15 Festive Candy Cane Crafts That Are a Delight to Make
Transform the iconic red and white candies into DIY decorations and gifts.
Each holiday season, candy canes are abundant, affordable and available just about everywhere. Each iconic red-and-white striped candy makes for not just a tasty treat, but also a cheerful visual representation of the season. That's why candy canes are a perfect building block for seasonal DIYs.
We rounded up 15 ideas for candy cane crafts from super-simple projects right for preschoolers, to more sophisticated ideas for adults. Our picks include festive home decor ideas, like wreaths, tree toppers, and ornaments; plus handmade gifts or favors that you can easily (and cheaply) make in batches for coworkers or neighbors.
Candy Cane Chocolate Bars
Chocolate bars easily transform into reindeers when you add candy cane antlers and googly eyes. Don’t forget a red pompom for Rudolph’s famous nose!
Candy Cane Cupcake Stand
This DIY peppermint cupcake stand couldn’t be prettier or more of a conversation-starter. But it’s deceivingly simple to make using just a few supplies: candy canes, peppermint candies, glue, ribbon and a cookie cutter.
Candy Cane Christmas Tree
Cut tree shapes from green felt, and let little crafters add ornaments with pipe cleaners, glitter or any other details. Cut slits large enough to push a candy cane through each tree.
Get the tutorial from Mom on Timeout»
Candy Cane Christmas Tree
You’re going to need a lot of candy canes — and hands willing to help — to build this large-scale candy cane tree. Use styrofoam circles for the base, and tape the bottom ends of the candies around each tier until you’ve covered the whole thing. Decorate your tree with green pinwheel candy ornaments for added zhush.
Candy Cane Reindeers
Use a pair of candy canes to make each of these reindeers, perfect as gifts, favors, or even ornaments. Wrap brown pipe cleaners to join the canes, and add googly eyes plus a small red pompom for a nose. This project is also great fine motor practice for little crafters.
Mouse Ornament
Turn an ordinary candy cane into an adorable tree ornament or gift topper by threading it through slits in a teardrop-shaped piece of grey felt. Thread in a piece of red felt for the ears, and finish the face with black thread for whiskers and beads for eyes.
Peppermint Lollipops
Store-bought candy canes get an all-new look so you can give them as gifts or favors. For each lollipop, melt two canes until they soften into an antler shape. Press lollipop sticks into the melted peppermint. Use a pinwheel candy for the reindeer’s head, finishing it off with a red candy nose.
Get the tutorial from Lydia Menzies»
RELATED: 53 Cheery DIY Christmas Table Settings for the Best Dinner Ever
Candy Cane Candlesticks
Give ordinary white taper candles the Christmas treatment with these easy-to-DIY candy cane candlesticks. Just hot glue the candies upside down around the candle, and finish with a festive ribbon bow.
Cane Cane Reindeer
You only need a single candy cane to make each of these adorable reindeers, making them simple enough for preschoolers. Tie with pipe cleaner antlers and ribbon for a festive homemade gift.
Candy Cane Garlands
Candy canes become quite pliable when warmed in a 250-degree oven for four minutes. Start with mini canes, heat them until you can manipulate them and bend to form the links of a festive and unique garland.
Candy Cane Tree Topper
This beautiful star-shaped tree topper comes together using just 12 ordinary candy canes. Glue them in place, and add decorative touches, such as ribbons and pinwheel candies, to your liking.
Candy Cane Wreath
Upcycle one of those old CDs you have sitting around collecting dust (remember those?) as the center axis for this colorful candy cane wreath. The hole in the CD serves as a place to string ribbon for hanging.
Candy Cane Elves
Candy canes form the arms and legs of cute little Christmas elves in this project, which is easy to make in multiples. Assemble the rest of their bodies using colorful card stock.
Candy Cane Sleigh
Stacks of chocolates take the form of sleighs when piled neatly upon candy canes and tied with festive ribbon. These are easy to make in batches as gifts for coworkers, neighbors, or schoolmates.
Candy Cane Placecard
The hooks of mini candy canes make a perfect easel when glued together and placed upside down on a tabletop. Just add a card with a name and you have charming seasonal seating cards — or customize them with any message you like (holiday wishes, food labels, and more).
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY, and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
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