Festive Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Quick & Jolly Candy Cane Cookies Recipe for Holiday Magic

Sweet memories dance through my kitchen whenever I mix up these delightful candy cane cookies that sparkle with peppermint magic.

Winter’s cheerful spirit whispers through each delicate, swirled bite.

Festive baking becomes an adventure of color and flavor with these charming treats.

Crisp edges and soft centers create a delightful contrast that melts in you mouth.

Red and white twists promise a delectable journey into holiday happiness.

Delicate sugar crystals add a subtle crunch that makes these cookies irresistible.

You’ll find yourself falling in love with every sprinkled, minty morsel.

Bake these and watch smiles bloom across eager faces.

Reasons to Love Candy Cane Cookies

  • Perfect holiday cookie that brings everyone together for a delightful baking experience.
  • Takes less than an hour from start to finish, making it ideal for busy households wanting to create memorable Christmas treats.
  • Children can help twist and shape the dough, turning cookie-making into an enjoyable family activity that sparks imagination and builds cooking skills.
  • Stunning red and white swirled cookies that look professionally made, yet are simple enough for home bakers to achieve with minimal effort.

Ingredients List for Candy Cane Cookies

Cookie Base Ingredients:
  • Butter, Granulated Sugar: Foundational ingredients that create a rich, sweet base for the cookie with a smooth, creamy texture. Unsalted butter works best for precise flavor control.
  • Egg: Provides structure and helps bind the cookie ingredients together. Fresh, room temperature egg recommended.
  • Vanilla Extract, Peppermint Extract: Creates classic cookie flavor with a festive minty twist. Pure extracts deliver the most authentic taste.
Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Gives structure and texture to the cookie. Use fresh, sifted flour for the best results.
  • Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light and tender. Check expiration date for maximum effectiveness.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness. Fine table salt or kosher salt works well.
Coloring and Decoration:
  • Red Gel Food Coloring: Provides the signature candy cane red color. Gel coloring is more concentrated and won't alter dough consistency like liquid food coloring.

How to Make Candy Cane Cookies Step-by-Step

Step 1: Create Creamy Cookie Base

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and combine softened butter with sugar. Use an electric mixer to whip until the mixture becomes airy and cloud-like, creating a fluffy texture that looks almost like whipped cream.

Step 2: Blend Liquid Magic

Pour in these delightful liquid ingredients:
  • Egg
  • Vanilla extract
  • Peppermint extract

Blend thoroughly until everything merges into a smooth, fragrant mixture.

Step 3: Build Dry Cookie Foundation

In a separate bowl, mix these powdery ingredients:
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a soft, pliable dough emerges.

Step 4: Design Festive Color Swirls

Split the cookie dough into two equal portions. Keep one section natural and pure. Transform the second section by kneading vibrant red gel food coloring throughout, creating a striking holiday-inspired design.

Step 5: Chill and Prepare

Wrap each dough section in clear plastic wrap. Tuck them into the refrigerator and let them rest and firm up for half an hour, allowing flavors to mingle and dough to become more manageable.

Tips to Bake Candy Cane Cookies Successfully

  • Perfectly Blend Extracts: Use high-quality peppermint extract for a crisp, authentic candy cane flavor that doesn't taste artificial or overwhelming.
  • Chill Dough Strategically: Cold dough prevents spreading and helps create clean, defined twists when shaping the cookies, ensuring professional-looking results.
  • Color with Care: Add red gel food coloring gradually and knead gently to avoid overworking the dough, which can make cookies tough and dense.
  • Roll Like a Pro: When twisting red and white dough together, roll each color into equal-length ropes to maintain consistent cookie sizes and attractive spiral patterns.
  • Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to make these festive cookies accessible for those with gluten sensitivities.

Storing and Reheating Candy Cane Cookies

  • Store leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  • Wrap cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months for maximum freshness.
  • Remove frozen cookies from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving, allowing them to regain their soft texture.
  • Warm cookies briefly in a preheated oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes to restore their just-baked crispness and enhance the peppermint aroma.

What to Serve with Candy Cane Cookies

  • Brew a rich, creamy hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and crushed candy cane pieces, perfectly complementing the cookie's peppermint flavor.
  • Scoop a cold, smooth vanilla bean ice cream alongside the cookies, creating a delightful temperature and flavor contrast that enhances the minty sweetness.
  • Enjoy a warm, indulgent peppermint mocha coffee that echoes the cookie's holiday spirit and intensifies the mint undertones.
  • Toast the season with a crisp, bubbly champagne that cuts through the cookie's richness and adds a celebratory touch to the dessert experience.

Unique Variations for Candy Cane Cookies

  • Gluten-Free Candy Cane Cookies: Replace regular flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend to make these cookies safe for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
  • Vegan Holiday Candy Cane Cookies: Swap butter with coconut oil, use a flax egg instead of a chicken egg, and ensure all other ingredients are plant-based for a completely vegan version.
  • Sugar-Free Peppermint Cookies: Substitute sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia to create a low-sugar alternative that's friendly for diabetics or those watching their sugar intake.
  • Chocolate-Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies: Add cocoa powder to the plain dough and incorporate dark chocolate chips for a rich, indulgent variation that complements the classic peppermint flavor.
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Festive Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe


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4.7 from 18 reviews

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Sweet candy cane cookies bring festive holiday cheer straight from grandma’s classic kitchen. Peppermint-swirled delights melt in your mouth, promising delicious Christmas memories with each delightful bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Primary Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 ¾ cups (345 g) all-purpose flour

Flavor and Seasoning Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Red gel food coloring

Topping and Garnish Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon crushed peppermint candies

Instructions

  1. Prepare a spacious mixing vessel and vigorously whip the butter and sugar until achieving a cloud-like, aerated consistency with pronounced volume and pale hue.
  2. Introduce the egg, vanilla essence, and peppermint extract into the creamed mixture, blending thoroughly until harmoniously integrated.
  3. Separately sift together the flour, leavening agent, and saline component, ensuring a uniform dry mixture.
  4. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, gently incorporating until a supple, cohesive dough materializes.
  5. Partition the dough precisely into two equal segments, preserving one portion in its natural state.
  6. Transform the alternate segment by massaging vibrant crimson gel coloring throughout the dough, ensuring an even, consistent pigmentation.
  7. Encase each dough portion meticulously in transparent film, allowing them to rest and chill within the refrigerator’s cool environment for a half-hour duration.
  8. After chilling, the dough will have firmed and developed enhanced malleability, preparing it for the subsequent shaping phase.

Notes

  • Butter temperature matters: Use room temperature butter for the smoothest, creamiest mixture that blends effortlessly with sugar.
  • Gentle food coloring technique: Add gel food coloring sparingly and knead carefully to prevent overworking the dough, which can make cookies tough.
  • Chill dough for better shaping: Refrigeration helps the dough firm up, making it easier to twist and shape the candy cane cookies without falling apart.
  • Gluten-free adaptation: Swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to make these cookies suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 150
  • Sugar: 9 g
  • Sodium: 50 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg
Daves Miller

Daves Miller

Contributing Chef & Culinary Educator

Expertise

  • American Southern cuisine with a modern twist.
  • Instruction in culinary fundamentals and advanced techniques.
  • Development of recipes that highlight seasonal and local produce.​
  • Mastery of artisanal bread and pastry techniques, from laminated doughs to decorative sugar artistry.

Education

Sullivan University, Louisville, Kentucky

  • Degree: Associate of Science Degree in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Specialized in cooking techniques and culinary sciences, hands‑on externships, professional kitchen lab training, and career preparation for restaurants, entrepreneurship, and global culinary opportunities.

White Mountains Community College, Berlin, New Hampshire

  • Program: Baking and Pastry Arts degree
  • Focus: Specialized in comprehensive baking and pastry arts, including bread making, artisan breads, cake decorating and design, chocolates, confections, and decorative centerpieces; product development and baking theory; and career preparation for baker and pastry chef roles in many places.

Daves is the friendly face guiding you through flavorful, fuss-free recipes at Picture Perfect Meals. 

He studied culinary arts at Sullivan University and embraced Baking and Pastry Arts at White Mountains Community College. Daves specializes in comforting meals with vibrant flavors, highlighting fresh, seasonal ingredients.

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