This candy cane simple syrup recipe is a great way to add a dose of holiday cheer to your drinks all winter long, no matter what you’re celebrating! It’s so easy to make and only has TWO ingredients: candy canes and water!
With over 10 years of experience creating homemade beverages, I have come up with some pretty fun ways to enjoy seasonal drinks at home. This cheerful syrup was inspired by my peppermint espresso martini. I wanted to create a flavor that tasted like a candy cane had been infused into an espresso martini. This here syrup did the trick, and it’s also perfect for so many more drinks, including a candy cane latte and homemade cane cane soda pop!
why this candy cane simple syrup recipe works:
🎄 fun & festive. If you are a fan of peppermint during the holiday season, this simple syrup will be your new favorite thing. It mixes easily into both hot and cold drinks, turning anything you can think of into a fun candy cane beverage.
🥳 party perfect. Hosting relatives? Having a slumber party? Throwing a holiday party? This simple syrup is a fun and easy way to WOW your guests, no matter the occasion!
⏱️ quick & easy. This recipe has only two ingredients and is ready to use in a matter of minutes. You can even quickly cool it, if you need to! Not to mention, it’s a great recipe to make with kids in the kitchen.
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 make your syrup like a pro
Step 1: Unwrap 15 candy canes and place them in a zip top bag. Using a rolling pin, meat tenderizer, or wooden spoon, smash your candy canes into pieces. This is a VERY useful way to get out some holiday stress. 😂
Step 2: In a small saucepan, heat water over medium heat.
Step 3: When the water is bubbling, add in the candy cane pieces.
Step 4: Stir the candy pieces until they dissolve. You may need to lower the heat to medium-low.
Step 5: When the candy has dissolved, turn off the heat and allow the mix to cool. You may want to pour it into a measuring cup for easier transfer to a storage bottle.
Step 6: Store your finished syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze it for longer term storage.
Note: The candy canes may form a “glob” when dissolving. This is normal, just keep stirring and allow it to dissolve. If you are in a hurry, you can remove the blob of melted candy. Just be aware your final syrup may not be as sweet or minty depending how much of the candy you remove.
Hint: On average, a whole regular-sized candy cane weighs about 13.5 grams. Yup, I checked (and cross-checked) for you. 🤪 Use 200 grams of candy canes for the best flavor of this syrup!
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
While you will see a LOT of bloggers out there telling you that you can use simple syrups on food like pancakes, it’s actually best to use these syrups in beverages. This syrup is very thin in consistency, so it is intended to sweeten drinks or maaaybe to keep baked goods moist. The syrup gets absorbed very quickly instead of coating the top of foods like thicker syrup does.
cocktails
Use this syrup in any cocktail recipe that calls for classic simple syrup for an easy way to add seasonal flavor to your beverages. Try one of the following recipes:
- peppermint espresso martini – if you like peppermint in your coffee, you’ll love this seasonal variation of espresso martinis!
- candy cane mojito – swap out the mint leaves for this candy cane syrup in a classic mojito recipe for a seasonal take on this rum-based cocktail!
- candy cane martini – vodka + this syrup = a classic martini that is perfect for any party during the holidays! It’s especially stunning served in a martini glass rimmed with crushed candy canes!
non-alcoholic beverages
This syrup is also great for making peppermint mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks! It’s even special stirred into hot chocolate! Here are some ideas to get you going:
- candy cane soda pop – this soda pop is super fun and perfect for all ages!
- candy cane latte – this sweet syrup goes perfectly with both coffee and tea! Try making a latte using espresso or your favorite cuppa breakfast blend tea!
- peppermint white Russian mocktail – try this syrup in a virgin white russian cocktail for a seasonal variation on a timeless zero-proof drink!
Cooking, baking, & gifting
- gifting – Make a double or triple batch and gift it to family and friends in glass bottles. For an adorable touch, tie a mini-candy cane to the neck of the bottle! You can also gift this syrup in small mason jars.
- baking – Brush this simple syrup over layer cakes or cupcakes! It would pair perfectly with a classic chocolate cake with vanilla frosting!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
This recipe is only two ingredients, but it’s still possible to have some mishaps! Try these troubleshooting tips if you run into any issues with your syrup.
- too thin – if your syrup is too watery, allow it to simmer for longer so a bit more water evaporates. Keep in mind, it will thicken slightly as it cools.
- not enough peppermint flavor – if you want MORE peppermint flavor, you can use up to 24 candy canes! Keep in mind, your syrup will be much sweeter if you use more candy canes.
- too sweet – is your syrup overpoweringly sweet? Try adding a small pinch of salt, about 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon, to offset the sugar in the candy. You can also add more water, 1/4 cup at a time, until the flavor mellows out.
🔆 top tip
While you don’t need to break up your candy canes, it does help them to dissolve quicker in the hot water. Opening candy canes is also the perfect step for kids in the kitchen, because it’s helpful if the candy canes break while opening them!
♻️ customize your candy cane syrup
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- starlight mints – if you want to make this syrup during a time of year when candy canes are hard to come by, you can use starlight mints instead! You’ll want to use between 160 – 200 grams of mints to get the same minty-sweet flavor!
- peppermint extract & red food coloring – while this is not my preferred method, you can use peppermint extract and food coloring to make this simple syrup. You’ll also need to add 200 grams of sugar to the recipe (1 cup). Make sure to start small with peppermint extract— a little goes a VERY LONG way. Too much extract can lead to an artificial flavor in your finished syrup, or make it bitter. Try using 1/8 – 1/4 tsp and increasing it as needed.
- wintergreen candy canes – you can use the green candy canes instead of red ones! This will make a green syrup instead of a red one, which could be fun for Grinch themed drinks!
- add vanilla – use 1/2 to 1 whole vanilla bean (or 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract) to make a vanilla-mint flavored syrup!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 how to store your homemade syrups
Store your finished syrup in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. You can also freeze your simple syrup for longer term storage.
💬 q+a
How do you melt peppermint candy into liquid?
It’s as easy as dissolving the candy in hot water! Breaking the candy canes apart helps them to dissolve faster, so take the time to crack them into a few pieces, or place them in a zip-top bag to smash them!
Do I need to add sugar to this candy cane simple syrup recipe?
Nope! The candy canes serve as the peppermint flavor AND the sugar in this recipe, so you don’t need to add any additional sugar.
Can I use just one box of candy canes?
If you only want to use 12 candy canes (1 box of them!) you can. Drop the water content to 3/4 of a cup instead of a full cup to achieve the right flavor.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!
Candy Cane Simple Syrup (Peppermint Syrup Recipe)
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Equipment
- 1 airtight storage container
- 1 1.5-quart saucepan
- 1 spatula silicone recommended
- 1 heat resistant glass measuring cup
- 1 zip top bag optional, for crushing candy canes
- 1 rolling pin or mallet optional, for crushing candy canes
Ingredients
- 200 grams candy canes about 15 regular-sized candy canes
- 354 grams filtered water
Instructions
- Unwrap 15 candy canes and place them in a zip top bag to crush them.
- Using a rolling pin, meat tenderizer, or wooden spoon, smash your candy canes into pieces. This is a VERY useful way to get out some holiday stress. 😂
- In a small saucepan, heat 354 grams of water over medium heat (1.5 cups).
- When the water is bubbling, add in the candy cane pieces and stir them until they dissolve. You may need to lower the heat to medium-low.
- When the candy has dissolved, turn off the heat and allow the mix to cool.
- Store your finished syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze it for longer term storage.
Notes
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.