Wondering what to do with leftover candy canes? How about baking with candy canes or cookies with candy canes, recipes with crushed peppermint candy, using broken candy canes in holiday crafts or Christmas candy recipes, fruity candy cane ideas, things to make with candy and more like how do you store candy canes for next year?
What To Do with Leftover Candy Canes After the Holidays
The holidays are over and your house is a wreck. You’re in the midst of taking down the tree and other holiday decorations and every year you have the same question: What to do with leftover candy canes for Christmas?
What can you do with leftover candy canes?
So, what can you do with old candy canes? Here are things to do with candy canes — peppermint and fruit flavored (and other candy cane flavoring) — and, you may be surprised, but it’s more than just recipes with candy canes!
What can I do with leftover peppermint candy canes?
- Make peppermint simple syrup.
- Bake peppermint iced brownies (or other baking with left over candy cane recipes).
- Use for ice cream toppings.
- Melt them for candy cane pops suckers.
- Make no-bake chocolate cookies with candy cane pieces.
- Use leftover candy canes or broken candy canes for kitchen science / STEM projects.
- Make candy cane cookies.
- Use crushed candy canes for baking.
- Make candy cane cheesecake.
- Create candy cane desserts for Christmas parties.
- Make a candy cane Christmas tree for a holiday table centerpiece.
- Dip your leftover sugar cookies in chocolate and then top with crushed peppermint candy canes or even mini cherry candy canes!
- Roll homemade ice cream sandwiches in crushed candy canes.
- Make candy cane recipes leftover peppermint milkshakes.
- Use them for a leftover candy cane cookie recipe.
- Make white chocolate peppermint fudge or chocolate peppermint bark (because mint and chocolate? YUM!)
- Use them in art and craft projects.
- Dip them in chocolate and make chocolate candy canes (and then eat them)! (Yes, chocolate with candy cane is good!)
- Use them for a hot cocoa bar, coffee, or tea.
- Crush them and sprinkle them on homemade whipped cream.
- Crush and coat chocolate covered strawberries or marshmallows with them.
- Crush them and make a peppermint sugar scrub.
- Make peppermint white chocolate popcorn.
- Find other recipes with leftover candy canes
- Donate them!
(Don’t miss our full suggestions for peppermint candy canes and what to make with leftover candy canes below!)
It’s easy to come up with ideas for what to do with leftover peppermint candy canes, but what about fruit flavored candy canes?
What to do with leftover fruity candy canes?
What can I do with leftover candy canes that are fruit flavored?
- Use them for fruity milkshakes
- Melt them for stained glass cookies
- Crush them and dip chocolate covered strawberries into them
- Use them on whipped cream
- Mix them with sprinkles for an ice cream topping
- Crush them and roll a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone in them
- Use them in crafts
- Crush them and add them to rice krispie treats
- Freeze them!
(Don’t miss our full suggestions for fruit candy canes below and what can you make with leftover candy canes that are fruity below.)
Before we get to ideas for leftover candy canes and what to do with these hard candies, let’s answer some common candy cane questions including, Do candy canes go bad?
How To Store Leftover Candy Canes
How To Preserve Candy Canes
How long will candy canes last?
How long do candy canes last? Candy canes have a surprisingly long shelf life. You can keep them in a cool, dry place for up to a year and probably beyond (some lists wrapped candy canes can be stored for 2-3 years). After 12 months, candy canes may start to lose some of their flavor. Just be sure they aren’t sticky when you unwrap them.
How do you store leftover candy canes?
You can store candy canes in thick, sealable storage bag with the air removed. Be sure to place them in a cool, dry place for storage. They will last this way for up to a year (or more) before they start to lose flavor or change in consistency.
Do candy canes expire after a year?
Yes, candy canes expire. Candy canes, properly stored, are good for up to a year (and beyond sometimes). After one year, the candy canes are still safe to eat, but depending on how they are stored, they may start to get sticky, get soft, or even start to taste stale. It’s best to eat or use them within the year.
Can you freeze candy canes?
Yes, you can freeze candy canes! Place the candy canes in thick freezer storage bags, remove as much air as you can from the bag, and then freeze them for up to a year or more.
Can I melt candy canes?
Melting candy canes may seem like a weird concept, but you can actually melt candy canes to use in recipes or for crafts or other projects.
To melt candy canes:
- Remove them from their wrappers and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 5 minutes or until candy canes have completely melted.
- They will burn, so keep an eye on them!
Can you melt candy canes in microwave?
It’s difficult to melt candy canes in the microwave. It’s better to use another method, like in the oven or on a double boiler to melt your candy.
Things to Make with Leftover Candy Canes
Now, let’s get to ideas on using up leftover candy canes!
Sure, they looked pretty on the Christmas tree, hooked onto the stockings or sitting in a jar on your counter, but let’s face it; those pretty peppermint sticks are not the kids’ choice of Christmas candy any longer.
So, what to do with leftover candy canes after Christmas?
Throwing away all that candy just seems … wrong.
What if we told you that there are so many leftover candy cane uses after Christmas?
Here are 10 creative ways when you’re wondering, “What can I make with leftover candy canes?”
10 Creative Ways To Get Rid of Christmas Candy Canes
Leftover Candy Canes Ideas #1: Freeze Candy Canes for Later Use
Did you know that you can freeze hard candy?
(I didn’t until a friend of mine let me in on this secret a few years ago.)
And, there are so many recipes for leftover candy canes and things you can do with them throughout the year.
Leave the candy canes wrapped in their individual plastic and place them inside an airtight freezer bag.
Freeze the candy canes for up to a year.
Leftover Candy Canes Ideas #2: Crush Candy Canes for Topping
Place a few candy canes at a time into your blender or food processor and crush them into very small pieces or a fine dust.
You can then use candy cane toppings for so many different treats!
What to make with crushed candy canes:
- Drinks
- Ice cream
- Desserts
- Whipped cream
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Cupcakes
- Chocolate covered fruit topping
- & MORE (this is one of our favorite what to make with crushed peppermint candy ideas / recipes with peppermint candy)
If you don’t use all the pieces for recipes with candy cane, place them in freezer bags (don’t forget to label them!) and freeze until you need a topping for your desserts, drinks, and more!
ALSO CHECK OUT:
Homemade Hot Chocolate with Mix-Ins, Toppings, and Hot Cocoa Bar
Leftover Candy Canes Ideas #3: Repurpose Candy Canes for Valentine’s Day (For real!)
(You read that right.)
You can actually make Valentine’s Heart candy with your leftover candy canes.
This is good for peppermint or fruity candy canes.
How to Make Candy Cane Hearts:
- Place metal heart cookie cutters on parchment paper on a baking sheet.
- Break apart candy canes and place pieces inside the cookie cutters in a single layer.
- Bake for 5 minutes, or until completely melted. (Keep a close eye on them! Candy canes will burn!)
- Remove from oven and, using a knife, immediately trim any excess (if needed).
- Allow to cool and harden.
Wrap them in individual bags with a pink or red ribbon and you have sweet treats for your kid’s class, homeschool co-op, or friends and family!
What a fun family craft or homeschooling craft!
You can also roll chocolate dipped Valentine hearts in the crushed candy canes.
Leftover Candy Canes Ideas #4: Use Candy Canes In Baking
Candy canes are great for baking!
Anytime a recipe calls for peppermint or even candy of some kind, you can substitute candy canes.
What to bake with leftover candy canes:
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Cupcakes
- Brownies
- Snacks
And so much more!
Search online for cake, cookie or dessert recipes using leftover candy canes.
Leftover Candy Canes Ideas #5: Medicate Yourself Using Candy Canes.
Peppermint candy can act as a throat lozenge, especially for those dry, hacking coughs. Break the candy canes up into bigger pieces and wrap in cling wrap or put in a plastic baggie. Keep them in your purse, pocket or car for easy use.
Also, don’t forget to add them into a soothing tea!
This is one of those old-fashioned, forgotten things to do with peppermint candy or candy canes!
Leftover Candy Canes Ideas #6: Make Drinks With Candy Canes
Candy canes are fun to add to drinks because, not only do they taste good, they also look pretty!
- Milk (Including warmed milk and chocolate milk)
- Candy cane milkshake recipe
- Hot chocolate
- Coffee or a candy cane coffee creamer
- Tea
- Mocktails
Don’t use them just to mix into the drink, but crush them up and dip the rim of your glass in crushed candy canes, too!
Leftover Candy Canes Ideas #7: Play A Game With Candy Canes
Don’t give up your candy canes just yet because you can play a game with candy canes (or two or five)!
Check out this link for a ton of great candy cane game ideas!
Leftover Candy Canes Ideas #8: Use Candy Canes in Crafts
There are so many great crafts to use with candy canes—candy cane wreaths, candy cane hearts for Valentine’s Day, and more.
One of our favorite is this Not a Creature Was Stirring craft that can also be used for name tags for your gifts.
It’s a great way to get rid of your candy canes even before the holidays are over.
Leftover Candy Canes Ideas #9: Make Peppermint Scrubs with Candy Canes
You probably didn’t even think of this, but you can make an awesome scrub with your peppermint candy canes!
Use:
- Sugar
- Finely crushed peppermint candy canes
- Olive oil
- Peppermint essential oil
Mix together and use as a facial or body scrub!
Leftover Candy Canes Ideas #10: Donate Candy Canes
If all else fails and you’re just ready to get rid of them, donate them!
Check out local shelters, nursing homes, and even organizations that help military families where you can ship treats to those serving overseas!
We hope this helped with what to do with leftover candy canes!
LOOKING FOR FUN COOKING PRINTABLES FOR KIDS?
I use candy canes in lieu of sugar or honey to sweeten my hot chocolate drink. It gives a cooling peppermint flavor making it a nice treat during a busy work shift.
YEeeeesss! That sounds fabulous!