Handmade Candy Cane with Cocoa Center

"Tradition is foundational to the holidays, no matter your background. When it comes to Trader Joe’s holiday products, part of our tradition is to partner with producers who have plenty of experience in making whatever it is they make. For example, we found some candy cane crafters who have been in the business for one hundred years. With just one lick of a Trader Joe’s Handmade Candy Cane, you can tell that tradition is hard at work! Ironically, their deep candy tradition has produced for us a very unique—one might even say, untraditional Candy Cane. Unlike mass market-produced candy canes that are concocted with high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors, our red-and-white-striped Candy Canes are made with peppermint oil, tapioca syrup, and colors derived from red radish. They are hand-pulled, which gives them a beautiful sheen, and they’re generously sized (read: big!). Perhaps the most decidedly untraditional aspect of Trader Joe’s Handmade Candy Canes is the fact that after a bunch of licks, you’ll encounter a soft, Cocoa Crème filling. Yum! These Handmade Candy Canes make wonderful stocking stuffers, and they are also pretty impressive when included as part of a holiday gift basket. Hand them out as party favors, or use them to decorate your table for a party. Heck, you can even hang them on your Christmas tree—if a tree happens to be part of your tradition."