Questionable Candy Cane Flavors That Shouldn't Exist
With the holidays in full swing, there's no better festive treat to celebrate it with than the classic candy cane. Perfectly sweet with a refreshing kick of peppermint, this is the kind of candy that's impossible to hate—until wacky, questionable flavors come along. From hot dog to sardine, here are 20 of the weirdest candy cane flavors to try if you're brave and curious enough.
1. Coal
Starting off strong, coal-flavored candy canes are what the naughty kids will find in their stockings on Christmas morning. Despite what it says on the tin, though, the smoky, bitter taste of these candy canes is mellowed out with a hint of cinnamon. Don't worry—they still taste like disappointment.
2. Hot Dog
Why are hot dog candy canes a thing when you can just have a real hot dog instead, you ask? We're asking the same, too. Nothing beats a regular tasty hot dog, after all—and especially not candy canes inspired by their "sweet and meaty" flavor.
3. Pizza
If you thought hot dogs were the end of it, well, it wasn't. What's just as odd and revolting as sweet, meaty candy canes meant to mimic hot dogs? Sweet, cheesy, tomatoey, oregano-dusted, pepperoni-infused candy canes. It might sound mildly appetizing, but we won't vouch for the taste.
4. Sour Cream & Onion
Your favorite chip flavors are now being made into candy canes, starting with sour cream and onion. Because if the last two flavors weren't torture enough, the mad candy cane scientists stared at a bag of chips and thought, "Why not?" Since, who wouldn't want to snack on candies that taste exactly like sour cream and onion dip? (Just kidding, not us.)
5. Mac & Cheese
If you've had Kraft Dinner Mac & Cheese, you'll already know what these candy canes taste like. And if you're curious (and brave) enough to want to recreate these at home, just dip your regular pack of candy canes into a KD cheese powder packet.
6. Wasabi
If coal-flavored candy canes weren't enough to punish the naughty ones, then wasabi-flavored ones might. You know that sting in your eyes and the burn in your throat you get when you accidentally eat a pea-sized dollop of this spicy green paste? Yeah, that's the experience you'll get with these candy canes. Maybe they'll be better paired with sushi.
7. Pho
Pho is amazing and delicious on its own, but what about turning a bowl of it into a portable version on a stick? Odd as the idea might be, these candy canes aren't bad. Maybe that's just because it's impossible to make this comforting Vietnamese noodle soup into something bad.
8. Butter
If deep-fried butter sticks are already a thing, why not butter-flavored candy canes? Unfortunately, turning them into these striped treats isn't as great of an idea as it might seem—they just taste like a stick of butter coated into sugar. Unless, of course, you like the sound of that.
9. Clam
Did you recoil as soon as you read this? Because we sure did. Never mind the fact that these smell like clam juice (though they don't actually contain shellfish), but Clamdy Canes—as they're lovingly nicknamed—are the kind of gift you give to somebody you really don't like. Salty, briny, clam-y... what more could you ask for?
10. Sardine
Clam-flavored candy canes not revolting enough to do the trick? Reach for a pack of sardine ones instead. These sweet, fishy striped treats are bound to make anyone hate you forever, since they're made to taste like they came fresh from the tin. Or like a combination of rubbery meat and spoiled milk.
11. Possum
Okay, scratch that—maybe clam- and sardine-flavored candy canes aren't the absolute worst there are, because possum-flavored ones exist. You know, that furry creature with the pointed ears that looks like a mix between a rat and a cat? These candy canes taste exactly what you might expect, summarized perfectly by their product description: "Possum Candy Canes feature the garbage-fueled flavor of a possum!"
12. Bacon
Bacon-flavored candy canes might sound not-so-odd after some of the ones we just covered. In fact, it might actually sound rather appetizing. Sure, it's not as great as candied bacon or just regular crispy strips of this breakfast staple, but it's not horrible at least.
13. Gravy
Gravy is everybody's favorite condiment during the holidays, and that should come as no surprise given its rich, nutty, umami taste. But when it's meant to be a sauce poured over cuts of meat and mashed potatoes, gravy-flavored candy canes sound like an abomination. (And it is.)
14. Pickle
If you aren't already a pickle lover, then sucking on a pickle-flavored candy treat is probably not going to change your mind. But for those who do love briny, vinegary dill, these candy canes are the sweets you've been waiting for.
15. Rotisserie Chicken
There does seem to be an ongoing theme here with turning meats into sweets. Rotisserie chicken is delicious as it is, what with its crispy skin and tender, juicy cuts. Though its candy cane counterpart won't beat the real thing, it's not as bad as it seems—if just a touch more sweet.
16. Jalapeno
If you didn't read the words written on the package, you'd probably mistake jalapeno candy canes for regular peppermint ones, what with their familiar red-and-green stripes. But be warned: these are not for the faint of heart. These spicy sticks might just burn the roof of your mouth.
17. Bigfoot
If you read that something is "pine-flavored," you should probably take ten steps back and forget the item ever existed. Unless, of course, you're a brave soul who likes to try everything once. Don't say we didn't warn you. There's a reason these candy canes are named the way they are—no one else but Bigfoot would find a sap- and pine-flavored treat appetizing.
18. Dante's Inferno
If jalapeno-flavored candy canes weren't enough heat for you, then Dante's Inferno candy canes are sure to make your mouth feel like it's on fire. What's more insidious is that they look exactly the same as regular candy canes, so you can swap them out to play a (demonic) prank on your friends and family.
19. Shiitake Mushrooms
These brown-and-white striped treats might look like coffee-flavoured candy canes (which also exist), but don't be mistaken—they're shiitake-flavored. Of course, if you're a mushroom lover, you might develop an affinity for these, but for the rest of us, we'll stick to eating the regular ones.
20. Kale
If you have kids who won't eat their veggies, kale-flavored candy canes might actually be the perfect solution. Or maybe they'll end up ruining their taste buds more. Either way, it could potentially teach any kale-hating person that even if the real thing is bad and bitter, it's probably still not as bad as the candy version.
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