There's something magical about the festive crunch of candy canes paired with a silky chocolate center. This Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate Recipe brings together two holiday classics in one adorable treat that's as fun to make as it is to eat!

Three heart-shaped candy canes form the outer layer of the dish, their red and white stripes visible and glossy. Inside each candy cane heart is a smooth layer of dark chocolate, creating a rich, shiny center. The chocolate is sprinkled with small pieces of crushed white peppermint candy, adding texture and a hint of pink to the white and dark layers. The hearts are arranged on a white, ridged ceramic dish, which sits on a vibrant red cloth that adds a festive feel. Near the dish, there are scattered dark chocolate chips and a clear glass bowl filled with small white and pink candy pieces on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I absolutely adore how this Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate Recipe turns simple candy canes and chocolate into a charming, impressive holiday treat without any fancy baking skills. It’s perfect for gift-giving or a sweet surprise at your holiday table.

Quick & Easy: You can whip these up in under 15 minutes, making holiday prep stress-free.
Incredibly Festive: With the crunchy peppermint and smooth chocolate combo, it screams holiday cheer.
Customizable Toppings: Add your favorite crushed candy canes, sprinkles, or mini white chips to personalize.
No Baking Required: Just melt, pipe, chill, and enjoy—no oven needed!

The image shows several heart-shaped candy canes arranged on a brown paper surface. Each heart is made by joining two red and white striped candy canes. Inside each heart, there is a smooth, thick layer of dark chocolate filling in the shape of the heart, with some hearts topped with small white peppermint pieces. Around the candy hearts, broken white and red peppermint bits are scattered. The overall look is festive and sweet. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe is delightfully simple—just a few ingredients that come alive together. Choosing quality chocolate chips can really elevate the flavor, and mini candy canes make perfect-sized hearts with just a little patience.

Flat lay of unwrapped mini candy canes arranged in pairs forming heart shapes, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with glossy dark chocolate chips, a small white ceramic bowl containing crushed candy cane pieces, a small white ceramic bowl with colorful festive sprinkles, and a small white ceramic bowl of mini white chocolate chips, all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Mini Candy Canes: Their smaller size makes the heart shapes easier to form and the peppermint flavor shines bright without being overwhelming.
Chocolate Chips: These melt smoothly and set nicely. I recommend semi-sweet or milk chocolate depending on your sweetness preference.
Favorite Toppings: Crushed candy canes add extra crunch, festive sprinkles bring color, and mini white chocolate chips add a pretty contrast.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love playing with toppings and even dipping the set hearts in colored chocolate for parties. Feel free to switch up the chocolate type or sprinkle on nuts or edible glitter for a personalized touch that'll wow your guests.

Variation: Last year, I added a pinch of sea salt on top before chilling—such a crowd-pleaser that balanced the sweet and minty beautifully.
Dietary Modifications: Use dairy-free chocolate chips to make these friendly for lactose intolerant friends.
Seasonal Twist: Swap candy canes for peppermint sticks broken into halves for a rustic look.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace and Candy Canes

Start by lining a medium baking sheet with parchment or wax paper—this keeps everything from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Unwrap 28 mini candy canes and arrange them in pairs facing each other to form perfect little hearts. Press them gently so they're touching but still laying flat.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate

Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 10-second bursts, stirring each time to avoid overheating. The key is patience—I like to stop just before fully melted and gently stir the rest to smoothness to prevent burning. This extra care really helps your chocolate look glossy and melt evenly.

Step 3: Fill the Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate

Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with a tiny corner snipped off. Carefully pipe chocolate right into the center of each candy cane heart, letting it pool up but not overflow. If the candy canes shift, press them lightly back into a heart shape while the chocolate is still soft.

Step 4: Add Your Toppings and Chill

Sprinkle your choice of crushed candy canes, festive sprinkles, or mini white chocolate chips on top before the chocolate sets. Pop the tray into the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, or until the chocolate is firm to the touch. That’s when you know they’re ready to enjoy (or gift!).

Top Tip

I’ve found that melting chocolate slowly really makes the difference between glossy hearts and grainy ones. Plus, setting the chocolate in a cool fridge rather than at room temp prevents streaks and bubbles.

Slow Melting: Heat chocolate in short bursts and stir each time to avoid overheating and scorching.
Use Piping Control: A small snip on a zip bag lets you pipe just the right amount without mess.
Chill Properly: Pop the tray in the fridge for at least 20 minutes to firm up perfectly—don’t rush it!
Tight Heart Shapes: Press candy canes together just before the chocolate sets to keep that heart outline crisp.

How to Serve Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate Recipe

Garnishes

I usually stick with classic crushed candy canes and colorful sprinkles because they add both crunch and festive flair. Sometimes, I toss on a dusting of edible glitter for an extra-special sparkle that kids adore.

Side Dishes

These candy cane hearts pair wonderfully with a warm cup of hot cocoa or mulled cider. I like serving them alongside gingerbread cookies or buttery shortbread — perfect for a holiday cookie platter.

Creative Ways to Present

For gifts, I arrange them in mini cellophane bags tied with red ribbon and a handmade tag. For parties, I lay them on pretty plates with some fresh pine sprigs and fairy lights nearby — instant holiday magic that guests always comment on!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay fresh and crunchy for up to three weeks, which is great when you want a sweet nibble days later without the candy canes getting sticky.

Freezing

Yes, you can freeze these! Just layer the candy cane hearts between parchment paper in an airtight, freezer-safe container. They keep well for about 1-2 months — just thaw them in the fridge before serving to preserve the chocolate texture.

Reheating

Since these are best enjoyed chilled, I don’t recommend reheating. If the chocolate softens too much, just let them firm up again in the fridge. That way, they don’t lose their signature snap and look.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use full-sized candy canes instead of mini ones?

You can try, but mini candy canes are much easier to shape into hearts and stay flat. Full-sized ones might not sit well on the baking sheet and could be trickier to pipe chocolate into evenly.

What kind of chocolate works best in this Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate Recipe?

I recommend semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips for a nice balance of sweetness and flavor. Dark chocolate works too, but melts a little differently, so just be careful not to overheat it.

Can I prepare these Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make them up to a week in advance and store them in the fridge in an airtight container. Just be sure to add your toppings right after piping the chocolate before chilling.

What’s the best way to melt the chocolate without it seizing?

Melting in short 10-second bursts in the microwave and stirring frequently helps prevent overheating and seizing. Avoid adding any water to the bowl or utensils during melting, as even a tiny bit can ruin the chocolate's texture.

Final Thoughts

This Candy Cane Hearts with Chocolate Recipe feels like a little holiday hug in cookie form every time I make it. It’s such a sweet way to spread joy and the peppermint-chocolate combo never fails to bring smiles. I can’t wait for you to try this simple recipe and make it your own – your kitchen is about to smell amazing!