20 fun, creative, and super tasty recipes to use up your extra candy canes this Christmas – they’d make fabulous homemade gift ideas too!

Christmas time often means lots of candy canes. My kids bring home countless candy canes from their friends and teachers at school, and whilst they love them, there are only so many candy canes one person can eat. So what do you do with the rest? Here are some fun, creative, and super tasty ways you can use up those extra candy canes this Christmas.

I have made a few of these, and the others are on my to-do list. I can’t wait to get into the kitchen this Christmas and whip up some of these wonderful candy cane creations!

Peppermint Bark Hearts

These gorgeous heart-shaped peppermint barks are made from candy canes, and take a matter of minutes to create in the microwave. I think these would make really cute Christmas gifts!

READ MORE: Peppermint Bark Hearts Recipe

Frosted Peppermint Brownie Cookies

A rich brownie cookie base, topped with a creamy cheese frosting and finished off with a sprinkle of candy canes – yummy!

Candy Cane Dust

Blitz your candy canes in the food processor to make candy cane dust, them transfer it to a container that seals tightly. Your candy cane dusk can be used on almost everything at Christmas! How yummy do these marshmallows dipped in white chocolate and candy cane dust look?!

READ MORE: How To Make Candy Cane Dust

You can add candy cane dust to so many foods! Add a touch of peppermint to hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, cupcakes, ice cream, yogurt, marshmallows… the possibilities are endless! The kids will love adding “Christmas dust” to all of these foods!

Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies

These adorable reindeer cookies are actually made from upside down gingerbread men – how clever! These would make very cute gift bags for friends and family at Christmas time, or even just for a festive treat for your guests on Christmas Day.

READ MORE: Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies

Candy Cane Mini Donuts

What is better than a cake, a donut, and a candy cane? A recipe that combines all three together of course! Apparently these Candy Cane Mini Donuts also fit perfectly on top of espresso cups, so act sort of like an edible coffee lid – LOL!

READ MORE: Candy Cane Mini Donuts

Iced Candy Cane Cookies

These tasty cookies were a mess to make, but what they lacked in beauty they made up for in yumminess! These cookies are filled with bits of crushed up candy cane and topped with vanilla frosting and extra candy cane pieces (we need to use up those candy canes!). They are easy to make, and the cookie dough mix can be used for heaps of other flavours too.

READ MORE: Iced Candy Cane Cookies

Candy Cane Fudge

This super simple fudge recipe requires only four ingredients and is a matter of heating the ingredients together, pouring into a pan, allowing to cool, and then cutting. Easy peasy!

READ MORE: Candy Cane Fudge

Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

These adorable chocolate swirl cookies are filled with crushed candy cane pieces, providing a nice sweet crunchy surprise inside each cookie.

Homemade Peppermint Hand Scrub

This hand scrub can be created in a matter of minutes and is the perfect way to use up some of those extra candy canes. Keep for yourself or pop in a jar for a perfect handmade Christmas gift idea.

READ MORE: Peppermint Hand Scrub Recipe

Thermomix Candy Cane Ice Creams

This recipe is a really yummy way to use up those extra candy canes this Christmas – and who doesn’t love to eat a delicious dessert?!

Chocolate Candy Cane Cake

If you have lots of candy canes kicking around your home, then this is the recipe for you! The perfect cake for using up all those leftover candy canes, and it looks so fabulously festive too!

READ MORE: Chocolate Candy Cane Cake

Pomegranate Sparkling Mocktail

A non-alcoholic pink sparkling drink recipe that looks super cute with the addition of the red candy cane slung over the edge of the glass.

Candy Cane Kiss Brownie Bites

These bites are aptly named ‘Candy Cane Kiss Brownie Bites’ because of the ‘candy cane kiss’ that sits atop these soft fudge brownies. These would make a lovely platter of cookies that could be taken along to Christmas parties.

Candy Cane Ice-Cream Sundaes

Oh yum yum yum! This epic little lady looks so delicious! Vanilla ice-cream, mini marshmallows, Christmas candy canes and a little honey – what’s not to love?!

READ MORE: Candy Cane Ice-Cream Sundaes

Pink Peppermint Bark Macarons

These sweet macarons look amazing! They take two hours to create, but I have a sneaky suspicion that they would be well worth the effort.

READ MORE: Pink Peppermint Bark Macarons

Candy Cane Cookie Sandwiches

These cookie sandwiches consist of peppermint candy cane frosting spread between two chocolate cookies!

READ MORE: Candy Cane Cookie Sandwiches

Candy Cane Martini Jello Shots

There’s no reason why the kids should get all the tasty candy cane treats! This festive vodka-based jello shot is definitely one for the adults.

READ MORE: Candy Cane Martini Jello Shots

Christmas Popcorn

Chop up your leftover candy canes and add them to your Christmas popcorn, along with some festive M&Ms, sprinkles and mini marshmallows.

READ MORE: Christmas Popcorn

White Chocolate Candy Cane Fortune Cookies

Homemade fortune cookies are wonderful enough… add in pretty candy cane embellishments like these, and you have yourself a pretty wonderful treat to offer guests this Christmas!

Cookie and Cream Peppermint Ice Cream Cake

This is one epic Christmas cake recipe! Peppermint ice cream has been teamed with a candy bar cookie spread and a bunch of tasty candy canes, resulting in one of the most delicious looking festive cakes I’ve ever seen!

What are you going to make with all your candy canes?

20 Clever Recipes For Leftover Candy Canes