There’s something about peppermint and cream that just belongs to Christmas. This Candy Cane Coffee Creamer tastes like the sweet, melty scoop of mint ice cream at the bottom of the bowl, which is always my favorite part.
It’s creamy, lightly pepperminty, and made with just three ingredients, or four if we’re being technical and counting water.
The best part is it takes only about five minutes to make. So almost as soon as the craving for peppermint coffee hits, or you find yourself with extra candy canes after decorating the tree, you can be sipping on a festive, homemade creamer that tastes like pure holiday cheer.
Kick your holiday coffee up with even more homemade peppermint creamers. Try the Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer for a rich dark chocolate twist or the Peppermint White Chocolate Creamer for a creamy, sweet holiday favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Candy Cane Coffee Creamer
- Only four ingredients — candy canes, cream, milk, and water.
- Sweet peppermint flavor — balanced and creamy, not overpowering.
- Festive and fun — a perfect DIY coffee creamer for the holidays.
- Made with real cream — no oils or fillers, just smooth, rich texture.
Ingredients for Homemade Candy Cane Creamer
- Candy canes
- Water
- Heavy cream
- Whole milk
- (Optional) Peppermint extract
Ingredient Notes
Candy canes: Regular red and white peppermint candy canes work best. They melt smoothly and give the creamer a pretty pink color and that classic peppermint flavor. Skip the colorful ones like Starburst since they’re just candy-cane-shaped and won’t taste right.
The amount of peppermint flavor actually varies by brand, so if you have a favorite super-pepperminty candy cane, use that. Honestly, any traditional peppermint one will do.
Cream and milk: The mix of heavy cream and whole milk gives this creamer a rich, smooth, and still easy to pour texture. Some homemade coffee creamer recipes use sweetened condensed milk, but I skip it here since it makes things a bit too thick and sweet for my taste.
Peppermint extract: Optional, but it adds an extra burst of flavor if you like a more intense peppermint taste (especially since bold coffee masks other flavors).
For a festive cookie-inspired sip, check out my Sugar Cookie Coffee Creamer and Sugar Cookie Syrup (Starbucks copycat). Both bring buttery, vanilla sweetness to your morning cup or holiday latte.
How to Make Candy Cane Coffee Creamer
Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.
- Crush the candy canes. Break them by hand, then place the pieces in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin or the back of a spoon.
- Melt into syrup. Add the crushed candy canes and water to a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring every few seconds so the candy doesn’t stick. Don’t boil; reduce to medium-low if needed.
- Dissolve completely. When the candy canes have melted into a smooth syrup (a few white bits may linger but will dissolve), remove from heat.
- Add the dairy. Stir in the cream and milk until smooth. Taste and add peppermint extract if you’d like a stronger peppermint flavor.
- Cool and store. Let cool, then transfer to a glass jar or bottle. Refrigerate and shake before each use.
Candy Cane Creamer Tips & Notes
- Tiny white bits: If you see small specks that won’t melt right away, just keep stirring, they’ll disappear with a little more heat.
- Flavor check: Since coffee mutes flavors, add a bit of peppermint extract if you want a more noticeable minty finish.
- Storage: Keep refrigerated and use within one week.
Nothing says Christmas like eggnog. Make your coffee extra indulgent with the Eggnog Coffee Creamer, full of cream, nutmeg, and a hint of rum extract for cozy holiday mornings.
How to Use Candy Cane Coffee Creamer
This festive creamer can be poured, steamed, or frothed depending on your drink mood!
- Candy Cane Latte: Steam the creamer and mix with espresso for a cozy peppermint latte.
- Candy Cane Cold Brew: Froth into a thick cold foam and spoon over iced cold brew.
- Classic coffee: Simply stir a splash into your morning cup for that sweet peppermint-cream flavor.
Make it extra special with crushed candy cane sprinkled on top, or hang a mini candy cane in your mug as a festive stir stick. These small touches somehow make Christmas coffee feel even more joyful.
More Holiday Coffee Creamer Recipes
If you love peppermint and festive flavors, you’ll enjoy these other homemade holiday coffee creamer recipes too:
- Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer – Deep cocoa flavor meets cool peppermint for a homemade mocha treat.
- Peppermint White Chocolate Coffee Creamer – Smooth white chocolate and peppermint make the dreamiest Christmas creamer.
- Sugar Cookie Creamer – Buttery, vanilla-sweet, with a hint of almond.
- Eggnog Coffee Creamer – Classic Christmas flavor with real cream, nutmeg, and a hint of rum extract.
- Gingerbread Creamer – Spiced with molasses, cinnamon, and ginger for cozy winter mornings.
Homemade Candy Cane Coffee Creamer
This homemade Candy Cane Coffee Creamer is sweet, creamy, and perfectly pepperminty. It’s made with real candy canes and tastes like Christmas in your morning cup.
Ingredients
- 5 full-size candy canes (about ¼ cup crushed)
- ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon water
- 1¼ cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon whole milk
- Optional: ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Instructions
- Crush candy canes and place them in a small saucepan with the water.
- Heat over medium, stirring frequently until candy canes dissolve (don’t boil).
- Once melted, remove from heat and stir in cream and milk.
- Taste and add peppermint extract if desired.
- Let cool, then transfer to a jar or bottle and refrigerate. Shake before using.