Nellie’s Peppermint Stripe Secret — Behind the Sweet Treats counter, a small gingerbread helper named Nellie tapped one candy cane on the floor: tick, tick, tick. Read the full story →
Behind the Sweet Treats counter, a small gingerbread helper named Nellie tapped one candy cane on the floor: tick, tick, tick. She had set herself a challenge before the first snow bell rang—find out why the peppermint sticks in the stall always leaned to the right at Christmas. The jars smelled like sugar and spice, but one jar gave a tiny whisper: “Turn me.”
Nellie turned the tallest candy cane in her hand. Its red stripe lined up with a star cookie, the star pointed to the sign, and the sign’s shadow slid over a secret shelf. There sat the first peppermint stick, curved like a hook so busy bakers could pull down treats without waking sleeping cookies. Ever since, Christmas candy canes have kept their hook shape—and if you spot Nellie’s striped cane, can you guess which shelf it is pointing to next?
