This candy cane coloring page features one large upright cane with wide diagonal stripes and a neat little bow right at the curve. Grab the PDF download below for a quiet, screen-free, hands-on activity on a December afternoon.
Because the outlines are wide and uncluttered, this printable coloring page works especially well for toddlers and preschoolers who are still getting comfortable holding jumbo crayons or washable markers. Older kids can use the open stripes on this coloring sheet to try alternating patterns beyond classic red and white, like peppermint green, icy blue, or metallic gold gel pens.
The story behind the striped cane
You may have heard the popular story that a choirmaster bent a plain white sugar stick into a shepherd's crook to keep children quiet during a holiday service. Historians treat that account as folk etymology rather than documented fact, since early written records simply describe straight sugar sticks before curved canes and red stripes appeared in nineteenth-century illustrations and candy shops. However the shape started, the hooked peppermint stick has been a winter treat and a tree decoration for generations.
Coloring and printing tips
- Paper choice: Standard copy paper (20 lb / 80 gsm) is great for crayons and colored pencils, while cardstock (65 lb / 160 gsm) holds up better under juicy markers or dot dabbers.
- Printer settings: Each file is formatted for US Letter paper at 100% scale in black and white, and it also prints cleanly on A4 when you choose fit to page.
- Cut-out idea: After coloring, kids can cut along the outer edge and punch a hole at the top to hang paper canes on a garland.
- Usage terms: All pages on my site are free for personal, classroom, and homeschool use, not for resale; see the site disclaimer for full details.
If your kids want more holiday designs to print and color, pair this sheet with the Christmas wreath coloring page or the Christmas ornaments coloring page, or browse my full collection of Christmas coloring pages.
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