Candy Cane Fizz Christmas Science Activity

Grab your candy canes, baking soda, and vinegar to make candy cane fizz! We have been doing this Christmas science activity for years, and it’s always a hit.

A young girl in a red sweatshirt with a big red bow in her hair focuses on the candy cane fizz activity. In each of her hands is one eye dropper and she is squeezing vinegar into a shallow green tray filled with baking soda and mini candy canes.

Introducing candy cane fizz

At Friends Art Lab, we’re sure we are responsible for 90% of global sales of all baking soda and vinegar.

We cannot get enough of this combo. It sizzles! And bubbles! And fizzes! 10/10 every time.

We also love a good seasonal science activity, and candy cane fizz combines all of the above.

Related: Unroll a GIANT 10-foot coloring banner, add your favorite art supplies, and prepare for hours of creative fun and play.

A mini candy cane sitting in a green tray of baking soda bubbles and fizzes.

Candy cane fizz is perfect for breaking up all the Christmas crafts

I often share 100x during the holidays that there is more to Christmas activities with kids than endless crafts.

Typically, I use the example of a handprint Santa: it’s adorable and families love it, but there’s little creativity for the kids.

During a time of craft after craft, your kids will be delighted to explore science and open-ended seasonal play with candy cane fizz.

Try some of these other fabulous Christmas Science activities:

Materials

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Baking soda
Vinegar
Shallow tray – casserole dishes and baking sheets work wonderfully, too
Eyedroppers or spoons
Candy canes – mini or regular

A young child pours a bowl of baking soda into a shallow green container. In her mouth is a mini candy cane.

How do you make candy cane fizz?

Step 1: Spread a thin layer of baking soda across the bottom of your shallow tray.

Step 2: Add candy canes to the baking soda.

Tip: If using mini candy canes, invite your child to open the packages for tons of bonus fine motor practice.

Step 3: Invite your child to squirt or spoon vinegar onto the candy canes. When the baking soda and vinegar mix, they will bubble and fizz.

In each of a child's hands is one eye dropper and she is squeezing vinegar into a shallow green tray filled with baking soda and mini candy canes.

The science of candy cane fizz

As more vinegar is added to the candy canes, they will start to dissolve.

The red coloring will gradually come off, coloring your baking soda red!

The best part about it dissolving is that it isn’t super quick, so this isn’t an activity that lasts only five minutes. Instead, your child can come back and forth to the science throughout the day.

What are candy canes made of?

I have many memories of my mom and I watching the shows on Food Network where they show you how things are made.

Seeing something go from simple ingredients to a finished product is fascinating.

Check out this “How Candy Canes Are Made” YouTube video with your child (it’s adorable!).

(Hint: Sugar, corn syrup, water, coloring, and flavoring.)

A child's hand squeezes an eye dropper of vinegar onto a shallow green tray filled with baking soda and candy canes. Next to the tray is a pile of mini candy canes and a clear, glass bowl of vinegar with one eye dropper in it.

How do you clean up candy cane fizz?

When done, you could scrape it all into the garbage, and you’re cleaned up in just a couple of minutes.

OR, if you’re a big ol’ science nerd like me, you could fill your container with water, predict what will happen, and check back on it again the next day. 😉