Easy and Affordable Peppermint Gifts You Can Make in Minutes
Find Last-Minute Gift Ideas on Candy Cane Lane
If the holiday season had an official flavor, it would undoubtedly be peppermint. Crisp, cool, and unmistakably festive, peppermint is as synonymous with December as jingle bells and ugly sweaters. If you’ve procrastinated your way into a gift-giving panic, don’t worry! Peppermint is here to save the day. When in doubt, remember this golden rule: foodie gifts are always a hit. They’re thoughtful, easy to make, and delicious. But especially when they’re last-minute peppermint gift ideas!
So grab those red-and-white-striped saviors and let’s whip up some holiday magic. Bonus points for getting through this without throwing the candy cane wrappers across the kitchen in frustration (seriously, why are they so impossible?).
Candy Cane Vodka
Candy Cane Vodka
Ingredients:
- 6 full-sized candy canes
- 750 ml vodka
First things first: don’t waste your top-shelf vodka on this project. Go for the budget-friendly stuff. Crush the candy canes into a chunky powder using a food processor or by channeling your inner Viking with a mallet. Pour out a couple of ounces of vodka to make room in the bottle, then funnel in the candy cane powder. Top off the bottle with the reserved vodka. Shake it up and let it sit for about an hour, giving it a shake now and then, until the candy dissolves and you’re left with a gorgeous pink elixir. Chill and serve. Cheers to a great last-minute peppermint gift idea!
How to Enjoy:
- Sip it over ice.
- Add a splash to hot chocolate or eggnog.
- Make a peppermint mocha with a grown-up twist.
- Craft a Candy Cane Martini (recipe below).
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Candy Cane Martini
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce peppermint vodka
- ½ ounce white crème de cacao
Combine the vodka and crème de cacao in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. For an extra flourish, float a little cream or half-and-half on top. Want to impress? Dip the rim of the glass in light corn syrup or honey, then roll it in crushed peppermint. Voila—instant holiday cheer!
Peppermint Chocolate Marshmallow Pops
Ingredients:
- 12 small candy canes
- 12 large marshmallows
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 5 small candy canes, crushed
Push a small candy cane into each marshmallow to create a handle. Melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring until smooth. Dip each marshmallow into the chocolate, letting the excess drip off. Wait a minute for the chocolate to set slightly, then roll in crushed peppermint. These delightful pops make perfect hot cocoa stirrers or a fun standalone treat.
Peppermint Bark
Ingredients:
- 16 ounces vanilla candy melts or vanilla almond bark
- 1 cup crushed peppermint candy canes, divided
Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Melt the candy melts according to the package instructions. Stir in 3/4 cup of the crushed peppermint, then spread the mixture onto the prepared sheet. Sprinkle the remaining peppermint on top, pressing gently to adhere. Let it cool and harden, then break into pieces. It’s simple, classic, and always a crowd-pleaser.
This 15-inch wide, 200-foot long parchment paper is ideal for baking, offering more coverage than standard 12-inch paper. It features an attached cutter for easy, straight-edged tearing without scissors. Made from extra thick, unbleached, natural wood pulp, it's non-toxic and free of harmful substances. The paper is non-stick, waterproof, and durable, making it easy to clean. Safe for use in ovens and microwaves up to 450℉, it's perfect for baking, grilling, and wrapping food.
Candy Cane Popcorn
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels (about 10 cups popped)
- 1 1/2 cups vanilla candy melts or vanilla almond bark
- 1/2 cup candy canes, finely crushed
- 1 tablespoon decorative sprinkles (optional)
Pop the popcorn using your preferred method and spread it out on a cookie sheet, removing any un-popped kernels. Melt the candy melts and drizzle them over the popcorn. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes and, if you’re feeling extra festive, add decorative sprinkles. Toss everything together and let it sit for 30 minutes to set. This treat is best enjoyed fresh but will keep in an airtight container for 5-7 days.
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A Handy Tip
After the holidays, stock up on discounted candy canes. They’re dirt cheap and keep for 2-3 years if stored in their original packaging in a cool, dry place. Just remember where you put them for next year’s last-minute peppermint gift ideas. Future you will thank you.
From all of us at Divas On A Dime, we wish you a cool yule, a swell noel, and a very Merry Christmas! Here’s to a season full of joy, laughter, and peppermint-infused everything.
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CANDY CANE VODKA
Ingredients
- 6 candy canes full sized
- 750 ml vodka
Instructions
- First, don’t waste the good stuff. Buy inexpensive vodka for this recipe.
- Use a food processor (or go medieval with a mallet) to render the candy canes into a chunky powder.
- Pour off a couple ounces of the vodka and reserve. Add the peppermint powder to the vodka and top off with reserved vodka to fill the bottle.
- Let it sit about an hour, shaking occasionally, until the candy canes are dissolved in the vodka. Admire the lovely pink color. Chill and serve. Easy peasy.
- What do you do with the peppermint infused vodka?
- You can sip it over ice, use it to adulterate hot chocolate, eggnog, make peppermint mochas with a kick, or make a martini.
Notes
- Sip it over ice.
- Add a splash to hot chocolate or eggnog.
- Make a peppermint mocha with a grown-up twist.
- Craft a Candy Cane Martini!
Nutrition
CANDY CANE MARTINI
Ingredients
- 1 ounce peppermint vodka
- ½ ounce white crème de cocoa
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream or half and half, optional
Instructions
- Place vodka and crème de cocoa in a shaker filled with ice and shake.
- Serve in a martini glass with an optionalfloat of cream or half and half on top.
- For extra points dip the rim of the glass in light corn syrup or honey and roll in crushed peppermint. How Very Festive!
Nutrition
PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW POPS
Ingredients
- 12 small candy canes
- 12 large marshmallows
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 5 small candy canes, crushed
Instructions
- Push a small candy cane into each marshmallow to create a handle.
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring until smooth.
- Dip each marshmallow into the chocolate, letting the excess drip off.
- Wait a minute for the chocolate to set slightly, then roll in crushed peppermint.
- These delightful pops make perfect hot cocoa stirrers or a fun standalone treat.
Nutrition
PEPPERMINT BARK
Ingredients
- 16 ounces vanilla candy melts or vanilla almond bark
- 1 cup crushed peppermint candy canes, divided
Instructions
- Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Melt candy melts according to package directions.
- Reserve ¼ cup of the peppermint and add remaining peppermint to the melted chocolate, stirring to incorporate.
- Pour the mixture onto prepared baking pan. Smooth with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the remainder of the crushed peppermint over the top, gently pressing to adhere.
- Let cool and break into pieces.
Nutrition
CANDY CANE POPCORN
Ingredients
- ½ cup popcorn kernels approximately 10 cups popped
- 1 ½ cup vanilla candy melts or vanilla almond bark 12 ounces
- ½ cup candy canes, finely crushed
- 1 tablespoon decorative sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Prepare popcorn using your preferred method. Spread popcorn on a cookie sheet. Remove any un-popped kernels.
- Melt candy melts according to package directions.
- Working quickly, drizzle the white chocolate over the popped popcorn, add the crushed candy canes and mix.
- Let popcorn sit for 30 minutes to let the white chocolate set.
- This is best fresh but can store in an airtight container for 5-7 days.
Notes
Nutrition