We always had plates of Christmas cookies around the house during the holidays which my Mom baked during the weeks before so, of course I had to call her to get recipes for some of my favorites to bake this year. These candy cane cookies were one of the recipes I asked for but she couldn't find it. I remember them being similar to a sugar cookie but with peppermint flavor so I figured I could probably figure something out on my own.
I used the basic sugar cookies recipe from the Better Homes & Garden Cookbook adding peppermint flavor & then splitting the dough to make the two colors. These came out exactly as I remembered so my guess of using sugar cookie dough was right on. I'll admit they are a little tedious to make but they look so cute on a cookie tray. If you've got kids get them to help you roll out the dough "snakes."
Candy Cane Cookies
I used the basic sugar cookies recipe from the Better Homes & Garden Cookbook adding peppermint flavor & then splitting the dough to make the two colors. These came out exactly as I remembered so my guess of using sugar cookie dough was right on. I'll admit they are a little tedious to make but they look so cute on a cookie tray. If you've got kids get them to help you roll out the dough "snakes."
Candy Cane Cookies
1/3 c unsalted butter
1/3 c shortening
2 c all-purpose flour
1 egg
3/4 c sugar
1 T milk
1 t baking power
1 T peppermint extract
salt
red food coloring
Put the butter & shortening in the bowl of an electric mixer & beat on medium-high for 30 seconds. Add 1 cup of flour, egg, sugar, milk, baking powder, peppermint extract & a dash of salt & beat until combined. Add remaining flour & beat again. Divide the dough into two even balls about 12 ounces each. Wrap one ball in plastic wrap. Return the other ball to the mixer & beat in enough food coloring to turn the dough red (it can take quite a bit to get a good red). Wrap the red dough in plastic wrap. Chill for 3 hours (or cheat like me & freeze for 30 minutes).
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Cut a little of eat color of dough off to work with & return the rest to the fridge. Roll each color of the dough out into "snakes" about 1/4-inch thick. Cut them into 5-inch lengths. Place a piece of red next to a piece of white dough & twist them together.
Then turn the twists into a cane shape.
Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet & bake for 10 minutes until the bottoms begin to brown. Carefully move the cookies to a rack to cool, I find this is easier if they sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes.
Makes about 50 cookies.
Then turn the twists into a cane shape.
Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet & bake for 10 minutes until the bottoms begin to brown. Carefully move the cookies to a rack to cool, I find this is easier if they sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes.
Makes about 50 cookies.
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8 Weeks of Cookies - Anise Mandelbrot
23 comments:
Kat,
I don't know if I will survive the 8 weeks of cookies.
I made my mandelbrot and macaroons, I think I will concentrate on my Thanksgiving pies and cakes for the freezers!
I am overwhelmed already!!!!
Those are so cute! I know, I remember my Grandma having so many cookie varieties at holiday time! Amazing that they really got all those cookies made back then - weeks and weeks of work, but oh so sweet!
Those are super cute!! I have just started planning for what Christmas cookies I am making this year, and I may have to add these to the list.
Im going to make someof these. They look great
What fun cookies. Looking forward to more.
How mush is A "t" of milk?
Stacey - I'll do cookies & chex mix but probably no pies or cakes so cookies aren't too much work for me.
Jenn - I think back about all the different cookies my mom always had out & can't imagine how much baking she did. I actually
Rocio - A "T" of milk is a Tablespoon. A small "t" would be a teaspoon.
these are cute, its never to early for cookies!
I love the way they look! They would be a perfect addition to any cookie tray. I'm sure Santa would enjoy them, too!
That's a fabulous idea! How perfect for the holidays.
lol 8 weeks of cookies? more power to you! I rarely make cookies myself, but this caught my eye - 7 decades of cookies from Gourmet: http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/cookies/
I have always wanted to make these! Yours look great!
Aw, my mom used to make these cookies when I was a kid. The only difference is that she crushed up peppermint candies and added them into the dough along with the extract. I think I'll have to try making them myself this year. :)
These always seemed mysteriously harder than they are. Do you think anyone would really care if I made them for Chanukkah?
Those are so cute! I will have to give them a try.
Oh these are so cute! These are going on my cookie tray this year!
these are absolutely perfect and completely superior to a real candy cane. nicely done! ah, how i love christmas time. :)
I made these cookies a couple years ago - they're cute, easy and a great idea for the holiday season. I did not, however, think to add peppermint flavoring!
These are fantastic! you couldn't give them to a child, they would be amped up for hours on the colouring! But for an adult, with a cup of hot chocolate spiked with peppermint schnapps... Yes please!
So creative... I love how they turned out :)
We had these at our house too. (but not peppermint flavor) Spritz cookies. That's what we called them. Yours are especially beautiful. How festive.
I have neve rhad these and they look so beutiful.
I am gonna try this and surprise my daughter.
These were also my favorite cookie as a kid - I loved making the snakes and twisting them together. In addition to adding the peppermint extract to the red dough, we always added almond extract to the white dough.
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