The origin of the candy cane goes back over 350 years, when candy-makers both professional and amateur were making hard sugar sticks. The original candy was straight and completely white in color.
Birth of the Candy Cane
Around the seventeenth century, European-Christians began to adopt the use of Christmas trees as part of their Christmas celebrations. They made special decorations for their trees from foods like cookies and sugar-stick candy.
The first historical reference to the familiar cane shape goes back to 1670, when the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, bent the sugar-sticks into canes to represent a shepherd’s staff. The candy canes were given out to children during the long-winded nativity services.
The clergymen’s custom of handing out candy canes during Christmas services spread throughout Europe and later to America. The canes were still white, but sometimes the candy-makers would add sugar-roses to decorate the canes further.
The first historical reference to the candy cane in America goes back to 1847, when a German immigrant named August Imgard decorated the Christmas tree in his Wooster, Ohio home with candy canes.
The Stripes
About fifty years later, the first red-and-white striped candy canes appeared. No one knows who exactly invented the stripes, but Christmas cards prior to the year 1900 show only all-white candy canes. Christmas cards after 1900 show illustrations of striped candy canes. Around the same time, candy-makers added peppermint and wintergreen flavors to their candy canes. Those flavors became the traditional favorites.
Sweet Secrets of the Candy Cane
There are many other legends and beliefs surrounding the humble candy cane, although there is no historical evidence. Many of these stories depict the candy cane as a secret symbol for Christianity used during the times when Christians were living under more oppressive circumstances. It was said that the cane was shaped like a “J” for Jesus. The red-and-white stripes represented Christ’s blood and purity. The three red stripes symbolized the Holy Trinity. The hardness of the candy represented the Church’s foundation on solid rock and the peppermint flavor represented the use of hyssop, an herb referred to in the Old Testament.
Source: http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/candy_canes.htm
Candy Cane Ideas
Each year there are lots of extra candy canes floating around the house. Use them up with these creative ideas.
* Add crushed candy canes to vanilla frosting use that as a filling to make cookie sandwiches with purchased cookies or graham crackers.
* Add crushed candy canes to Rice Krispy treats.
* Make your own Candy Cane Bark by melting some purchased white almond bark and add crushed candy cane pieces. Pour onto waxed paper and chill.
* Sprinkle crushed candy canes on iced cupakes or on ice cream sundaes.
* Layer ice cream and hot fudge sauce with crushed candy canes and top with whipped cream for a peppermint twist treat.
* Dip the candy canes in chocolate coating for a delicious snack.
* Save the candy canes and use them for decorations next year to create centerpieces like a candy cane sleigh or planter.
Source: http://busycooks.about.com/library/recipes/blcandycaneideas.htm
Candy Cane Recipe
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
4 drops oil of peppermint or other flavoring
4 drops red or green food coloring
Grease a hard surface, such as clean formica or a stone countertop.
Simmer the sugar with the corn syrup, water and cream of tartar until the mix reaches a soft crack stage or about 280 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from the burner and add flavoring.
Divide the syrup in half. Add food coloring to one half; pour out separately onto the greased surface. Cool for 1 to 2 minutes. Pull each half separately; roll into 1/2” thick ropes. Twist colored batch around the white batch, pulling until the colored ropes adhere. Cut with scissors into 6” long lengths; bend to crook one end.
NOTE: You can find wintergreen or oil of cinnamon to use as flavoring. Work quickly to form candy canes or you can form knots.
Source: http://www.theteacherscorner.net/seasonal/christmas/cane.htm