Candy Cane Oreo Balls Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for a festive, melt-in-your-mouth treat, this Candy Cane Oreo Balls Recipe is absolutely worth making. I love this because it’s super fun to make, kid-friendly, and makes an eye-catching holiday dessert that everyone raves about. Stick around—I’ll walk you through everything so your Candy Cane Oreo Balls turn out perfect every time!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

I love how uncomplicated the ingredients are here—you likely have most of these on hand, especially if you keep Oreos stocked during the holidays. The cream cheese adds that luscious richness, and the red candy melts make these look super festive without much effort.

• Oreos: The beloved chocolate sandwich cookies are the star here—crushed into fine crumbs they form the base of our dough.
• Cream Cheese: Softened and creamy, this helps bind the Oreo crumbs into a moldable dough and adds a lovely tang.
• Red Candy Melts: These melt smoothly and harden with that bright holiday red shine, perfect for the candy cane look.
• Vegetable Shortening or Oil: Just a little helps thin out the candy melts for smooth dipping.
• White Sanding Sugar: Sprinkled on for some sparkle and extra sweetness on the stripes.
• Candy Cane Cookie Cutter: To shape your Oreo mixture into adorable candy canes for that seasonal vibe.
• Powdered Sugar, Meringue Powder, and Water: For making the small batch royal icing that decorates your candy canes with those classic stripes.

Variations

One thing I love about the Candy Cane Oreo Balls Recipe is how easy it is to tweak it to your personal taste or dietary needs. Feel free to switch things up and make it your own!

• Chocolate Variation: Swap out the red candy melts for white or dark chocolate melts, then tint white melts with food coloring to match your theme.
• Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free sandwich cookies in place of Oreos that suit your dietary needs.
• Mint Boost: Add a teaspoon of peppermint extract to the cream cheese mix for an extra minty punch that screams holiday spirit.
• Shape Switch-Up: Don’t have a candy cane cutter? No worries—roll the mixture into balls and decorate with drizzled candy melts or sprinkles.

How to Make Candy Cane Oreo Balls Recipe

Step 1: Crush the Oreos into Fine Crumbs

Pop the entire package of Oreos into a blender or food processor and pulse until you get fine, sand-like crumbs. I learned the hard way that big chunks won’t bind well with the cream cheese, so don’t rush this step. If you don’t have a blender, you can place the Oreos in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin, but it takes a bit more elbow grease!

Step 2: Mix in Cream Cheese Until Fully Combined

Transfer your Oreo crumbs to a mixing bowl and add the softened cream cheese. Using an electric mixer, blend until it’s well combined and sticks together like dough. This is that perfect chocolatey, creamy base that makes these so irresistible. If your cream cheese is too cold, it won’t mix properly, so plan for it to sit on the counter to soften a bit beforehand.

Step 3: Press and Chill the Mixture

Press the Oreo mixture evenly onto a small baking sheet—something like a quarter sheet pan works great. I find this step easier than rolling sticky dough into balls. Pop it into the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up, which is crucial for clean cuts next.

Step 4: Cut Out Candy Cane Shapes

Once chilled, use your candy cane cookie cutter to press shapes into the Oreo slab. Wiggle gently to loosen, then carefully remove the cutter. Use your fingers to pop out each shape. This part’s fun—kids especially love helping here! Place your candy canes on another baking sheet and freeze again for 10 minutes to keep their shape nice and firm for dipping.

Step 5: Prep for Dipping

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat—this makes cleanup a breeze. Melt your red candy melts over low heat, stirring often. If they seem thick, add a teaspoon or so of vegetable shortening or vegetable oil to thin them out for smoother coating.

Step 6: Dip Candy Canes and Decorate

Work with a few candy canes at a time—dip each into the melted candy until fully coated, tapping off any excess chocolate on the fork before gently sliding it onto your lined baking sheet. Don’t rush this or try to do them all at once from the freezer; you want to keep the shapes intact and prevent melting. Pop the sheet into the fridge to set.

Step 7: Make and Pipe the Royal Icing

While the candy coating sets, mix up a small batch of royal icing. Beat powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water for 5-7 minutes until smooth. You want it thick enough to hold shape but still pipe-able, so add water teaspoon by teaspoon if needed. Transfer to a squeeze bottle and carefully draw white stripes on the cooled candy canes. Don’t forget the white sanding sugar for that perfect frosty sparkle!

Step 8: Let Icing Set and Serve

Allow your royal icing stripes to dry completely—either at room temp or in the fridge. Once set, gently tap off any extra sprinkles, arrange on a pretty platter, and get ready for compliments. These taste best kept refrigerated until serving, so store them chilled for maximum freshness.

How to Serve Candy Cane Oreo Balls Recipe

Garnishes

I typically stick with the white sanding sugar sprinkled over the royal icing stripes—it adds just the right sparkle and a little crunch. Sometimes, a tiny pinch of crushed candy cane sprinkled right after piping looks beautiful too and adds a subtle mint kick.

Side Dishes

I love pairing these candy cane Oreo balls with a warm cup of hot cocoa or a steaming mug of peppermint mocha. If you’re planning a holiday dessert tray, these go great alongside classic sugar cookies and chocolate-dipped pretzels.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I’ve arranged these on red and white striped trays or nestled them in mini cupcake liners to look like festive candies. You could also tie a small festive ribbon around each candy cane shape for gifting. Presentation really amps up the fun and makes them look bakery-level fancy!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover Candy Cane Oreo Balls stored in an airtight container in the fridge—they stay fresh and maintain their shape for up to a week. Just be sure to keep them chilled until ready to serve so they don’t get too soft.

Freezing

These freeze beautifully! I wrap each candy cane ball individually in plastic wrap and pop them in a freezer-safe container. When I want a treat, I thaw them in the fridge overnight. The texture holds up really well, and it’s a lifesaver for prepping early during holiday craziness.

Reheating

Since these are no-bake, reheating isn’t necessary. Just let frozen or refrigerated balls sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving if you want them a little less chilled but still firm.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Candy Cane Oreo Balls Recipe has quickly become one of my go-to holiday treats—it’s easy, festive, and tastes like a little slice of joy. Whether you’re making these for your family, gifting to friends, or bringing them to a party, they never fail to impress. I can’t wait for you to try this recipe and see just how fun and rewarding it is to make these adorable, delicious treats yourself!

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