A Brief History of Candy Canes—And A Recipe For Candy Cane Cocoa!

How can you not love a candy as adorable as the humble candy cane?

Candy canes date back to the 1600’s when, legend has it, a choirmaster in Cologne, Germany handed out sugar sticks to keep young choir singers happy. Sugar sticks were quite the fad in the 1600’s, as confectioners across Europe experimented with various colors and shapes.

To fit in with the Living Creche ceremony, the choirmaster bent the candies into shepherd’s crooks. Hence, the candy cane was born.

Trivia note: candy canes originally were all white. Red and white candy canes didn’t appear until the early 1900’s. 

Creamy Candy Cane Cocoa Recipe

Servings size: 4 

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/3 cup of boiling water
  • 3 1/2 cups of milk
  • 3/4 tsp of vanilla extract

Topping

Whipped cream or marshmallows

4 candy canes

Directions

  1. Stir together cocoa, sugar and salt in saucepan
  2. Add in boiling water
  3. Bring this mixture to slight boil while stirring for about 2 minutes.
  4. Stir in milk, increasing heat slightly.
  5. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
  6. Pour into four mugs.
  7. Stir with your favorite flavored candy cane and top with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Recipe and photo credit: Brach’s

Here are the best candy canes, as judged by our taste tests!

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