What to do with leftover candycanes

    Posted by  ·  January 7, 2011

    Here is a Friday Flashback that shares some ideas of what to do with any leftover candy canes lurking around your home.


    Oh candy cane…

    we love you…

    but, is time to see you go!

    White Chocolate and Peppermint Popcorn

    • 16 oz. white chocolate (can use white chocolate baking morsels) or almond bark
    • 1 cup finely crushed (like sand) peppermints (about 10-12 candy canes or 40 mints) I crush my peppermints in my food processor. The mints will scratch the plastic.
    • 4 quarts popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup corn kernels) I used this to pop my corn, so it had salt. If you are using air popped corn, throw in a pinch of salt when you sprinkle in the crushed peppermints.

    Slowly melt white chocolate or almond bark in the microwave or on stove-top with double boiler. Stir often to keep chocolate from burning. Stir 1/2 cup crushed peppermints into the white chocolate. Place popped corn into a large bowl. Pour melted white chocolate and peppermint mixture over the popcorn. Gently stir to coat popcorn while sprinkling remaining crushed peppermints over the popcorn.

    Pour out onto parchment paper and allow coating to harden.

    oh yummy peppermint popcorn!

    Miniature candy canes make great heart suckers and cupcake toppers —perfect for Valentine’s Day! Learn more here.

    29 COMMENTS
    Filed Under: Holiday Crafts, Recipes, Valentine's Day

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    Comments

    1. mees
      Sunday, December 18th, 2011
      looks yummy! i'm going to make some right now for a christmas party at school! :) thanks!
      Reply
    2. Ruthanne
      Saturday, February 12th, 2011
      I just made this today and it is delicious! I can't wait to give it out on Monday. :) Thanks for the great recipe.
      Reply
    3. adrienne
      Thursday, January 13th, 2011
      i made this today!!! yummy yummy!!
      Reply
    4. reeve
      Wednesday, January 12th, 2011
      that popcorn looks amazing! If only I wasn't allergic to corn :(
      Reply
    5. Kristy
      Monday, January 10th, 2011
      Oh, my, my, my!! That looks SO yummy! Why did I throw out all our candy canes! This will be awesome next year to make and put in the containers to take to the neighbors for a friendly Christmas treat!
      Reply
    6. Kristen
      Monday, January 10th, 2011
      That popcorn sounds amazing. I am sure a batch of it would disappear in seconds around my house!
      Reply
    7. Nisha
      Monday, January 10th, 2011
      Oh man, my kids would be in heaven over that popcorn!
      Reply
    8. Meg/Brassy Apple
      Sunday, January 9th, 2011
      I BOUGHT some candy canes just to make this popcorn for Vday! :) thanks!!!
      Reply
    9. Glamamom
      Saturday, January 8th, 2011
      Hmm, popcorn and candy cane? I would have never thunk it!
      Reply
    10. 1 Funky Woman
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      Darn it, I just tossed them. This sure looks good. I 'll go check the clearance bin at Wally World and Target, great idea!
      Reply
    11. Tomi Ann
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      Ooh, yum! That sounds delish!
      Reply
    12. Heather
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      I buy the candy canes on clearance each year and use them as my valentines to my students. They love them!
      Reply
    13. Cindy
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      I made the peppermint popcorn last weekend and it was AMAZING! I had to bring the extra to work so that I wouldn't sit and eat it all! Thank you for sharing!
      Reply
    14. Momma Mindy
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      Nummy! I put crushed candy canes in white chocolate, but the popcorn is a brilliantly delicious idea! Thanks.
      Reply
    15. Nat
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      That is a great idea! We used our leftovers to make peppermint ice cream.
      Reply
    16. Jenn Erickson/Rook No. 17
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      I positively adore this idea! I was just picking up stray candycanes around the house today, and always love a new twist on one of my favorite snacks -- popcorn! Thank you!
      Reply
    17. Jessica
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      We love them in hot chocolate! Mmmm...
      Reply
    18. KnitPastis
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      For a while now I have been going through a mint craving and this sure sounds refreshing.

      That cupcake idea is so cute!

      Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!
      Reply
    19. ruth
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      sounds utterly delicious!
      Reply
    20. Ruthanne
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      I hope my son's teachers don't see this because they are getting some of this for Valentine's Day! Yum! thank you. :)
      Reply
    21. Annabelle
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      I don't understand why you would want to crush the peppermints in your food processer knowing it will scratch the plastic.
      Maybe we should use a rolling pin and put the peppermints in a freezer bag??????
      Reply
    22. Kelli
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      Yum! I had a ton of leftover candy canes last year, and I used them to make Valentine cards!
      http://the-wilson-world.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-funny-valentine.html
      Reply
    23. Tierra Lowry
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      I make this every year. About five years ago I made it for people at my husband's work and they have requested it since then. This year I made it for all my friends too. Let's just say that I made a TON of popcorn. Definitely a favorite among many.
      Reply
    24. Stacy
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      We made this last week and it was a hit, the kids loved crushing the candy canes in the blender!
      Reply
    25. Christy
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      I just threw a bunch of candy canes away yesterday! I was tired of looking at them. We had used them for decoration, but no one in our house actually eats them. I wish I had seen this earlier. The heart cupcake is so cute and would have been a perfect use for them.
      Reply
    26. Lisa Brown
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      fabulous ideas...pretty and yummy!
      Reply
    27. Mandy
      Friday, January 7th, 2011
      I just bought candy canes on clearance because I KNEW there'd be great ideas out there....
      Reply