How to Make Candy Cane Decorations

Homemade candy canes hanging on the tree or filling a candy dish will give your home that old-fashioned holiday feeling.

Things You'll Need

• Curling Ribbons
• Holiday Plastic Wrap
• Food Coloring
• Granulated Sugar
• Light Corn Syrup
• Powdered Sugar
• Peppermint Oils
• Candy Thermometer
• Cookie Sheets
• Cooking Spray
• Saucepans
• Stirring Spoons
• Cookie sheets

Instructions

1. Sprinkle a thick coat of powdered sugar on a cookie sheet.

2. Combine 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup light corn syrup and 1 cup water in a heavy saucepan.

3. Cook over medium-high heat until soft-crack stage on candy thermometer.

4. Remove from heat.

5. Add 1/2 tsp. peppermint oil and 2 or 3 drops of food coloring.

6. Stir well.

7. Pour onto cookie sheet in thin strips about 6 to 8 inches long.

8. Let cool just enough to handle.

9. Roll into a rope shape.

10. Gently twist and make a hook on top.

11. Place on a coated cookie sheet until hard.

12. Wrap candy canes in holiday plastic wrap and tie with curling ribbon.

13. Hang in tree or add to a swag or a wreath.

Tips & Warnings

• Hang in there - the first few may look a little strange, but will taste just as good.

• Work with only one batch of candy at a time. You have a very narrow margin of time before the candy gets too hard to bend or twist.

• Use different flavors for your candy canes.

• Different brands of oil produce different strengths of peppermint flavor. Add or subtract from the above recipe to fit your tastes.