Description
Add a swirl of holiday magic to your baking with these soft and buttery Candy Cane Cookies! With vibrant red and white twists, a hint of peppermint, and festive crushed candy on top, they’re perfect for cookie swaps, Christmas parties, or as a cheerful edible gift. These easy cookies are a delightful holiday dessert, great for quick baking ideas or festive food ideas when you want to impress with little effort. Whether you’re looking for easy Christmas cookies, holiday baking, or peppermint dessert ideas, this recipe brings the joy!
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
Red food coloring, as needed
½ cup crushed peppermint candies
Instructions
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add in the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Mix until well combined.
3. Gradually stir in the flour and salt until a soft dough forms.
4. Divide the dough in half. Tint one half with red food coloring and leave the other plain.
5. Roll each dough color into ropes, then twist one red and one plain rope together and shape into a candy cane.
6. Place shaped cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8–10 minutes until the edges are just golden.
8. While still warm, sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies. Let cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
For vibrant red, use gel food coloring to avoid watering down the dough.
Dough too firm? Let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before shaping.
Store cookies in an airtight container with parchment between layers to preserve their texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Candy cane cookies, holiday cookies, peppermint cookies, Christmas baking, festive cookies