candy cane experiment

15 Candy Cane Science Experiments: Fun Holiday Hands-on Activities

• August 24, 2020
• Science Experiments

Welcome back to another post with a pack of super fun and easy to do science experiments!! Today, what are we going to choose the key ingredient to do our entertaining experiments and what kind of science are we going to explore and discover!? I know you all are eagerly waiting and I am also equally excited to reveal the hero of our today’s science activities. Here we go, it is CANDY CANES!! Whoa! Yes, make your Christmas and holiday vacation more fun and creative while investigating candy canes.

I have a question to all the kids of all ages out there!! Kids, what do you do with the left over candy canes!? Mostly, the left over candy canes go into the bin right!? But here after we are not going to waste any small piece of candy cane but uses to do some experiments that discovers the science behind it. Yes, it is so amazing and super fun to work with candy canes!! Continue reading our post to find best science activities that seriously takes 2-5 minutes to set up and 10 minutes to investigate.

Candy Cane Science Experiments

In fact, my children had a quality time with these activities and believe me you and your children also be amazed by the surprising results. Read on for the fun and easy science experiments to do with candy canes.

1. Candy Cane Science Experiment

Candy Cane science experiment is a perfect way to engage your children in two ways i.e. as a Christmas vacation activity and a science activity for kids. If you are looking for a fun Christmas Science for kids, then this simple candy cane experiment is perfect for all ages. In addition, kids will get to know about different types of liquid solutions and their properties. It is interesting right!?

Have a look at the full description of the experiment here: Candy Cane Science Experiment

2. Dissolving Candy Cane Experiment

Check out this most popular dissolving candy cane science experiment and learn how fast or slow candy canes dissolve at various temperatures. Kids can try candy canes of different sizes and repeat the same process for all sizes to analyse the rate of dissolving in the water. Learn which type of liquid makes difference in dissolving candy canes in an awesome way!

Have a look at Dissolving Candy Cane Experiment to explore dissolving solutions and its science.

3. Colored Candy Canes Science Experiment

Best science activity, which is perfect for Christmas Science Experiment for pre-schoolers, younger and older kids!! Do you know why? This experiment is considered as a scientific treasure since it reveals or proves an awesome science of ‘candy canes losing colors’. The impressive part of this experiment is, kids can extend the activity to other activities.

Check out here for the list of supplies and instructions: Colored Candy Canes Science Experiment

4. Bend your Candy Cane Science Experiment

Recently, I was asked that “Is it possible to bend a candy cane?” from my little ones. I thought this is the best experiment to demonstrate bending candy cane and I got a good opportunity to explain the simple science behind it. This experiment is perfect for moms and teachers out there!! Kids will have so much fun with it.

We love to share this easy and simple experiment with you all as well. Click on Bend your Candy Cane Science Experiment

5. Peppermint Candy Cane Science Experiment

Science experiments that relate to young children’s everyday life can captivate them to observe the magical results and motivate to repeat the experiment on their own! One such experiment is ‘Peppermint Candy Cane Science Experiment’. This simple activity adds a ton of Christmas fun while observing how peppermints and candy canes reacts with water at different temperatures.

Learn the science and maths concepts at one place i.e. Peppermint Candy Cane Science Experiment

6. Christmas Crystal Candy Canes Science Experiment

The name suggests that this is the perfect Christmas Science Experiment but it can be done anytime anywhere all around the year. Kids will have a great opportunity to learn about suspension science. Also, encourage your home schoolers and pre-schoolers to observe and make analysis on the changes happening while growing crystals.

So do not wait to grab the complete details: Christmas Crystal Candy Canes Science Experiment

7. Fizzy Candy Canes Science Experiment

What would be more fun than fizzing activities!? Combining candy canes and fizzing activity gives a ton of fun and excitement for the children to start up with!! With a few supplies and instructions your kids are going to have a blast! What are those magical ingredients that make our yummy candy canes fizz in no time!? Check out here to know the reasons and science behind it: Fizzy Candy Canes Science Experiment

8. How strong is a candy cane Science Experiment?

Looking for an activity that reveals the strength of the candy canes? Pick up this awesome experiment to learn what actually proves the strength of the candy canes. I did this experiment with my kids and had a blast with this fascinating experiment. I wish you will also try to experience the magical results of the experiment.

Get the instructions and supplies here before you start the experiment to have hassle free experience: How strong is a candy cane Science Experiment?

9. Disappearing Candy Cane science experiment

Grab a handful of candy canes to make them disappear but this time it is not in our stomach…hahahaha! Yes, fascinate your kids with this amazing experiment and you will not believe how easy it is to set up and how easy to perform. There are many variations to this awesome experiment!

Find the amazing science activity here: Disappearing Candy Cane science experiment

10. Dancing Candy Canes Science Experiments

Experience the magical science of dancing candy canes in an innovative and creative way right before your eyes! All the age group children will enjoy the trick behind dancing process of candy canes and the experiment is entertaining and engage the kids with thinking and learning the concepts. It just took 3-5 minutes to enjoy the fascinating results!!

Want to get the complete details of the experiment in detail!? Click Dancing Candy Canes Science Experiments

11. Candy Cane Goo Oobleck Science Experiment

Enjoy the fascinating properties of oobleck, which remains solid right now and changes to liquid the next moment!! Best making hands-on science experiment or a good demonstration or lesson for making predictions. To conduct this awesome experiment, we only need 3-5 supplies with simple instructions. Have a look at this cool fun science experiment to get the complete details: Candy Cane Goo Oobleck Science Experiment

12. Candy Cane Slime Christmas Science Experiment

Here we have come up with a delightful recipe that can be made with our simple homemade supplies. Kids love towards candy canes and making slime brings a lot more interest to investigate the experiment. Also, this experiment is perfect as a fun science STEM activity.

If you are interested to do this Christmas science activity, then click on Candy Cane Slime Christmas Science Experiment

13. Mint Fireworks Candy Cane Science Experiment

Engage and entertain your children with this amazing firework activity!! It is also fascinating to watch and observe the changes happening during the experiment and it is exciting for us too to hear the curious questions from the children about the experiment results!! Kids will have a great opportunity to try the experiment in a variety of ways which improves their research skills.

Here is the easy, simple, and fun Christmas science experiment, have a look: Mint Fireworks Candy Cane Science Experiment

14. Science Experiment with Poinsettias and Candy Canes

Without candy canes and poinsettias, there is no Christmas celebration!! But what we do with the left over candy canes and poinsettias during Christmas season? We have an idea to make use of our left overs to perform some simple science experiments to learn Christmas science. Of course, you can perform this experiment any time of the year.

Get more details in the disclosure page of the experiment here: Science Experiment with Poinsettias and Candy Canes

15. Candy Science – The Chemistry behind Candy Making with Delicious Recipes

Teach your children science with easy and hands-on learning!! Perfect and fantastic experiments from pre-schoolers to high schoolers. Older kids will definitely learn the complex and challenging chemistry concepts behind making candies. Each and every experiment encompasses an informational passage about the candy science.

Try this candy science right from your home or school with easy instructions mentioned here: Candy Science – The Chemistry behind Candy Making with Delicious Recipes

Candy canes are the favorite sweet candies for the kids all over the world!! It is more exciting for them to do some simple, super cool activities in a wonderful way using candy canes through which kids are even more excited to dig into!!  But before we step into the actual procedures it is better to go through the complete description of the experiment mentioned in the affiliated links at the bottom of each and every science experiment. Also, it is equally important to have an appropriate adult supervision at all times while kids performing these science experiments though they are easy, safe, and without any messy work. Investigate safe, play safe, be safe, and learn safe!! Happy Experimenting!!

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12 Candy Cane Science Experiments

Candy canes are everywhere this time of year. Do you decorate with them? Do you eat them? What do you do with the leftovers? Try these candy cane science experiments with your kids this season.

Candy Cane Science Experiments

Dissolving candy canes are probably the most popular candy cane science experiment. Check out our  Dissolving Candy Cane Science Experiment  and test how fast will candy canes dissolve in different temperatures of water? We used mini candy canes for this. Be sure to download the free printable to record your data.

A Mom With A Lesson Plan did a similar  Christmas science experiment with large candy canes.

Test how candy canes dissolve in different liquids like Science Sparks did. Besides water, what else would you use? Try vinegar, milk, fruit juice, oil, etc. Does the type of liquid make a difference in how the candy canes dissolve?

Dancing Candy Canes – Use the baking soda and vinegar reaction to make candy cane pieces dance.

Design an experiment to test how strong is a candy cane ? Science Sparks has the details.

Learn how to bend your candy canes with this science idea from Preschool Powol Packets .

Turn your candy canes or peppermints into different shaped ornaments by melting them in the oven. Get the instructions at Left Brain Craft Brain .

Make peppermint fireworks – This is a twist on the dissolving candy cane experiment. When you use peppermints, you’ll see what looks like fireworks in the bowl.  Playdough to Plato shows us how.

Peppermint Oobleck – Use peppermints or candy canes to make this fun red and white striped sensory play from Little Bins for Little Hands .

Hot Cocoa Science – Adding candy canes (among other things) to the hot cocoa makes for a fun way to incorporate some science to the hot cocoa making and drinking by practicing observation skills, measuring, making predictions, and investigating.

Fizzing Candy Canes – For a festive twist on a standard baking soda and vinegar exploration, add some candy canes. Find out what happens at Teaching Mama .

Candy Cane Sensory Bottle – Lemon Lime Adventures created this great sensory bottle for an 18 month sibling while her older brothers were conducting a dissolving candy cane experiment. Scroll to the bottom of the post to check it out.

Do you have any candy cane science experiments to add to our list? Leave a link in the comments or share on our Facebook page !

Subscribe  to the Inspiration Laboratories newsletter. Each issue has exclusive hands-on science explorations for children, a recap of our latest activities, and special resources selected just for you.

This post was originally published on November 23, 2015.

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January 22, 2013 by Teach Mama 9 Comments

Today, in between a lot of lazying around, game-playing, book-reading, Hex-bug playing, we threw in a bit of candy cane experimenting. Candy cane experiments, 2.0.

Nothing crazy complicated. Nothing involved or research-based.

We really just kind of free-played with candy canes, chatted, and enjoyed our creations.

• Candy Cane Experiments, 2.0 : We often play with candy over here–we’re a sweet-toothed family who jumps on any reason at all to hang around sugar in the kitchen.

The kids remembered especially loving playing with candy canes before–when we had fun experimenting with candy canes .  So when I asked if anyone was up for it, they totally were.

We’re getting ready. . .

. . . candy canes lined up and ready to hit the heat!

This time, our goal was free-bird creating and playing. We started by having everyone help unwrap the candy canes, and then we talked about the best way to ‘soften’ the candy canes.  Maddy suggested putting the same sized ones on the tray at a time so that the smaller ones wouldn’t melt while the bigger ones just softened. Just like we did last time we experimented with candy canes , we put them in for a short time on a very low temperature–about 250 degrees for about 3-5 minutes.   We ‘baked’ 3-4 at a time; we’d soften, pull them out of the oven and play, then put the next batch in.   At first, getting the time and temperature and handling down was tough. . . . . . but the kids got the hang of it by the second batch. We wanted to be able to move them around without having them break or burn our fingers. They were hot!–even when in for a short bit of time, these babies got hot. But the kids really loved twisting and turning and pulling and flattening. You know us–we can’t just free-play for too long (totally my fault, I know!). So after the third batch came out, I gave them a challenge: Okay, candy cane challenge number one: let’s see who can make the coolest, craziest shape. Crazy shape from Owen–a pretzel. Still not sure how the O-Man managed his shapes. . . . . . and Cora’s twists were crazy cool. Their shapes. Were. Crazy.  Maddy was a star at pulling and stretching. Cora was big into making teeny, tiny twists and twirls.  Owen tied knots and made pretzel shapes. Yes, they said Ooooh, mine’s hot! This one is really hot! once in a while, but it didn’t stop them. They were on a mission. Big time. Then I hit them with challenge number two: Let’s see who can make a number or letter–or if you really love making crazy shapes, you can still do that. No biggie. Letter ‘C’ in the house. Maddy’s ‘M’s turned into looooong, skinny sugar threads. And Cora, of course, rocked out a ‘C’, and Owen tried for an ‘O’.  Maddy’s ‘M’ morphed into a long, skinny stretch of candy, and that’s as far as we got. We were better off combining tiny pieces to make letters, and that’s what we did. It was fun–so fun. our ‘candy’ creation The kids will absolutely love having these as their desserts in lunch this week. . . . . . and I’m betting their friends will get a kick out of them, too! Today’s ‘experimenting’ reminded me of all of the hours and hours we spent in the kitchen when my three teenies were home with me all day long–but it was really good proof that they still really need this kind of hands-on, fun and spontaneous, silly learning and play at home on the weekends. And so do I.

Here’s to freebie days off of school and three crazy-cool kids who are always up for doing something fun.

Happy candy cane experimenting–and if you do decide to try it, share your photos! I’d love to see them!

Want a few more fun, foodie-science ideas?

• candy experiments, play with color
• candy experiments part 1
• paint with candy
• learn with food
• get kids to try new foods
• fractions with food
• chocolate math
• monster sandwiches

Reader Interactions

January 23, 2013 at 6:14 am

Looks cool! I don’t have such sweets in my house as we are all sweet-tooth people so they would be gone in 10 seconds 😀

January 23, 2013 at 8:58 am

Thanks, Alexandra! You know, I think these were sitting in a holiday mug on our hutch for so long that everyone forgot they were real!

January 23, 2013 at 1:22 pm

What a fun activity! We are sharing it on our Pinterest page! Perfect for all those leftover candy canes.

January 23, 2013 at 2:07 pm

thanks SO very much, Susan! Can’t wait to check it out–and always appreciate it when friends share ideas!

January 23, 2013 at 4:42 pm

Love this idea! I’ll have to try it with my little one next year when we have tons of candy canes lying around.

January 26, 2013 at 7:28 am

YAY! Perfect! And when/if you do, please share pictures, my friend!

November 6, 2015 at 7:25 am

Sounds like fun!

November 8, 2015 at 9:25 am

Fun idea! I think I will keep a box around this year for unexpected snow days. Great idea to fill up time when we’re stuck inside.

November 9, 2015 at 10:24 am

this looks like loads of fun! Wish I had some candy canes.

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Hi! I'm Patricia.

Nice to meet you.

My family currently lives in Central Texas. A few of my favorite things include baking, teaching, and working with children.

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Dissolving Candy Canes Science Experiment

Keep the Christmas excitement going all month long with this great Dissolving Candy Canes Experiment ! 

Today we're sharing this easy and inexpensive science experiment to test out with the kids!

This candy canes experiment makes for a fun way to practice some of those science skills hands-on. Kids can develop their own predictions, follow the hypothesis theory, and have some amazing fun discovering all the possible outcomes!

So, save some candy canes for this awesome science experiment; it'll be totally worth it!

Candy canes are the quintessential Christmas candy, so we thought it was the perfect candy choice to base our Christmas-themed chemistry experiment for kids. 

We turned our kitchen into a kid-friendly lab and mixed two of my little ones' favourite things: Christmas and fun science! 

Check out some more Christmas Science Activities!  Our Christmas Baking Soda Experiment is a fantastic option as well as our Melting Candy Cane Experiment ! 

If you want another science experiment involving edible items then check out our popcorn science experiment . 

MORE: Science experiments for kids

Dissolving Candy Canes Experiment

Dissolving candy canes - supplies:.

• 6 cups water
• ½ cup sugar, divided
• ½ cup salt, divided
• 6 candy canes

Candy cane science experiment - Instructions:

Step 1: prep your lab..

Prepare all your materials and your workstation first! You will be setting up 6 cup of water for this candy can experiment. 

Pour water into three cups, make sure each cup has the same amount of water. Then, in one cup, add a quarter cup of sugar and stir until it gets dissolved. In a second cup, add a quarter cup of salt and stir until dissolved.

STEP 2: Heat up the water.

Now, take the remaining three cups of water and heat them up until hot in the microwave. 

STEP 3: Experiment with the hot liquid.

We'll repeat step 1 now but this time with hot water. So, just like we did before pour water into three different cups.  Continue by adding a ¼ cup of sugar into one cup of hot water and mix until it's completely dissolved. Take another cup with hot water and add ¼ cup of salt, mix until dissolved.

STEP 4: Test the candy canes reaction.

Start the most exciting part of this experiment! Take the candy canes and place one into each of the 6 cups of water, setting a timer for 2 minutes.

Invite the kids to wait with you and once the two minutes are up, check the candy and make notes of which one has changed.

STEP 5: Keep going & take notes.

Keep checking up on the candy canes every 2 to 5 minutes and make notes of the changes you see in each candy cane.

Initiate a conversation about which liquids caused the candy to dissolve faster or slower and encourage the kids to make their own theories as to why that happened!

You can try different liquids to experiment with, also. Vinegar, fizzy drinks, soda pop, oil, even liquid dish soap! Everything your kids want to try will work as long as it is a liquid at room temperature!

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Providing printables, encouragement, tips and resources to help busy mums balance homeschooling, homemaking and frugal living.

Dissolving Candy Cane Science Experiment

Dissolving Candy Canes Science Experiment

Materials needed.

• Candy canes / round peppermints
• Cups / bowls
• Liquids – tap water, boiling water, cold water, oil, milk and vinegar
• Timer/ Kitchen scale
• Printable Worksheet

• Set the timer to record how long each peppermint or candy cane takes to dissolve. Or, you could set it for 2 minutes than check to see how the candy canes / peppermints are going and then keep checking every 2 minutes until they are completely dissolved.
• Once you have completed the experiment, record your results and discuss why candy canes dissolving at a different rate in different liquids.

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Dissolving Candy Canes Experiment

Ingredients  .

• ▢ Candy canes / round peppermints
• ▢ Cups / bowls
• ▢ Liquids - tap water, boiling water, cold water, oil, milk and vinegar
• ▢ Timer/ Kitchen scale
• ▢ Printable Worksheet

Instructions  

• To Complete this experiment, first, label your cups or bowls with the liquid that you are going to use in them.
• If using the worksheet, record the weight and draw a picture of the candy canes or peppermints that you are going to be using.
• Place the same amount of liquid into each cup or bowl. eg. 1 cup in each bowl. NOTE: Young children will need help when handling the boiling water.
• Carefully add one candy cane to each of the cups or bowls.  NOTE: You could also use round peppermints instead of or as well as the candy canes.

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