissolved.
• Divide mixture into 2 saucepans, bring to a boil (do not stir the mixtures in both pots) until the candy thermometer reads 280 degrees F.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint into each pot and add the red food coloring into one pot, leaving the other pot plain.
• Oil an enamel or marble surface or slab.
• Place mixture from one pot and stretch it like taffy, pulling and forming the mixture into a rope.
• Set aside and continue with other pot doing the same thing.
• Take both red and white ropes and twist them around each other again and again.
• Cut into desired sizes and form into candy cane shapes.
• Oil the surface lightly again and place candy canes and allow them to harden.
• Have fun making these!

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CANDY CANES

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Dip curved ends of candy canes in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper., In a microwave, melt white baking chocolate; stir until smooth. Drizzle over chocolate. Decorate with toppings if desired. Let stand until set., Use to stir servings of hot cocoa.

EASY PEPPERMINT CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Blend together corn syrup, sugar, water, and cream of tartar.
• Stir, dissolving the sugar.
• Without stirring, cook until the hard ball stage (265°F).
• Remove from burner; add peppermint oil, blend well.
• Divide into 2 porions.
• In one half, add red coloring.
• Pour over greased platters.
• Let cool.
• When cool enough to touch, pull each apart seperatly.
• Form into ropes and twist red with white candy mixtures.
• Cut into desired lengths and shapes.

PULLED TAFFY CANDY CANES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan over low heat, cook sugar, corn syrup, water and cream of tartar until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Increase heat to medium and cook until candy thermometer reads 265° (hard-ball stage), stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat; add extract. , Pour half into a buttered 15x10x1-in. pan. Add food coloring to remaining mixture; mix well. Pour into another buttered 15x10x1-in. pan. Cool 5 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Butter fingers; quickly pull half of the white or red at a time until firm but pliable (the white portion will have a milky color). , When taffy is ready for cutting, pull into a 1/4-in. rope. Cut into 6-in. pieces. Twist red and white pieces together; form into canes. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Cool.

MERINGUE CANDY CANES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved, about 6 minutes. Beat in peppermint extract., Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry bag; insert star tip #21. With a new painbrush, brush three evenly spaced 1/4-in. strips of red food coloring on the inside of the bag from the tip to three-fourths of the way to the top of the bag. Carefully fill bag with meringue., Pipe 3-in. candy canes onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 225° for 25 minutes; rotate baking sheets to a different oven rack. Bake 25 minutes longer or until firm to the touch. Turn oven off; leave cookies in oven with door ajar for at least 1 hour or until cool.

PEPPERMINT CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Mix a few drops of peppermint into the white, red and green icing. Divide the white icing in 2 and wrap half in cling film along with the green icing.
• Roll the remaining half of white icing into a long, thin sausage shape, then do the same with the red icing. Lay the 2 sausages next to each other, and twist together. Gently roll the twisted length with the palm of your hand until the 2 sausages are joined and smooth. Slice into 12cm lengths, then bend the end of each one to make a hook. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment, then spread out the candy canes. Repeat with the remaining white icing and green icing, then leave the canes to dry out for at least 24 hrs before packaging.

CANDY CANES DESSERT MINIS

Steps:

• Add boiling water to combined gelatin mix and 1/3 cup crushed candy in medium bowl; stir 2 min. until gelatin mix is completely dissolved and candy is melted.
• Reserve 1/2 cup COOL WHIP for later use. Add remaining COOL WHIP to gelatin mixture; whisk until blended.
• Spoon into 12 (2-oz.) shot glasses.
• Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.
• Top with reserved COOL WHIP and crushed candy before serving.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CRUSHED CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Melt 1/4 a stick of butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Paint the inside of 6 ramekins or aluminum souffle cups with butter. Coat the inside of each ramekin with granulated sugar. Reserve.
• Put the remaining stick of butter and chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl. Set the bowl on a saucepan filled with about 1-inch of boiling water. Be sure that the bowl is not touching the water. Gently stir the butter and the chocolate together until melted and the mixture is smooth. Turn off the heat and reserve.
• Combine the eggs, yolks, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer. (This can also be done with a hand beater.) Beat the egg mixture until it doubles in size, and gets very thick and very pale.
• Gently whisk the melted chocolate and butter into the egg mixture. Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently stir in the flour. Pour the batter into the prepared ramekins. Arrange the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 14 to 15 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and let rest for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the cakes from the ramekins, and arrange them on individual serving plates. Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with crushed candy cane.
• HOHOHOHOHO!!!

MERINGUE CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Whisk the egg whites with an electric whisk or in a stand mixer for 2-3 mins, or until very foamy and doubled in size. With the motor running, add the sugar 1 tbsp at a time, beating in fully before adding the next spoonful.
• When all the sugar has been incorporated, add the peppermint extract and whisk for 2-3 mins more until very thick, glossy, and holding stiff peaks.
• Fit two piping bags with 1cm round nozzles, and paint a few stripes of the food colouring gels onto the inside of the bags using a cocktail stick. (Use one colour for each bag, or alternate the colours in the bags). Heat the oven to 120C/100C fan/gas ½, and line two or three baking sheets with baking parchment.
• Divide the meringue mixture between the two piping bags and pipe roughly 10cm-long, 2cm-thick cane shapes onto the prepared sheets, leaving a gap between each. Bake for 50 mins until dry and crisp. Leave to cool on the sheets for a few minutes, then carefully loosen them from the parchment with a palette knife, and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Use the meringue canes to decorate your tree, or keep in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

MERINGUE CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper or foil. In large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until meringue is stiff and glossy. Beat in peppermint extract.
• Fit large decorating bag with 1/4-inch star tip. With small brush, paint 3 to 4 evenly spaced stripes of food color on inside of decorating bag, from tip to upper edge. Carefully spoon meringue into bag. Pipe 2 1/2-inch candy canes onto paper-lined cookie sheets.
• Bake about 1 hour or until dry but not brown.

SOFT ASIAGO CHEESE CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°. Line 2 cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper. Make roll mix as directed on package, using 1 egg, the butter and water, and adding cheese to dough when mixing.
• Divide dough in half. Mix food color into half of dough. Divide each half into 24 pieces; roll each piece on lightly floured surface into 8-inch rope. Twist 1 red and 1 plain rope together; press ends to seal. Form each twist into candy cane shape. Place candy canes 2 inches apart on cookie sheets; brush with beaten egg. Let stand 5 minutes before baking.
• Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack; serve warm or cool slightly.
• Mix oil and pesto. Serve breadsticks with pesto oil for dipping. Store breadsticks in tightly sealed container at room temperature up to 24 hours.

GINGERBREAD CANDY CANES

Steps:

• In electric mixer, beat butter and sugar at high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add ginger, cinnamon, allspice, baking soda, and cloves and mix at low speed until blended. Beat in egg. Add 2 cups flour and mix at low speed until just combined. Beat in molasses until just blended. Add remaining 2 cups flour and mix at low speed until just combined. Divide dough into thirds, form into 3 disks, and wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill until firm, at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 375°F. Line 2 heavy large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Remove 1 dough disk from refrigerator. On lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/4- to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 3- to 4-inch candy cane cookie cutter, cut out cookies; transfer with spatula to baking sheets. Gather and reroll scraps and cut out additional cookies. Decorate with stripes of red and green sanding sugar, then chill cookies 10 minutes.
• Bake until fragrant and lightly colored, about 10 minutes. Cool on pans 2 minutes, then transfer to racks and cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.

GRINCH CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Just buy the green colored candy canes and attach the following poem:.
• When the Grinch discovered, There was no way, To Keep Christmas from coming, On Christmas day, He devised a new plan -- Though not quite as mean, He licked all the candy canes, Til he turned them all green.

WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE WITH CANDY CANES (ADULT OR KID VERSION)

Steps:

• Combine the chopped chocolate and vanilla extract in a medium bowl.
• Combine the milk and cream and heat over medium heat until simmering. Immediately pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and whisk to melt.
• Add the brandy and pour into glass or ceramic mugs. Hang the candy cane over the edge of the mug and serve.

CHOCOLATE DIPPED CANDY CANES

Steps:

• 1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Heat chocolate chips and shortening in a 1-quart saucepan over low heat until melted. Tip saucepan so that chocolate runs to one side. Dip 1 candy cane at a time into Chocolate, coating about 3/4 of each stick with chocolate. Place on wax paper on Cookie sheet. Let stand about 2 minutes, until chocolate is almost dry. Roll chocolate-dipped ends in crushed peppermint candy or miniature chocolate chips. Let stand about 10 minutes or until chocolate is dry. Store loosely covered at room Temperature up to 2 weeks. Makes 16 candy canes.

LEMON CANDY CANES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sour cream, egg, butter, sugar, salt and 1-1/4 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each into a 12x8-in. rectangle. , In a small bowl, combine filling ingredients. Spread half of the filling over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. Fold in half lengthwise; pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 strips. Holding both ends of strip, twist each strip three or four times. , Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Curve one end to form a cane. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Bake at 375° for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Combine icing ingredients; drizzle over rolls.

PARMESAN BREADSTICK CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Unroll breadstick dough; cut each strip in half lengthwise to make 16 breadsticks.
• Dip each breadstick in butter, then cheese.
• Twist slightly, shape into candy cane.
• Bake on ungreased baking sheet 14-18 min at 350 or until golden.