Classic Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies
These festive classic peppermint candy cane cookies are perfect for holiday gatherings, featuring a delightful peppermint flavor and a beautiful swirled design.
Equipment
- large bowl
- electric mixer
- medium bowl
- plastic wrap
- baking sheets
- parchment paper
- wire rack
Ingredients
Main Dough
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract for red dough
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Red gel food coloring
Topping
- 1/4 cup crushed candy canes for topping
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light, fluffy, and pale, about 2-3 minutes.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until they are well combined.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate medium bowl.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients on low mixer speed, mixing until just combined and taking care not to overmix.
- Divide the dough in half; color one half red with food coloring and peppermint extract, mixing until uniform, and leave the other half plain.
- Wrap each dough ball separately in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Take small pieces of both colored and plain dough, roll each into a thin 4-5 inch rope, press one of each color together at one end, twist, and curl the top to form a cane shape.
Baking and Decorating
- Arrange cookies 1-2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden and cookies are set.
- Cool cookies on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, then sprinkle with crushed candy canes immediately.
Notes
For best results, ensure your butter is properly softened. The chilling time is crucial for easy handling of the dough. You can prepare the dough a day in advance for convenience. Feel free to adjust the amount of food coloring to achieve your desired shade of red. You can also experiment with other flavors of extracts for a different twist on these classic cookies.