These Christmas candy cane cookies are a festive treat that combines the flavors of peppermint and vanilla. Shaped like traditional candy canes, they are perfect for holiday gatherings and gift-giving.
The recipe is simple and fun to make, allowing you to involve family and friends in the holiday spirit. Decorate them with a sprinkle of crushed candy canes for an extra festive touch.
Creating the Perfect Holiday Treat
Christmas candy cane cookies bring a delightful twist to traditional holiday baking. Their charming shape and festive colors make them a standout treat during the festive season.
These cookies are not just visually appealing; they also combine the refreshing flavors of peppermint and vanilla, creating a deliciously sweet experience.
Gathering family and friends to bake these cookies can enhance the holiday spirit, making the process as enjoyable as the final product.
Ingredients for Festive Cookies
To create these delightful candy cane cookies, you’ll need a few key ingredients.
The base is a buttery dough, which is flavored with peppermint extract and sweetened with powdered sugar.
Red food coloring is essential for achieving the iconic candy cane stripes, while crushed candy canes add a sparkling finish that enhances both flavor and presentation.
Step-by-Step Preparation
Preparation begins with preheating your oven and lining baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mixing softened butter and powdered sugar until fluffy is the first step in creating the cookie dough.
After incorporating the egg and extracts, the dry ingredients are added, resulting in a smooth dough that can be divided and colored.
Shaping the Cookies
Shaping these cookies is where the fun begins!
Take small pieces of the red and white dough, rolling them into ropes and twisting them together to form the iconic candy cane shape.
Arranging them on the baking sheets prepares them for baking, where they will transform into golden, fragrant treats.
Decorating for a Festive Touch
Once baked, these cookies are ready for a sprinkle of crushed candy canes.
Doing this while the cookies are still warm allows the candy to adhere perfectly, adding a festive sparkle.
These cookies not only taste great but also look stunning on any holiday dessert table.
Enjoying the Holiday Spirit
Candy cane cookies are perfect for sharing with loved ones or giving as gifts.
They embody the essence of the holiday season, bringing joy and sweetness to gatherings.
Whether enjoyed fresh from the oven or packaged as a thoughtful gift, these cookies are sure to spread cheer during the holidays.
Delicious Candy Cane Cookies for the Holidays
These cookies are made with a buttery dough flavored with peppermint extract and colored with red and white to resemble candy canes. The recipe yields about 24 cookies and takes approximately 1 hour to prepare and bake.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Red food coloring
- Crushed candy canes for decoration (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until well combined.
- Color the Dough: Divide the dough in half. Leave one half plain and add red food coloring to the other half, mixing until the desired color is achieved.
- Shape the Cookies: Take small pieces of each color and roll them into ropes about 6 inches long. Twist one red rope and one white rope together to form a candy cane shape. Place on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks.
- Decorate: If desired, sprinkle crushed candy canes on top of the cookies while they are still warm.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: 120kcal
- Fat: 6g
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 16g