The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with candy canes? These classic red and white striped treats are a staple of Christmas, and can be used in a variety of ways to add a festive touch to your confectionery creations. In this week's blog post, we're sharing 10 creative and easy ideas for incorporating candy canes into your product mix and presentation for the holidays.

 

 

1.  Candy Cane Trees

Make an impact in your holiday window display or size it down for an eye-catching centerpiece for a tabletop display. Click here to view a step-by-step tutorial on the massive candy cane showpiece pictured above.

 

 

2.  Peppermint Swirl Marshmallow

Sold separately or aside your own blend of hot cocoa mix, these festive peppermint marshmallows would add a pop of color to your shelf when packaged in clear candy bags. Click here to view recipe.

 

 

3.  White Chocolate Peppermint Marshmallow Pops

RCI member, Water’s Edge Chocolates of Tullahoma, Tennessee, dips their marshmallows in white chocolate and tops with crushed peppermint before adding a lollipop stick and a matching red ribbon. These would make great stocking stuffers, as well as a festive addition to a holiday gift basket.

 

 

4.  Peppermint Bark Fudge

If your customers love peppermint bark, they’re going to have to add a new favorite to their Christmas list! RCI member Hilliard’s Chocolate of North Easton, Massachusetts transforms the family’s original fudge recipe with an added layer of their own “Oprah’s favorite” peppermint bark on top.

 

 

5.  Candy Cane Rudolph Pops

Could Rudolph get any cuter? We don’t think so! These darling Rudolph pops are so easy, with the right supplies, you could whip up a big batch in a flash or package as a kit for families to take and make at home. If you’re hosting a holiday open house, this could be an easy and inexpensive activity for kids to make in your shop. Click here for a past blog post featuring pro-tips from an RCI member for hosting a similar event (except for Easter) in your shop.

 

 

6.  Peppermint Bark Mendiants

For an upscale spin on peppermint bark, create peppermint bark mendiants. Mendiants are a French confection consisting of a chocolate disk traditionally studded with nuts and dried fruits. In this example, Cacao & Cardamon features layers of dark and white chocolate topped with peppermint pieces and mini marshmallows.

 

 

 

7.  Peppermint Crunch Oreos

RCI member Marie’s Candies of West Liberty, Ohio puts their own sweet spin on chocolate-covered Oreos^®. A seasonal treat only made for Christmas, these mini-Oreos are covered with sweet white coating and crunchy peppermint dust.

 

 

8.  Candy Cane Bark Popcorn

Save the plain popcorn for decorating the Christmas tree! Give out samples of candy-sweet popcorn bark to your guests and watch it pop off the shelf! Click here for more details.

 

 

9.  Peppermint and Caramel Chocolate-Covered Pretzels

While adding crushed peppermint to chocolate-covered pretzels is not exactly a new revelation, throwing caramel into the mix may be. Mrs Prindables, known for their caramel apples, dips pretzel rods in their signature caramel and, again, in white chocolate before sprinkling with peppermint pieces. We think it’s worth a try!

 

 

Photo credit: Sprinkle Some Sunshine, Oh!Nuts, Home & Hallow

10.  Candy Cane Sweetheart Pops

With a box of candy canes, a lollipop stick and a bit of added heat, mould candy canes into hearts to frame your favorite holiday bark or dark chocolate. Plus, with the right color ribbon, this could easily double as a Valentine treat and a good way to use up leftover candy canes.

While National Candy Cane Day is the day after Christmas (December 26), we hope this week’s post inspires you to celebrate the candy cane all month long!

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