Description
Candy Cane Cookies are festive Christmas cookies made with buttery sugar cookie dough and peppermint extract, twisted into classic red and white candy cane shapes. These homemade peppermint cookies are soft, tender, and perfect for holiday baking, cookie exchanges, and Christmas dessert platters.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour and salt and set aside.
3. In a large bowl beat the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add the egg peppermint extract and vanilla extract and mix until fully combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients mixing until a soft dough forms.
6. Divide the dough evenly into two portions. Leave one portion plain and mix red food coloring into the other portion until evenly tinted.
7. Take small pieces of each dough and roll into thin ropes about 5 inches long.
8. Place one plain rope and one red rope side by side and gently twist them together. Curve the top slightly to form a candy cane shape.
9. Arrange cookies on the prepared baking sheet spacing them about 2 inches apart.
10. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are just lightly golden.
11. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
For a stronger peppermint flavor you can add an extra 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract but avoid adding too much as it can overpower the cookies.
If the dough becomes too soft while shaping chill it in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes to make rolling easier.
For a decorative finish sprinkle crushed candy canes over the cookies immediately after baking while they are still warm.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 25mg