Candy Cane Cookies | Swanky Recipes (2024)

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Candy Cane Cookies | Swanky Recipes (2)

When I was a little girl, I remember making this recipe with my grandma every year. It wasn’t until I was in college and on my own that I started baking cookies to bring home for the holidays. This was one of my first go to recipes that I would bake. This recipe is not like the updated version of these cookies that contain milk and just don’t taste like the very popular cookies from the 1980’s and 1990’s. This is the classic candy cane sugar cookies recipe that my grandma uses and that is hard to find now days. Candy cane sugar cookies are a very fitting dessert for the holidays. They make a beautiful presentations at the dessert table and are sure to bring back old memories!

Crush peppermint candy canes to garnish before baking.

Peppermint ExtractCandy Cane Cookies | Swanky Recipes (3)

Peppermint CandyCandy Cane Cookies | Swanky Recipes (4)

Candy Cane Cookies | Swanky Recipes (5)

Ingredients

1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)

2 large egg yolks

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract

1/2 teaspoon red liquid food coloring (can use Red Paste food coloringCandy Cane Cookies | Swanky Recipes (6))

Candy Cane Cookies | Swanky Recipes (7)

Directions

In a medium bowl fitted with an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar just until creamy. Separate eggs and add the egg yolks. Add vanilla and almond extracts and beat until combined. Sift flour mixture then add the flour mixture, in three additions, and beat until you have a smooth dough.

Remove half of the dough from the mixing bowl. To the remaining half add the red food coloring and beat on low speed until well blended. If you find the dough too soft, cover and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.

Take a walnut sized piece of red dough and a walnut sized piece of white dough. Separately, roll each color on a lightly floured surface, into a 4-5 inch (10-12.5 cm) long rope. Place the two ropes side by side, gently press together, and twist the two ropes to form a spiral. Place the cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Shape each cookie into a cane shape by bending one end into a hook shape. (If you find the cookies a little soft, place the baking sheet (with the unbaked cookies) in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes before baking.)
Crush peppermint candy canes to garnish before baking. Optional***

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and place rack in center of oven.

Bake cookies for about 8 -10 minutes or until set and the edges of the cookies are just starting to brown. Do not over bake. Remove from oven and let cookies cool completely on baking sheet.
Cookies may be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. May be kept in an airtight container in freezer for up to a month.

Candy Cane Cookies | Swanky Recipes (8)

Candy Cane Cookies

Favorite Recipe

When I was a little girl, I remember making this recipe with my grandma every year. It wasn't until I was in college and on my own that I started baking cookies to bring home for the holidays. This was one of my first go to recipes that I would bake. This recipe is not like the updated version of these cookies that contain milk and just don't taste like the very popular cookies from the 1980's and 1990's. This is the classic candy cane sugar cookies recipe that my grandma uses and that is hard to find now days. Candy cane sugar cookies are a very fitting dessert for the holidays. They make a beautiful presentations at the dessert table and are sure to bring back old memories!

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Servings 30

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon red liquid food coloring (can use red paste food coloring)

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl fitted with an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar just until creamy. Separate eggs and add the egg yolks. Add vanilla and almond extracts and beat until combined. Sift flour mixture then add the flour mixture, in three additions, and beat until you have a smooth dough.

  • Remove half of the dough from the mixing bowl. To the remaining half add the red food coloring and beat on low speed until well blended. If you find the dough too soft, cover and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.

  • Take a walnut sized piece of red dough and a walnut sized piece of white dough. Separately, roll each color on a lightly floured surface, into a 4-5 inch (10-12.5 cm) long rope. Place the two ropes side by side, gently press together, and twist the two ropes to form a spiral. Place the cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Shape each cookie into a cane shape by bending one end into a hook shape. (If you find the cookies a little soft, place the baking sheet (with the unbaked cookies) in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes before baking.)

  • Crush peppermint candy canes to garnish before baking. Optional***

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and place rack in center of oven.

  • Bake cookies for about 8 -10 minutes or until set and the edges of the cookies are just starting to brown. Do not over bake. Remove from oven and let cookies cool completely on baking sheet.

  • Cookies may be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. May be kept in an airtight container in freezer for up to a month.

Notes

**Crush peppermint candy canes to garnish before baking.
***Cookies may be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. **May be kept in an airtight container in freezer for up to a month. *Peppermint extract may be used (1/2 - 1 teaspoon) to give it more taste. **Recipe can be doubled. ***Use red, green, brown food coloring for holidays.

Nutritional information is only an estimate and it's accuracy is not guaranteed to be exact.

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Favorite Recipe

for more on the recipe visit joyofbaking. Image from countryliving

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3 Responses

  1. I was just wondering how much of an almond flavor these have?

    Reply

    1. Ally, if using almond extract, they will have an almond taste. If you do not want to use or cannot, use 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract or sub in a little peppermint extract. Hope this helps

      Reply

  2. I’ve been looking for the original version of these cookies everywhere, and here they are! Thanks for the great recipe, I remember making these with my mom long ago and now I will be able to make them with my kids this week!

    Reply

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Candy Cane Cookies | Swanky Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in candy canes? ›

SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, ACACIA (GUM ARABIC), CORN STARCH, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE (SHELLAC), COCONUT OIL, PEPPERMINT OIL, CARNAUBA WAX, WHITE MINERAL OIL, PARAFFIN OIL, BEESWAX, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, RED 40, RED 3, BLUE 1. YELLOW 6.

What is the religious meaning of the candy cane? ›

Cane: Is like the staff used by the shepherds in caring for sheep. Jesus is our “Good Shepherd.” The Color Red: Is for God's love that sent Jesus to give his life for us on the cross. The Stripes: Remind us of Jesus' suffering-his crown of thorns, the wounds in his hands and feet; and the cross on which he died.

Which country invented the candy cane? ›

A common story of the origin of candy canes says that in 1670, in Cologne, Germany, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, wishing to remedy the noise caused by children in his church during the Living Crèche tradition of Christmas Eve, asked a local candy maker for some "sugar sticks" for them.

What are the traditional flavors of candy canes? ›

The candy cane is now a traditional symbol of the Christmas holiday. Today, candy canes are available in different shapes, colors, and flavors, but the red and white peppermint candy remains the classic favorite.

How to make craft candy canes? ›

  1. To create your yarn wrapped candy cane you will need to cut 5 lengths of your macrame string to 30cm. ...
  2. Tape your string and wire together roughly 5cm from each end. ...
  3. To start wrapping your string and wire, take one end of your yarn and lay alongside the string bundle. ...
  4. Keep wrapping towards the other end of the string.

What does the red and white mean on a candy cane? ›

In 1847, he made a candy to symbolize Christ. The cane's "J" shape stands for Jesus; when turned upside-down, it becomes a shepherd's staff. The white color signifies purity; the red represents Christ's blood, shed for the world's sins, and three red stripes symbolize the trinity.

What does a broken candy cane mean? ›

Broken For Us: Of course, when the candy cane is eaten, it is often broken, which the candy maker meant as a reminder that when Jesus was crucified, his body was broken (I Cor. 11:24).

What color were candy canes originally? ›

Candy canes were originally solid white, but during the turn of the 20th century stripes started to appear. Prior to the late 19th century, Christmas cards of that period show nothing but plain white candy. Some believe the stripes came from the candy maker Bob McCormack in the 1920s.

What are the ingredients in peppermint candy? ›

Sugar, Corn Syrup, Titanium Dioxide (for color), FD&C Red 40, Natural Peppermint Oil. Store in a cool dry place. This product is free of top common allergens and manufactured on dedicated equipment.

What do I do if my dog ate a candy cane? ›

The sugar content of the candy cane also poses a risk for dogs with diabetes or other blood sugar problems. Dogs can eat candy canes but it may have a bad effect on dogs with diabetes or blood sugar problems. If you have any concerns about what your dog ate, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Do all candy canes contain xylitol? ›

Candy Canes May Contain Xylitol

Xylitol is found in a lot of candy canes and is used as an artificial sweetener.

Do candy canes have gluten or dairy? ›

In mostl cases, candy canes are usually gluten-free. While there are no certified gluten-free candy canes on the market yet, there are several brands out there (Bob's, Jelly Belly, Starburst, Lifesavers) that contain no gluten ingredients and are processed in facilities that don't process gluten-containing items.

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