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Homemade Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s are my personal response to “seasonal” items at the grocery store.

As a person with common sense, I get the premise behind only selling certain items seasonally. Most people aren’t going to want baked goods packed with peppermint (or pumpkin, or maple, or any other seasonal flavor) in the middle of June, and only selling these goods for a short period of time when the demand for them is the highest just makes good business sense.

Just think about everyone’s demand for pumpkin recipes beginning each year on September 1st and how many Pumpkin Spice Lattes Starbucks sells during the fall: an average of 20 million each year.

And yet, as a consumer…sometimes I do­ want maple recipes after Thanksgiving. Occasionally I find myself thinking about pumpkin during the summer. Every now and then I catch my mind wandering to peppermint in the middle of February.

But according to retailers, my cravings are “out of season” and thus, impossible to satiate.

To that I say, “No more.”

My love of Trader Joe’s knows no bounds, and their line of seasonal items is, undoubtedly, one of the best around. I know many a person who goes crazy over their seasonal offerings, and one in particular drives people to near insanity: Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s. Essentially TJ’s version of a mint Oreo, Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s are made up of crisp dark chocolate cookies filled with a peppermint crème filling, enhanced with bits of peppermint candies.

These little cookies are nearly impossible to keep on the shelves; the sell out almost immediately, and are only “in season” for a short time. That means unless you want to make a name for yourself by stalking your local Trader Joe’s, you are likely to miss the boat and fail to get your hands on a box of these peppermint-flavored treats.

 And so, for those who missed out – or who do not have a Trader Joe’s just down the street – I set to work recreating the well-loved Candy Cane Joe-Joe. Make these for your family this Christmas – or for yourself in the middle of February. Your secret is safe with me!
Everyone loves a Peppermint Candy Cane Cookie, right?

This is my latest recipe for Food Fanatic but, as always, you can get the recipe right here!

18 Comments

  1. Hmmm…thinking of making these to take to Christmas. So, who taste tests these for you and why am I not included (not that I would know what a Candy Cane Joe-Joe tastes like, but I could pretend). Yum!

  2. Oh me oh my, I’ve never had a candy cane joe joe, but I LOVE all them treats that come out of TJ’s. I’m about ready to addict myself to your copy cat recipe lickety split…I’ve been wanting the chocolate/mint combo so hard lately!

  3. When I saw candy cane joe-joe’s pop up in my e-mail I was skeert. When I was in WA I learned that they call thick cut potato wedges joe-joe’s too, and I was imagining a candy cane version and that wasn’t pretty in my head. Then I came here and was so so happy to find cookies instead! Yeah! 🙂

    1. If it’s not, then we’re both just living in a dream world. (In which case…can we do away with cold, icy weather, hangovers, and unemployment? Among other things.)

  4. I live near a TJ’s now and still haven’t had a chance to try these magical Joe Joe’s… but I may just skip the whole trip to the store and make them at home. Really because I want these cookies but I don’t want to change out of my pajamas.

    1. That pajama bit is really the main motivating factor behind 90% of my kitchen adventures. Although, because my TJ’s is right next door to my gym, I am usually racing in there sweaty and gross post-workout, so parading around there in my PJ’s is really probably an upgrade.

  5. I live at Trader Joes–I just love it so much! And these are one of my favorite holiday cookies that they have. I love that you recreated them–you are so talented. I need to be a guest at your table fast! 🙂

  6. I adore TJ’s dark chocolate covered peppermint Joe-Joe’s. Any idea how to create that extra thick and tasty chocolate glaze?

    1. Honestly, I am not the best with chocolate, so I am not entirely sure. A chocolate ganache would definitely get thick and rich, but may not set completely. I would just try some melted dark chocolate and dip them in that.

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