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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