Stuck with a box full of perfectly good candy canes and don't know what to do with them? No worries! These candy cane desserts are the best ways to use up extra candy canes, and get a great dessert out of it.
16 Festive Leftover Candy Cane Recipes
Updated on Jan. 30, 2024
1/16
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These candy cane cookies are a variation of the cookies my mother made when I was growing up. Now my 13-year-old daughter and I bake them together. They’re always a huge hit! The taste is like rich hot chocolate baked into a scrumptious cookie. —Larry Piklor, Johnsburg, Illinois
2/16
Candy Cane Chocolate Loaves
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
3 loaves (12 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
When I had a bunch of leftover candy canes after the holidays, I was inspired to use them up by adding them to a chocolate bread. Coffee and cocoa intensify the flavor. —Shelly Platten, Amherst, Wisconsin
3/16
Candy Cane Pie
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When my college roommate first made this pie, I couldn’t get enough! Using a store-bought crust helps save time when you’re in the midst of the holidays. —Charlotte Stewart, Mesa, Arizona
4/16
Oreo Fudge
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I invented this confection for a bake sale at our children's school. Boy, was it a hit! The crunchy chunks of sandwich cookie soften a bit as the mixture mellows. It's so sweet that one panful serves a crowd. —Laura Lane, Richmond, Virginia
5/16
Candy Cane Shortbread Bars
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I created these bars for my daughter, who loves peppermint. The buttery shortbread texture just melts in your mouth. They're a hit wherever I take them. —Susan Ciuffreda, Huntersville, North Carolina
6/16
Peppermint Bark Trifle
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We’re always looking for those showstopping desserts, especially during the holidays. This one is very impressive, but couldn’t be easier to make. No one will ever know it’s made with a store-bought angel food cake. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
7/16
White Chocolate Peppermint Crunch
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 pounds
From the Recipe Creator:
This candy cane recipe is my favorite confection to make at Christmas. Not only is it easy, it’s delicious as well. I like to fill small bags with the crunchy candy to place in gift baskets.—Nancy Shelton, Boaz, Kentucky
8/16
Peppermint Kiss Cookies
Total Time
55 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
We like to stir different flavored candy canes into the dough for fun variety. —Joan Cossette, Colbert, Washington
9/16
Layered Candy Cane Dessert
Total Time
25 min
Servings
24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This fabulous dessert has the magical flavor of candy canes plus the bonus of an Oreo cookie crust. And it looks like a winter wonderland. —Dawn Kreuser, Green Bay, Wisconsin
10/16
Spearmint Thins
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
No time to bake cookies from scratch? Create a tasty candy cane recipe in little more than half an hour by doctoring butter-flavored crackers with vanilla chips and mint candies.—Kathleen Felton, Fairfax, Iowa
11/16
Chocolate Candy Cane Martinis
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 martinis
From the Recipe Creator:
A peppermint martini is perfect for a fun Christmastime gathering of friends. Crushed candy canes on the rim add festive flair. —Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota
12/16
Peppermint Meringue Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 40 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Peppermint lovers won't be able to get enough of these light and airy delights. They make terrific Christmas gifts or lovely treats to pass around when guests drop in. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois
13/16
Ornament Popcorn Balls
Total Time
30 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These gooey candy cane treats are great for dressing up the tree with a little more than the classic popcorn string. And they’re yummier and fun for the family, too. — Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
14/16
Peppermint Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
People are thrilled when they see me coming with this rich, smooth cheesecake—it's always a crowd pleaser. Not only does it look sensational, but it is so scrumptious. —Carrie Price, Ottawa, Illinois
15/16
White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2 pounds
From the Recipe Creator:
I make many batches of this minty peppermint fudge to give as Christmas gifts. It’s not too sweet, so it appeals to lots of palates. —Sue Schindler, Barnesville, Minnesota
16/16
Candy Cane Reindeer
Total Time
30 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
We had a blast creating this adorable candy cane recipe! Rudolph and his friends never looked sweeter than they do with pretzel antlers, chocolate eyes, and candy noses made with Red Hots. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
