Sunday, December 2, 2012

Candy Cane Lemons


candy cane lemon

This is the time of year when candy canes come out of the woodwork. As a kid, we considered them an essential decoration for our Christmas tree, but no one really liked eating them. Peppermint candy canes are yummy, but maybe kind of boring. Here, however, is a fun and delicious way of using some of those candy canes that we seem to collect every December:

We learned this trick at the preschool my kids used to go to. My kids absolutely love when we do candy cane lemons, and it's become a holiday tradition. It's kind of magical too how you can take a solid candy cane and it suddenly becomes a straw. Not only that, but lemon juice becomes palatable. Here's the trick:
   
candy cane lemon

Start with one large lemon and one candy cane for each person. 

First, take the lemon and roll it around, pressing firmly, until it's soft. This is something the kids can work on, but then a grown-up can check to make sure the lemon has become soft. The pressing helps to release all the little jewels of lemon juice inside.

When the lemon is soft, use the tip of a knife to cut an "X" in the side. This is where the peppermint straw will be inserted- but first, prep the candy cane:

candy cane lemon

The candy cane simply needs both ends cut off so that there is just a straight section left, with porous ends. When ready, insert this into the lemon and suck away. The acids from the juice will hollow out the candy cane, and the candy will sweeten the juice. Together, a perfect and entertaining holiday treat!

candy cane lemons
Odin, who does not like to let his hands get messy, holds his lemon in a cup. They also could be wrapped in a napkin to prevent dripping.
You can also crush up the cut "U" ends of the candy canes and use them to decorate holiday cookies or truffles. Enjoy these bright and festive treats!

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51 comments

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December 2, 2012 at 2:26 PM

Yum! I know what I'll have for a treat next time the grandkids are over here!

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December 2, 2012 at 2:56 PM

That looks delicious and fun. I didn't like getting sticky as a kid but I made an exception for candy canes.

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Anonymous
December 2, 2012 at 5:23 PM

What a cute idea! I'd love to do it but have an allergy to sugar, do you know of a place I could get sugar-free candycanes?

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December 3, 2012 at 4:26 AM

Such a cool idea! I've never heard of this before, but now I want to try it!

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December 3, 2012 at 7:17 AM

I was raised on the Texas/Mexico border and they sold lemons with peppermint sticks in them at the convenience store across the street from the Jr High. They sold them with the giant sweet Mexican lemons.. Definitely brings back pleasant memories.. Yum.. Its truly a delightful snack, especially on a hot sunny day in the summer.

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December 3, 2012 at 8:25 AM

Maybe online? I'm sure some major grocery stores carry them too. I know they're out there.Good luck!

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December 3, 2012 at 8:26 AM

Candy canes in summer, that's funny ;)

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December 4, 2012 at 3:39 AM

What a neat idea! My kids are I will have to give it a try.
Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday

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December 4, 2012 at 4:11 AM

I've never heard of this idea. I might surprise my grown children with it. No matter how old they get, it's always nice to be able to introduce a new element to our get togethers. Thanks for sharing! Visiting from Be Not Weary today and glad I did.

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December 4, 2012 at 8:09 AM

Haha! I loved doing this as a kid, but I'd forgotten about it. I will have to try it out with my kids now! :-)

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Anonymous
December 4, 2012 at 8:28 AM

I have heard of this before!! I have to try it sometime soon!!

Shelley
www.piggyinpolkadots.blogspot.com

Visiting from Pintastic Monday!

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December 4, 2012 at 11:38 AM

Never heard of this, but I've got to try it. It sounds pretty tasty. : ) and looks fun for the kids.

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December 4, 2012 at 5:19 PM

Never have I heard of such a thing! Totally trying this out and I bet my husband will want to try it too!

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December 5, 2012 at 2:43 PM

This is such a neat idea. I need to do this for my grand kiddies. Thank you for sharing.

We may have met by chance...but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/honduras-missions-making-bread-in-a-mud-oven

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December 5, 2012 at 3:34 PM

GREAT idea! Totally pinning this. Thanks for linking it to Healthy 2day Wednesday.

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December 5, 2012 at 6:20 PM

I so have to try this! How neat! Thanks for sharing.

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December 6, 2012 at 12:52 PM

This is a cute idea. I may try it on Christmas.

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December 6, 2012 at 2:47 PM

I am thinking about this for me, not the granddaughter LOL. I love lemons and mint, together is yummy.

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December 6, 2012 at 4:13 PM

I remember doing this as a kid! It takes a long time to get the peppermint stick hollow and the juice flowing.

We have a long car trip planned to visit family on the holidays--I think I might give each kid a lemon and peppermint stick to work on in the car (with plenty of wipes for cleanup!). That'll keep em quiet ;o)

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December 6, 2012 at 4:15 PM

Maybe it doesn't take so long if you cut off the ends first? My kids never seem to mind, anyway! Sounds like a fun thing for the car :)

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December 7, 2012 at 6:26 PM

What a great idea. It looks delicious. Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
Have a great week.
Debi, Joye and Myrna (The Busy Bee's)

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LJ
December 8, 2012 at 9:23 AM

I have never heard of that before, I have GOT to try that. Thanks for sharing!

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December 8, 2012 at 9:53 AM

What a great idea! I would love if you would link up to Fall Into the Holidays, open through Thursday.

http://redcrowgreencrow.wordpress.com/tag/fall-into-the-holidays/

Katie @ Horrific Knits

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December 8, 2012 at 1:37 PM

Very fun, will try it out with my boys for sure.

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December 8, 2012 at 4:38 PM

Thanks, I will check it out!

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December 8, 2012 at 9:29 PM

What a fun cute idea! Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday! I am excited to see what you have to share this week!

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December 9, 2012 at 4:32 PM

We have done this with oranges before! YUM Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! :)
I hope to see you again this week!

Stop by this week to see if you were the winner of the Sugar and Spice Prize pack! We had a super great variety of recipes and entries this week!

Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com

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December 9, 2012 at 4:50 PM

What a cool trick! My mom is bringing me a bag of lemons at Christmas, I can't wait to try this.

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December 9, 2012 at 5:02 PM

Ooh, it sounds interesting with oranges!

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December 10, 2012 at 3:46 AM

What a fun and creative idea! Never even thought about using lemons and candycanes like that. :)

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December 10, 2012 at 8:33 AM

What a clever idea! I love that you've managed to teach your kids a little about chemistry at the same time ;)

Thanks so much for sharing it on Waste Not Want Not Wednesday! I've pinned it on my WNWNW board, and please check back on Wednesday to see if you've been featured!

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December 10, 2012 at 8:48 AM

I love this! Thank you for sharing with us at Healthy 2Day Wednesdays! On my blog, I also have a link up called Kids in the Kitchen - on Tuesdays. Would you please stop over tomorrow, Dec. 11, and add this to our link up! So precious! Thank you! Carrie @ younglivingoillady

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December 10, 2012 at 10:08 AM

This looks like so much fun. I love, love, love lemons! You are being featured today over on the blog.

http://sarahdawndesigns.blogspot.com/2012/12/pintastic-monday-20.html#.UMYk36zxxgg

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December 10, 2012 at 11:56 AM

Thank you for the feature! That's lovely :)

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December 10, 2012 at 11:57 AM

Thanks Carrie, I'll check it out!

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December 10, 2012 at 3:49 PM

My sister and I used to do this with oranges and peppermint sticks when we were kids. Thanks for sharing your idea with the Hearth and Soul Hop.

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December 13, 2012 at 10:40 AM

What a wonderful idea! And what a deliciously fun way to get your vitamin C!!

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December 17, 2012 at 5:34 AM

A super idea and thanks so much for sharing it with us:-)

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December 20, 2012 at 12:50 PM

I'll be featuring this fantastic idea later today at OneCreativeMommy.com. Please stop by and grab a featured button if you’d like. I can’t wait to see what you link up this week!

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December 20, 2012 at 2:03 PM

Thanks so much for the feature Heidi!

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December 20, 2012 at 8:07 PM

So fun! Thanks for the idea! Pinning!

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January 5, 2013 at 3:02 PM

Wow, they look fun. My kids got given whole bags of candy canes for Christmas, which did not thrill me, since we are not big on sugar, but this looks like a fun way to use a few of them, thanks :)

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January 5, 2013 at 6:10 PM

There are candy canes that are a bit higher quality, that are beautifully and naturally colored with beet juice instead of red #40. That's what we'll go for next time. These, like yours, were given to our kids, but we've recently decided not to eat artificial colors anymore. Of course, the natural ones are still totally sugar ;)

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January 8, 2013 at 2:40 PM

This sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing on the Winter on the HomeAcre Hop!

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Anonymous
June 18, 2013 at 8:19 AM

I ill have to remember this for December! Thanks for sharing on Wildcrafting Wednesday!!

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June 21, 2013 at 3:27 PM

I've never heard of this idea, but I love it! I'll bet it tastes great, too. The kids look like they are really enjoying it!

Thanks for linking this up to The Creative HomeAcre blog hop! : )

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September 13, 2013 at 12:44 PM

I have never heard of doing this!! And to be honest I would never think of something like this! We will have to give it a try :) I'd also love if you'd stop by and link up at my link party Feed Me Friday

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Anonymous
September 27, 2013 at 7:59 AM

I have always done this with oranges! Thank you! My hubby thinks I weird who I push a candy cane into an orange.

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October 9, 2013 at 8:05 AM

How fun. Our lemons are just now ripening so I'll have to give this a try this winter!

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October 13, 2013 at 5:20 AM

I forgot about this treat! Thanks for sharing it on Tuesday Greens!

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