This Peppermint Candy Cane whipped cream gets both its beautiful blush color and sweet flavor from crushed candy canes! It’s perfect for holiday desserts like Peppermint Chocolate Bundt Cake, or dolloped onto your favorite cup of cocoa.
Ingredients and Equipment Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
Ingredients Needed
- Peppermint candies or candy canes – Using actual candy cane (or peppermint candies) is fun because it adds a slight texture to the cream so you can taste and feel the bits of candy. Since the candy is the thing that’s flavoring the cream here, it’s very important you use a good quality candy cane. Surprisingly NOT all candy canes are created equal! Some brands have funny flavors or artificial, funky aftertastes. For example, I don’t recommend the popular Spangler brand you’ll often see in stores this time of year. My favorite brand of candy canes have always been Bob’s, and since they were recently purchased by Brach’s, those are usually good as well. You’ll notice in my photos I’m actually using round peppermint candies, though! These generally have a crisp peppermint flavor and are available year-round, and they’re easier to open than candy canes- so that’s a great, easy option here.
- Whipping cream
- Optional variation – You certainly can just add pink food coloring and peppermint extract to standard whipped cream and get a similar effect here (but I prefer the candy cane version!). Even if you are using crushed candies, a little extra peppermint extract doesn’t hurt!
Equipment Needed
- High powered blender – I use a Blendtec blender to pulverize the candy into sugar. You can try this with a regular blender, but I can’t promise it will achieve the same powdered result!
How to Make Peppermint Candy Cane Whipped Cream
Step 1: Make the Candy Cane Sugar
- The first thing you’ll do is make candy cane sugar! This is one of my favorite winter-time tricks. Pulverizing peppermint candies essentially gives you a blush pink, peppermint flavored sugar right in between powdered sugar and granulated. It’s awesome for sprinkling on desserts or using in a variety of recipes.
- I literally just toss the peppermint candies in my Blendtec blender and it only takes a few pulses for them to be completely powdered.
Step 2: Whip up Your Peppermint Whipped Cream
- Once you have your candy cane sugar, you can just whip your cream as normal, but add the candy cane sugar instead of standard sugar. The coloring of the candy canes adds a beautiful hue to the cream and a mild peppermint flavor.
- This is definitely a taste-as-you-go recipe, especially since all peppermint candies are a bit different. Dollop it on desserts like cakes or brownies or plop some on top of your favorite hot cocoa!
Storing and Other Tips
- This whipped cream is best served freshly whipped! If you must, you can make it several hours before and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- I’ll often add just a touch more peppermint extract to bring out the flavor just a bit more. I’ll often serve this on the side for desserts or hot chocolate bars and I sprinkle a few crushed candy canes on top so it’s obvious what it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the same rules you would with regular sweetened whipped cream. It’s best fresh, or stored for a limited time if using regular whipping cream. Heavy cream will hold up longer, especially if it’s a good quality brand like the Darigold heavy cream sold at Costco. Alternately, you this Stabilized Whipped Cream adds gelatin for a sturdy, bakery-style whipped cream that doesn’t deflate or melt and can hold it’s shape well for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Just use your peppermint sugar in place of powdered sugar. This Light and Airy Whipped Frosting would be another great alternative, as it’s like a whipped cream stabilized with a bit of cream cheese.
That’s up to you. The beautiful pink in the photos is all from the peppermint candies. If you feel like yours is too light, feel free to add a small amount of red food coloring.
You can, just add a small splash at a time and taste as you go. Peppermint oil would also work. You can flavor the whipped cream with extract or oil whether or not you use peppermint candies.
Peppermint Candy Cane Whipped Cream
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup round peppermint candies or candy cane pieces you'll need 4-6 tablespoons of powdered candy cane sugar
- 1 cup whipping cream
- Optional: a few drops of peppermint oil or a tiny bit of peppermint extract start with about 1/8 teaspoon.
- Optional: crushed candy cane for garnish
Instructions
- Unwrap peppermint candy and place in high-powered blender. Alternately you can use a food processor, you’ll just want do use more peppermint candy than this recipe calls for so there’s enough to process.
- Process until candy resembles powdered sugar. Set aside.
- Pour cream into stand mixer or mixing bowl, add 4-6 tablespoons candy cane sugar. You may start with 4 and add extra after whipping and tasting. I add 6 tablespoons myself! Whip cream as normal until soft peaks form. If desired add more candy cane sugar and a bit of peppermint extract for more pronounced flavor if desired.
- Makes about 2 cups whipped cream.
Notes
- This whipped cream is best served freshly whipped! If you must, you can make it several hours before and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- I’ll often add just a touch more peppermint extract to bring out the flavor just a bit more. I’ll often serve this on the side for desserts or hot chocolate bars and I sprinkle a few crushed candy canes on top so it’s obvious what it is.
Nutrition
Questions & Reviews
This has been my go-to for topping hot cocoa the last couple of years. The seasonal spray can kind isn’t even in the same league here!
omg! I made this for my friend groups get together (we haven’t seen eachother is 5 years) and they loved it and all asked for the receipt! big hit for the 7 of us!