These Candy Cane Cookies are a favorite Christmas cookie recipe!
A soft sugar cookie dough is flavored with peppermint extract twisted into a festive candy cane shape.
Perfect for holiday gatherings, these cookies are sure to bring smiles and spread cheer!
A Classic Christmas Cookie
Candy Cane Cookies are a Christmas tradition, one I remember making with my grandma, and they’re fun to make, too! We think of them like snowflakes, with each cooking having its own pretty shape and design.
- They’re peppermint flavor, but you can use other extracts like almond or orange or leave them vanilla flavored.
- Kids love the festive look of these cookies. They are as fun to make as they are to eat!
- A cookie tray just isn’t the same without these nostalgic Candy Cane Cookies!
How to Make Candy Cane Cookies
- Prepare the dough as directed in the recipe below.
- Divide the dough into two and color half of it with red food coloring.
- Roll a teaspoon of each color into a rope and combine and twist 2 ropes to make the candy canes.
- Bake and enjoy!
Fun Variations
- Color some of the dough green and add it to the candy canes.
- Color the whole batch green and form them into wreaths.
- For a fun twist, dip the end in melted white chocolate and sprinkle with crushed candy canes!
- Mix chocolate chips into the cookie dough for a delightful chocolatey twist.
- Add ground cinnamon to the dough for a warm and cozy flavor.
More Favorite Christmas Cookies
Did your guests love these Candy Cane Cookies? Leave us a rating and a comment below!
Candy Cane Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons red food coloring or red gel, see note
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, cream together the butter and powdered sugar with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg, peppermint extract and vanilla. Add in the flour and salt and mix well.
- Divide the dough in half and add red food coloring to half the dough; knead to combine. Shape both colors of dough into a 6-inch disk and wrap them in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large cookie sheet with silicone cookie mats or parchment paper.
- To shape the dough, roll 1 teaspoon of white dough on the counter to form a 4-inch rope, and repeat with 1 teaspoon of red dough. If the ropes are really soft, they can be refrigerated for about 10 minutes while rolling out more ropes.
- Place the red and white ropes side by side and gently roll together to form one rope. Gently twist the dough and continue twisting and rolling to form a 5-inch rope. If the rope is longer, gently nudge it back to 5-inches long without squishing the dough.
- Place the rope on the prepared baking sheet and curve the end to form a candy cane shape. Repeat with the remaining dough, placing the cookies about 1-inch apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 11 to 13 minutes or until cookies just barely begin to brown on the edges. Transfer to a cooling rack.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Absolutely Love ❤️ Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies Recipe From Holly!!! Looks Absolutely Delicious To Eat For Dessert After Dinner!!! Red Or Green Food Coloring & Holly Shows You How Make These Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies!!! Most Definitely Going Make These Cookies For Christmas & Any Day Of The Year!!! Thank.You Holly For Dinner & Dessert Recipes They All Look Absolutely Awesome & Delicious To Eat Any Day Of The Week!!!
I’m so glad you loved these as much as we do Charlie!
These are delicious and so beautiful, but I haven’t made them in years simply because they are so fragile
I wish I could find a recipe that yields a sturdier candy cane cookie.
Glad you enjoy these cookies, Sue! We love them too but completely understand, they can be fragile.
Can I use granulated sugar instead?
I haven’t tried it and this may change the consistency of the cookie. Let us know how it works out for you!
These turned out really cute. I ended up being too impatient to make the entire batch into candy canes but it made some cute pinwheel cookies as well! SWP Employee
My candy canes did not look quite as professional as the pictures, but the cookies are so yummy! I love that the peppermint isn’t too overpowering.
All that matters is that you enjoyed them! Thanks for the feedback, Katie!