Magic of Candy Cane Cookies Recipe
These Magic Candy Cane Cookies are a festive and delightful treat perfect for the holiday season. With a buttery, tender texture combined with refreshing peppermint flavor, these cookies are visually striking thanks to their classic red and white swirled design achieved with gel food coloring. Easy to make and irresistibly charming, they bring a magical touch to any cookie platter.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- Red gel food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract until well combined.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Divide and color dough: Divide the dough into two equal parts. Leave one part plain, and color the other with several drops of red gel food coloring, kneading gently until evenly combined.
- Shape the dough: Roll out each dough portion into long strips of equal length and thickness. Alternate rolling the red and plain dough strips together to form a candy cane swirl pattern. Twist or roll them gently to create the classic candy cane look.
- Cut and chill: Slice the rolled dough into cookie-sized pieces and lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up the shape.
- Bake the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the chilled cookies for 10-12 minutes or until they are set but not browned. Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Using gel food coloring instead of liquid helps maintain the dough consistency and achieves vibrant colors.
- Make sure to chill the dough before baking to keep the candy cane shape intact.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to a week.
- For a stronger peppermint flavor, increase peppermint extract slightly, but avoid overpowering the cookie taste.
Keywords: candy cane cookies, peppermint cookies, holiday cookies, festive cookies, Christmas treats
Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/magic-of-candy-cane-cookies-recipe/