8 Weeks of Cookies - Candy Cane Cookies

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

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.

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8 Weeks of Cookies - Anise Mandelbrot