Bending Candy Canes

Bending Candy Canes

To expand this activity into a science experiment, you could use and compare different brands of candy canes. Experiment with different types and flavors. You could also experiment with baking times. Bake longer or shorter to find the ideal timing for each type of candy cane to soften.

Supplies: 

• Candy canes
• Parchment paper
• Baking sheet

Instructions:

NOTE: Adult supervision is required for this project. Ovens are hot. You’ll also have to let the candy canes cool just a bit so that they can be safely bent.

STEP 1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.

STEP 2. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Unwrap and place the candy canes on the baking sheet.

STEP 3.  Bake for 3 to 4 minutes.

STEP 4.  Bend and shape the candy while it is hot. Consider using oven mitts to bend the candy.

The candy canes will cool quickly.  Bend slowly and hold against the pan to make bending easier. If the candy canes begin to cool before you have completed making the desired shape, pop it on the baking sheet and back into the oven for an additional 3 minutes.

Free Printable Christmas STEM Guide!

Is Bending Candy Canes A Physical or Chemical Change?

Adding heat to something can cause a physical change but not necessarily a chemical change! Even though the candy cane is warm and malleable, it is still a candy cane.

When it cools, the candy cane will still be the same substance but just bent into a different shape. Even if it becomes brittle and breaks apart, it is still the same exact substance, but in small pieces! Melting crayons is also a good example of a physical change.

What is a physical change? A physical change is a change to the physical properties of a substance and it is usually reversible. Physical change can include changes to shape (volume and size), color, texture, flexibility, density, and mass.

For example; freezing water and melting ice, and our melting chocolate! When you heat your candy cane you change the shape of it and when you re-heat it that physical change can be reversed. 

There is no new substance that is produced like chemical change or irreversible change. For example, baking a cake or fizzing lemonade. I can’t turn a cake back into the raw ingredients,  so it is an irreversible change.

More Fun Christmas Science Activities

• Santa’s Magic Milk
• Santa’s Balloon Rocket
• Jumping Tinsel Experiment
• Make Elf Snot Slime
• Christmas 5 Senses Activities

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More Fun Things To Do With Candy Canes

• Whip up a batch of fluffy candy cane slime.
• Make your own crystal candy cane ornaments.
• Play with fun peppermint oobleck.
• Try a dissolving candy cane experiment.
• Make some candy cane bath bombs.

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Printable Christmas STEM Project Pack

200+ PAGES OF HOLIDAY THEME STEAM, STEM, Science, and Art!

• 25+ Christmas theme science and STEM activities with printable sheets, instructions, and useful information all using easy-to-source materials perfect for limited-time needs. Includes a holiday theme engineering pack with fun, problem-based challenges for kids to solve! NEW observation sheets included.
• Try a Santa’s Letter airplane challenge or take the gingerbread house-building challenge! 
• Explore the five senses with a specially designed Santa’s Lab pack.
• Try a mini nature study with your favorite type of Christmas tree.
• Try your hand at building shapes with gumdrop structure challenge cards or build shapes with jingle bells. Or try the Christmas-themed paper chain challenge!
• Christmas Screen-free Coding activities include algorithm games, binary code ornaments, and more!
• Explore 6+ Christmas Art Projects with famous artist-inspired activities that combine art history, process art techniques, and more with simple to-do ideas.