While it isn’t even quite Thanksgiving yet, many get in the holiday spirit very early these days. Some even begin to decorate their homes for Christmas before the turkey even gets to have his day.
I am guilty of this. My roommates and I had our apartment decorated for Fall when it was still 90 degrees in August. Now that pumpkins and leaves are going out of season quickly, we are ready to replace those with Santa statues and snowflake cutouts.
I stood in the grocery store candy aisle this week, scouring the, what seemed like a million, shelves of candy, trying to pick one to fill our kitchen candy bowl. For Fall, we displayed (and ate too many) pumpkin spice M&Ms and candy corn pieces. However, I could not think of a suitable candy for the Christmas season. Then, I saw the boxes of candy canes, and I was reminded of the season’s go-to treat.
How could I forget candy canes? If Christmas had a taste, it would be synonymous with candy canes. It turns out that candy canes aren’t only for decoration during the holidays, they also make for festive additions to baked goodies. So, TheCelebrityCafe.com is counting down the ten best recipes using candy canes and peppermint flavors.
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10. Oreo Peppermint Bark
This is the perfect treat to bring to those holiday parties, or for a kid’s afternoon snack. And, with four ingredients, it’s so simple that a kid could make it. Literally, because a kid created this recipe. Crushed candy canes and oreos and two different types of chocolate combine together to make this brittle-like candy filled with festive flavor. Spread the mixture onto a pan, and break it apart after it hardens.
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9. Peppermint Crunch Puppy Chow
Crushed candy canes add a holiday twist to this classic snack mix. The vanilla melted chocolate coats the cereal so that the powdered sugar and candy canes stick to the outside. The candy canes not only add a delicious flavor, but they add just the right amount of crunch, too.
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8. Kahlua Peppermint Patties
Make the peppermint filling with peppermint baking chips, sugar and butter and Kahlua peppermint mocha mix. The latter ingredient is what gives this treat it’s peppermint flavor. After cutting into round and letting them chill, dip the mixture into melted chocolate to coat.
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7. Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies
This cookie has its base in a cake mix, so the recipe is super simple, but you will fool everyone with its deliciousness. Mix in peppermint crunch pieces, chocolate chips and oreo pieces. Voila! You have an easy AND yummy baked good to take to your next holiday party.
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6. Peppermint Fudge
Hershey’s Candy Cane kisses are mixed with marshmallow fluff and melted chocolate to produce the peppermint fudge. As if that doesn’t sound good enough, the fudge is then topped with the remaining candy cane kisses and peppermint crunch for a pretty, and tasteful, touch.
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5. Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake
This delightful milkshake is a copycat of Chick-Fil-A’s famous Peppermint milkshake offered around the holidays. It’s simple, too! Just dump vanilla ice cream, crushed up candy canes, milk, peppermint syrup (peppermint extract will do in a pinch) and chocolate chips into a blender and mix. Top with whipped cream and more candy cane bits. This is a great excuse to use all of those leftover candy canes after the holidays are over, and it’s a good way to enjoy a milkshake in winter.
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4. Triple Chocolate Peppermint Brownies
There seems to be a trend with chocolate and peppermint in these recipes, but that is because they make a great pair. This recipe is, again, an easy one. Start by making a box Ghirardelli brownie mix (my favorite!), but add peppermint extract to the mix before baking. Once baked, drizzle the brownies with melted white chocolate and top with candy cane crunch pieces, or crush up your own candy canes for the topping.
You could even experiment more with these brownies, by making a cream cheese or vanilla frosting for the top. Add peppermint extract to it for even more flavor.
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3. White Chocolate Peppermint Oreos
This is such a simple recipe, but one that turns out beautiful and delicious. Simply dip oreos of your choice in melted white chocolate, coating the whole cookie. Then, sprinkle with crushed up candy canes. YUM!
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2. Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
The cupcakes are fairly simple to make, with cocoa powder and coffee being used to add the hot cocoa flavoring to ordinary chocolate cupcakes. But, the frosting is what makes this recipe unique. The recipe includes how to make a special type of buttercream frosting that turns out fluffy and creamy. Peppermint flavoring is added to it, and crushed up candy canes are used as a topping.
[new page=Candy Cane Chocolate Cheesecake Bars]
1. Candy Cane Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
This recipe uses Hershey’s limited edition candy cane bars and peppermint mocha coffee creamer to perfect these extravagant cheesecake bars. A simple graham cracker crust is the first layer. Then, comes the cheesecake with the coffee creamer and candy cane bars all mixed in. Finally, the bars are baked, chilled and topped with lots of melted candy cane bars. I don’t know about you, but my mouth is watering.