While googling for fun facts about candy canes, I found out that first candy cane was made over 350 years ago and for the first 200 years they were solid white. Can you imagine a candy cane without stripes! CRAZY. I also discovered that National Candy Cane day is on December 26th. That means we should drink this candy cane vodka to celebrate! Take all of your broken candy canes (which should be PLENTY) and do something with them.
Candy Cane Vodka is really the simplest of recipes. Two ingredients are required candy canes & vodka. How could you go wrong? And look at that color of this concoction! It’s the most brilliant shade of red!
Can I also note how fun it is to break candy canes ON PURPOSE. There’s just something about it that delights me.
Imagine a mug full of spiked peppermint hot chocolate with whipped cream and a teeny candy cane hanging off the edge.
I just figured out what I am drinking tonight.
And we’re off! Like I said. EASY.
Unwrap your candy canes.
Place them in a food processor and WHIRL it up.
You want a really fine powder.
Put the candy cane powder onto a sheet of parchment or waxed paper. Transfer the powder to the jar.
Pour vodka over powder.
Fill it all the way up. Put the lid on.
Now SHAKE IT UP!!!
Agitate for a bit and after about 30 minutes, strain the vodka and return it back to the jar.
If your powder is SUPER DUPER fine, you might not need to strain.
Brilliant red pepperminty vodka! It’s perfectly sweet and minty. Totally fine on it’s own but….
What else can we do with it?
Mmm pepperminty coffee!
Imagine how good that would be after a day of skiing/ice-skating/taking your kids to see Santa…
Candy Cane Vodka
makes 3 cups
recipe adapted slightly from Rachael Ray Magazine
- 12 full-sized candy canes
- 1 750 ml bottle vodka
Using a food processor or coffee grinder, pulse candy canes to fine powder. Using funnel or a sheet of parchment paper, pour candy cane powder into jar of vodka. Screw on lid and shake to mix. Let vodka sit, shaking occasionally, until candy dissolves and vodka turns red, about 30 minutes. If they’re are bits of candy cane remaining, strain with a fine mesh strainer and return to the jar. Keep vodka sealed & refrigerated. Should last up to a month.
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63 Comments
say somethingToo good to be true. And too easy. Wow – now this is some holiday cheer!
This makes me giddy!
Perfect way to get through the holidays, YOLO!
I love that photo, pre-shake…it looks like a glittery snow globe! Prettiest vodka in the land!
Because friends give friends vodka for the holidays! Thanks for sharing Tracy!
I amazed by your genius. AMAZED. This looks so tasty!
Girl, you are so smart. Bookmarking this!
And now I know what to get my friends for Christmas!
I can already sense my girlfriends and I telling the story of “that time we had too much candy cane vodka.” Yay/ouch.
YES. I can totally see this now!
Pretty please post to Punk Domestics? Mwah!
Done did!
I made this last year & this year. I didn’t think to crush the candy canes up, just put them in a jar & topped up with vodka. It takes a few hours but the candy canes dissolve. It’s great with apple juice or with vanilla vodka & ginger ale.
I thought I had missed the infusing booze for Christmas bus. 30 minutes? I can do that. BAM!
I did this last week without grinding the canes first. Just broke them into a few pieces. They completely dissolved into the vodka within 24 hours.
I. want. one. now
Holy moly that sounds delicious!
OH MY. I make a lot of schnappses & infused liqueurs–why have I never thought of this one? (Although I have to say I made mint schnapps with the mint growing in my side yard…)
This is amazing. I love peppermint flavored stuff (esp coffee!) and I can’t believe I’ve never thought to combine it with vodka!
neighbor gifts….thanks for the inspiration. what happened with your painter dude?
I’ll talk about it this week!
Very curious about the painter too! Also, was wondering what Coopers favorite apps are…? Like, top 3? Thanks!
apps meaning iphone games, not pre-dinner foods.
Come on now. That is ridiculous. I want ALL the candy vodka!
Oh my….this is going to be made immediately. I was wondering how long it needed to rest and im stoked its only 20 min. Big kid hot cocoa…coming right up!
Nevermind breaking candy canes on purpose, I’m impressed you were able to unwrap your candy canes without breaking any!
This infused vodka looks like your best one yet
I don’t take alcohol but I think candy cane infused anything is going to be good. I’m thinking candy cane syrup in that hot chocolate. Or cereal. Or milkshake. Or with a straw.
This makes me weak in the knees!
Beware the candy cane dust! No seriously, let it settle a minute before taking the lid off the cuisinart. I made it last week to give to holiday party hosts. Total success!
Ok this is amazing. It’s last minute infused vodka for those of us who can’t get our act together soon enough! Thank you…you just solved so many of my problems
Omg… I’m thinking about making some christmas gifts for my cousins.
How much do I love this! Adding candy canes to the list. Vodka I have, duh.
so beautiful, brilliantly easy and festive! Love love love! Merry Christmas Tracy!!
Brewing it up now…already had made homemade cocoa for gifts. Brilliant! Thanks, Tracy!
Boo. Being pregnant has its downfalls. Would it be totally inappropriate to toast to our summer baby with candy cane vodka in July?
Tracy..
I made this last night. Trader Joe’s only had peppermints, but it worked fine. Works better than cough syrup.
Denise
HAHAHA. And sorry you are sick!!
Thanks once again for a great timely post! Made a couple of batches this morning and gave them away to co-workers in canning jars with ribbon. Also, big thanks for sharing the printable gift cards in your I Love Lists! post – LOVE THEM!
Fantastic!!!! So glad you loved it!
Your graphics on the top photo are totally adorable, candy cane vodka seems dangerous, I might be making some for family Christmas…
Made it. Loved it. In hot chocolate. To die for. Seriously. Mine turned out baby pink. I guess there was less food coloring in my candy canes.
So I made this last night for co-workers, but ended up falling asleep and let it infuse overnight. Hubby says it tastes like fancy mouthwash, which is not the response I was going for. Any insights? Giftable? I’m on the fence…
BTW, I used Smirnoff Vodka.
Try it in some coffee or hot chocolate and see if it still tastes good! Husbands can be peculiar sometimes….
Thanks, Tracy. Put it in my coffee. It tastes fine. I think anything peppermint + vodka is going to be vaguely reminiscent of mouthwash anyway…
Does anybody know what twelve candy canes measures to? I have a bunch of leftover starlight mints from making Orangettes peppermint bark. They NEED to be made into candy cane vodka. I’m using starlight mints from Trader Joes. They have no high fructose corn syrup or artificial coloring and are only $1.99 a bag!
I want this so badly. Like, I want to gulp this down.
I must try this! Thank you ~
Yep, this is DEFINITELY happening at our house during this holiday season. Even if my husband says he wouldn’t try it because I love, love Candy Canes and combining them with alcohol for hot chocolate and coffee sounds beyond amazing.
I’m shaking this up right now!
You are always a cocktail inspiration! Love it!
Interesting vodka, it reminds me a bit of Puschkin Red vodka. They actually use blood oranges for that
mmmmm … I’ve made fruit vodkas with Skittles before, but this looks WAY more fun.
Yummy! I have to make some of this for my hot chocolate
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