Candy canes actually started in Germany, and there’s an intriguing story hidden behind their beginnings!
It turns out they were created during the reign of Queen Victoria in 1857.
The first known mention of them occurred in a German publication in 1862 but they were called Winterreisen (winter journeys) because they traveled well and stayed fresh.
There are two types of candies – hard and soft.
Hard candy comes in all shapes and sizes including chocolate-covered candy and gum drops.
Soft candy includes jellybeans, gummies, lollipops, and fruit chews.
These sweets have a longer duration than most other candies because they contain sugar, which helps maintain their freshness, texture, and taste.
In addition, they don’t require much preparation since they are already wrapped up.
The best thing about this type of candy is its long shelf life.
A piece of hard candy can last for years while the other varieties can only hold up for a couple of months.
How long does a candy cane last?
A candy cane has a shelf life of more than a year if the wrapper is sealed tight and not exposed to heat or moisture.
It depends on what type you buy.
If you purchase a store-bought candy cane, you can expect to eat it within three months to six months.
Keep it away from heat and humidity as much as possible.
Also, place it in the refrigerator to prolong its shelf life.
If you plan to make your own candy cane, remember to use edible food coloring so that the finished product doesn’t look like a crayon painting.
You can even add marshmallow fluff to enhance the flavor.
How long does it take to make a candy cane?
You can make candy canes at home by following the instructions here.
They are easy to prepare and won’t take you much time.
This sweet treats takes roughly 25 minutes to make.
How many candy canes can be made from one recipe?
This depends on the size of the candy cane cutter.
A small-size cutter can produce around 60 pieces.
On the other hand, a large-sized cutter can make up to 200 candy canes.
What is the shelf life of a candy cane?
The shelf life of a candy cane varies depending on the type of candy you choose to make.
For instance, a hard candy can last almost a year while a soft candy usually lasts only a month.
How long do candy canes stay fresh?
According to the National Confectioners Association, a good quality candy cane keeps its aroma, color, and flavor for 90 days.
How should candy canes be stored?
Store your candy canes in an airtight container to avoid exposure to sunlight.
Make sure they are kept away from direct heat sources such as radiators and ovens.
As a general rule, leave them in the fridge or freezer until you need them.
What is the best way to keep candy canes fresh?
Keep them in a cool spot.
Don’t let them sit in direct sunlight.
And don’t forget to wrap them tightly once you remove them from the packaging.
How long do candy canes stay fresh?
A candy cane stays fresh for up to 90 days.
After that, the flavor and aroma start to fade.
To preserve the freshness, make sure you keep them in the fridge.
Store them in a closed container rather than leaving them open to the elements.
How should you tell if a candy cane is fresh?
To test whether a candy cane is still tasty and fresh, simply bite into it.
If there’s no unpleasant aftertaste or any off flavors, then it’s probably okay to eat.
But if you notice any changes, you should toss it out immediately.
What do you do with a candy cane when it starts to get stale?
One trick to revive stale candy cane is to cut them up and put them back in their original wrappers.
Then rewrap the pieces and place them back in the original package.
How can you revive a stale candy cane?
If you want to save the rest of the candy cane, wrap the remaining pieces in aluminum foil to preserve freshness.
Place the foil-wrapped candy canes back in the original wrapper.
Keep them in a cool dry location for up to 30 days.
How can you revive a stale candy cane?
What is the best way to keep candy canes fresh?
To ensure that your candy canes will stay fresh and delicious, follow these tips:
- Don’t let your candy canes sit in direct sunlight.
- Keep them in an airtight container.
- Place them in the fridge or freezer before opening them.
- Wrap them tightly after removing them from their packaging.
How long do candy canes stay fresh?
As mentioned earlier, a candy cane with a hard candy shell can last up to a year.
While a candy cane with a soft center will last only a couple of months.
How can you revive a stale candy cane?
To revive a candy cane that’s gone bad, wrap it in aluminum foil and place it back in its original wrapper.
How can you tell if a candy cane is fresh?
When you bite into a candy cane, you should feel the crunchy texture.
It shouldn’t be mushy or hollow inside.
You also should smell nothing but sweetness and see colors that resemble a red pepper.
What do you do with a candy cane when it gets too sour?
If you find that your candy cane tastes terrible, throw it out immediately.
Even though it’s been stored in a cool area for several weeks, the sugar content might have dissolved and become acidic.
How can you revive a stale candy cane?
For a quick fix, use a toothpick to poke holes along the edges of the candy cane.
This allows the syrup to seep through.
How do you refresh a stale candy cane?
To refresh a stale candy cane, you must remove the entire casing from the end of the stick.
Once you do that, you can dip the end of the stick into hot water.
The hot water will melt the sugar crystals and help restore its flavor.
How Long Do Candy Canes Last?
Equipment
- 1 oven
Ingredients
- spray
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 1 teaspoon red gel food
- 1 teaspoon coloring
Instructions
- Spray 2 rimmed baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Preheat oven to 200 F.
- Combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup of the water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; stir with a heatproof spatula until sugar dissolves.
- Sugar, corn syrup and water combined in a pot. Pour remaining 1/4 cup water into a small bowl and use it to wet a pastry brush.
- Using wet brush, wash any sugar crystals off side of pan. Do not stir syrup.
- When syrup comes to a boil, insert a candy thermometer and continue to cook, without stirring, until thermometer registers 285 F. At this point, the candy will have reached the soft-crack stage.
- Remove from heat. Let bubbles subside, then stir in peppermint extract.
- Pour about half of the syrup onto a prepared baking sheet and place it in preheated oven.
- Stir red food coloring into remaining syrup. If necessary, add more dye to achieve a vibrant shade.
- Pour candy onto remaining baking sheet and allow it to sit briefly until it forms a “skin.”
- Spray a bench scraper or metal spatula with nonstick cooking spray, and use the tool to “knead” the candy. Flatten the candy, then fold it back over itself. Repeat this process for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the candy is significantly cooler.
- Using heat-resistant gloves, stretch the candy into a long rope, then fold rope in half and twist candy until it melts back into itself.
- Repeat this process for 2 to 3 minutes, until candy takes on an opaque color and a satiny finish. At this point, the candy will be warm—you should have some trouble pulling and folding it.
- Stretch candy into a rope, about 2 inches in diameter, then return it to oven, where it will stay warm and pliable.
- Red candy stretched and twisted into a rope shape, on a baking sheet
- Remove other baking sheet from oven. At this point, you can knead white food coloring into the candy if you like.
- Pull and fold the candy in the same fashion, until it becomes opaque, glossy, and difficult to manipulate.
- Stretch it into a second log, about 2 inches in diameter.
- Remove red candy from oven. Cut a 2-inch segment from white log and another from red log, then put remaining candy back in oven.
- Squeeze 2 segments together until they form a two-toned log.
- Stretch candy again. This step will determine the thickness of your candy canes—you can make thinner ones (with a 1/4-inch diameter) or thicker ones (with a 1/2-inch diameter).
- When you’re happy with the candy’s width, twist rope to form those distinctive candy stripes.
- Oil or use cooking spray on a pair of cooking shears and cut candy into smaller pieces. Again, you can choose to make long or small candy canes. A 7-inch piece of candy will yield a medium-sized candy cane.
- Immediately form the hook at the top of the cane and place it on a clean surface to firm up at room temperature.
- Cut off another segment from each log, returning the remaining logs to the oven, and repeat the twisting and stretching process until you have used up all the candy.
Video
Nutrition
I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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