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What to do with leftover candycanes

Posted by  ·  January 7, 2011  ·  Last Updated: 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