One drop of vinegar lands, and the entire tray of baking soda comes to life. Another squeeze of the pipette brings another burst of fizz. Before long, little hands are searching for the next spot to make bubbles appear.
This candy cane experiment is such a fun way to bring a little Christmas magic into science play. With baking soda, vinegar, and a few simple supplies, kids can explore a colorful, fizzy reaction again and again.
And the best part? Every drop brings something new to discover!
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Love experimenting together? Explore our science experiments for kids for more hands-on discoveries or visit our Christmas activities and crafts for even more holiday fun.
What You'll Need
You only need a few simple supplies to get the fizzing started!
A shallow tray or baking pan
Baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
3–5 drops of food coloring
A few drops of peppermint extract (optional)
Pipettes or droppers
Small cups or bowls for the vinegar
Plastic candy canes
Optional: A real candy cane if you'd like to explore dissolving as an additional experiment. The original activity used plastic candy canes, which are ideal for repeated fizzing play because they don't dissolve in the vinegar.
How to Make a Fizzy Candy Cane Experiment
This experiment comes together quickly, and once everything is prepared, children can take the lead with their pipettes.
Step 1: Prepare the Candy Cane Tray
Cover the bottom of a shallow tray with a layer of baking soda. Place one or two plastic candy canes on top of the baking soda.
There's no need to bury them completely. Leave plenty of baking soda exposed so children have different places to drip the vinegar.
Step 2: Make the Colored Vinegar
In a separate cup or bowl, combine:
1 cup white vinegar
3–5 drops of food coloring
A few drops of peppermint extract, if desired
Stir gently to combine.
An adult should prepare the vinegar mixture and handle the peppermint extract. Skip the scent if anyone is sensitive to fragrances.
For an extra colorful experiment, divide the vinegar between a few small cups and tint each one a different color.
Step 3: Let the Fizzing Begin!
Give your child a pipette or dropper filled with colored vinegar. Invite them to squeeze a few drops onto the baking soda around the candy cane.
Watch what happens!
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The baking soda begins bubbling and fizzing as soon as the vinegar touches it.
Children can add another drop, try a new spot, or watch the bubbles disappear before beginning again.
Step 4: Keep Exploring
The wonderful thing about this experiment is that children can repeat the reaction in different areas of the tray. Try dripping vinegar near the candy cane, along the edges, or onto a fresh patch of baking soda.
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Some areas will produce lots of bubbles. Others may fizz less after the baking soda has already reacted. Encourage children to look closely and notice the differences.
What happens when they add one drop?
What about several drops in the same place?
Where can they find more baking soda waiting to fizz?
What's Happening? The Science Behind the Fizz
The bubbling is caused by a chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar.
Baking soda is a base called sodium bicarbonate. Vinegar contains an acid called acetic acid. When the two ingredients meet, they react and produce carbon dioxide gas. Those tiny gas bubbles are the fizz you see rising through the mixture!
The candy cane makes the experiment festive, but it isn't what causes the reaction.
That's an important distinction children can discover for themselves. The more they experiment, the more opportunities they have to notice how the baking soda and vinegar behave together.
Extend the Fun
Once your children have discovered the fizzing reaction, there are several ways to take the experiment a little further.
Try a Real Candy Cane
Here's a fun way to add another scientific discovery.
Place a real candy cane in a separate area of the baking soda tray. As children add vinegar nearby, they can watch two different changes happening.
The baking soda and vinegar create bubbles, while the liquid gradually begins dissolving the candy cane's sugar. The candy cane will soften, and its color can begin spreading into the surrounding liquid.
Make a Rainbow Candy Cane Experiment
Instead of using just one color, prepare several small cups of vinegar in different colors.
Try red, green, blue, and yellow.
Give children a pipette and let them choose which color to add next.
Watch as the colors spread through the baking soda, meet, and mix while the bubbles rise. This adds a whole new layer of color exploration to the experiment.
Ask your children what they notice about the candy cane as the experiment continues. Remember that the candy is now part of a science experiment and should not be eaten.
Compare Plastic and Real Candy Canes
- For another simple experiment, place a plastic candy cane on one side of the tray and a real candy cane on the other.
- Add the same-colored vinegar mixture near each one.
- Both sides can fizz because the baking soda and vinegar are reacting.
- But only the real candy cane begins to dissolve.
- It's a simple way for children to observe two different processes happening during one activity.
Experiment With the Drops
- What happens when you add one tiny drop of vinegar?
- What happens when you add several drops close together?
- Try dripping vinegar onto a fresh patch of baking soda, then onto an area that has already fizzed.
- Children can compare the reactions and discover that some areas still have more bubbling left to do.
- Sometimes the smallest changes create the most interesting discoveries.
Tips for the Best Candy Cane Experiment
A few simple tricks can help you get the most out of this fizzy Christmas activity.
Use a shallow tray. It gives children plenty of room to explore while helping contain the mixture.
Start with fresh baking soda. Fresh, dry baking soda gives children more opportunities to discover the reaction.
Try pipettes. They make it easy to experiment with small amounts of vinegar and observe individual reactions.
Keep extra baking soda nearby. When the fizzing slows down, an adult can add a fresh patch for another round.
Experiment with colors. Different colors of vinegar make the reaction even more interesting to watch.
Protect your work surface. Food coloring can stain, so place the tray on a washable mat or protected table.
Keep peppermint optional. The scent can add a festive touch, but the experiment works just as well without it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the candy cane experiment fizz?
The fizz comes from the reaction between baking soda and vinegar.
When they combine, carbon dioxide gas is produced, creating the bubbles children see.
The candy cane itself doesn't cause the fizzing.
Can you use a real candy cane?
You absolutely can!
A real candy cane adds another interesting observation because its sugar begins dissolving when it comes into contact with liquid.
However, it will soften and change during the experiment, unlike a plastic candy cane that can be reused.
Does the experiment work without peppermint extract?
Yes! Peppermint extract is completely optional.
The baking soda and vinegar will react whether you add peppermint scent or leave it out.
Why did the fizzing stop?
The reaction slows when the available baking soda or vinegar has been used up.
Try adding vinegar to a fresh patch of baking soda and watch the bubbles appear again.
Can you use different colors of vinegar?
Absolutely!
Divide the vinegar into separate cups and add a different food coloring to each one.
Children can explore what happens when the colors meet and mix during the fizzing reaction.
More Christmas Activities to Try
If your children loved watching this candy cane experiment fizz, here are a few more ways to bring science, color, and creativity into your Christmas activities.
Candy Cane Paint
Explore a different side of candy cane fun with a colorful art activity inspired by this classic Christmas treat.Grow a Candy Cane
Discover another playful candy cane activity that brings a little wonder and imagination to the holiday season.Christmas Activities and Crafts
Browse more festive activities, creative projects, and hands-on Christmas fun for kids.Play Recipes for Kids
Find more colorful mixtures, sensory materials, and playful recipes for curious little hands.
Sometimes all it takes is a pipette, a little baking soda, and one colorful drop to turn an ordinary afternoon into a moment of discovery.
And when the fizzing stops?
There's always another experiment waiting to begin.
