Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe (2024)

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This ChristmasCandy Cane Cookies recipeis a family-favorite cookie that creates sweet holiday memories.Made from asimple cookie dough recipe, with plenty of festive peppermint flavor,the colorful dough istwisted to look like a real candy cane. Always a favorite at Christmas parties and cookie exchanges.

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe (1)

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When I was little, there were onlytwo cookies that I vividly remember my mom making for Christmas. One was Russian Teacakes and while I certainly didn’t turn them down, they weren’t my favorite. But there was one cookie that my mom made for Christmas that I loved:Candy Cane Cookies.

I’ve talked with other people about Candy Cane Cookies over the years. A lot of times, they willme how they made them with their mom for Christmas and, because of that, the cookies always held a special place in their heart. Candy Cane Cookies always seem to be one of thetop memory-making Christmas cookies.

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe (2)

But, making candy cane cookiesside-by-side with mymother, wasn’t my memory. I don’t recall ever helping my mom make them. I’m not sure if she never thought to have us help, of if she preferred to do it herself, or maybeus kids didn’t want to help, but it wasn’t something I made with my mom.

But while that might seem a bit sad, it’s totally not. Because my memory is that when my mom made those cookies, she was a superstar baker. I didn’t understandhow my mom could transform a candy cane into a delightfully sweet cookie. How did she make the two colors? How did she make it all twisted together? Just how did she do it? I asked her. I always asked a lot of questions. But shedidn’tgive me all her secretsand so themagicremained.

Ingredients Needed for Christmas Candy Cane Cookies:

Cooking Equipment needed for Christmas Candy Cane Cookies:

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe (3)

At some point, my mom stopped making Candy Cane Cookies.But her times of making them were enough to seala memory in my mind. Eventually, when I was a young wife and mom, I made thoseCandy Cane Cookies for my kids. I’m not sure my kids are asimpressed with mine, asI was with my mom’s, but I know they love them and I know that they eat them almost as fast as I can make them. And that’s good enough.

Chilling Your Cookie Dough

You’ll be relieved to know that no magic or superpowers are needed to make these cookies, but there is several important steps.

Because this dough requires you to handle and roll the dough with your hands, the chilling of the dough is VERY important. While all the steps to this recipe need to be followed, I would say it’s most important step. DO NOT skip this step and if your dough begins to get too warm (either due to the heat of your hands, the temperature in your home, etc), it may need to be put back into the refrigerator to chill some more.

Coloring Your Cookie Dough

This Candy Cane Cookie dough is a simple sugar cookie dough, which is divided in half. One half of the dough is left as the original cookie dough color, but the other half is tinted with red food coloring gel.

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It is VERY IMPORTANT that you use gel food coloring and that you do not use liquid food coloring. The liquid food coloring will add too much liquid/moisture to the dough to achieve the bright red color. With food coloring gel, you’ll be able to use less food coloring since it’s more concentrated.

Some grocery stores may not carry gel food coloring. I usually buy it at Michaels craft store or JOANN Fabric & Crafts (be sure to use one of their coupons!), but I’ve also seen it at Walmart. Check the usual baking aisle or the craft department. If you have a local bakery supply store, they are also a great resource for food coloring gels.

Shaping Your Candy Cane Cookies

To make a Candy Cane Cookie, you take 1 teaspoon of each color and roll each color out into a “rope” that is about 5″ long. You’ll find that many Candy Cane Cookie recipes will tell you to make the ropes 4″ long. I like the 5″ long because I prefer a more slender candy cane look. The two rope colors are twisted together and then placed on a baking sheet, curving the top to one side so that it forms the look of a candy cane.

If your dough is becoming warm at any point, place it back into the refrigerator.

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Crushed Peppermint Topping

The cookies are baked in the oven, giving you just enough time to create a mixture of sugar and finely crushed peppermint candies. For best result, small pieces of peppermint mixed with a finely crushed peppermint is the best mixture (see our photos). If you buy pre-crushed peppermint, you may need to crush it even more by placing it in a bag and smashing it with a rolling pin or crushing it more in a food processor (our preference).

The sugar/crushed peppermint is sprinkled on top of the hot cookies *IMMEDIATELY* after coming out of the oven. It won’t all stick, so don’t worry if it doesn’t. I recommend that you don’t skip this step – it really makes them quite pretty and even more delicious.

Once you’ve added the peppermintsprinkle on top, your Christmas Candy Cane Cookies are done and ready to be enjoyed!

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe (6)

When buying ingredients for these Candy Cane Cookies, please note that we used real butter (not margerine or shortening). Your results may vary if you substitute other ingredients.

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

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Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

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  • 1 cup real butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 egg
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Red food coloring gel
  • 2 tablespoons finely crushed peppermint candies
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, beat together butter, both sugars, both extracts, and egg on low, just until combined. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.
  2. Divide dough in half, making sure you have 2 equal portions. Add red food coloring gel to half of the dough until the desired color is reached. Wrap each portion of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerated for 3-4 hours.
  3. In a small bowl, combine peppermint candy and 2 tablespoons sugar. Set aside.
  4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  5. To make a candy cane cookie, take 1 level teaspoon of each dough. Roll each teaspoon into a 5″ rope (use a ruler, if necessary). Place one red and one white rope next to each other and begin twisting the two colors together, while pressing ends together so that they won’t unravel.
  6. Place on an ungreased baking sheet, curving the top to one side to form the look of a candy cane. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately sprinkle cookies with the sugar/peppermint mixture.
  7. Movecookies to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Notes

This recipe adapted from the Betty Crocker Original Candy Cane Cookie recipe

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Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe (8)

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

4.7 from 13 reviews

  • Author: Brandie Valenzuela
  • Yield: 0 About 3 1/2 - 4 dozen 1x
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Description

This Candy Cane Cookies recipe is a family-favorite cookie that creates sweet holiday memories. Always a favorite at Christmas parties and cookie exchanges.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 egg
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Red food coloring gel
  • 2 tablespoons finely crushed peppermint candies
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, beat together butter, both sugars, both extracts, and egg on low, just until combined. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.
  2. Divide dough in half, making sure you have 2 equal portions. Add red food coloring gel to half of the dough until the desired color is reached. Wrap each portion of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerated for 3-4 hours.
  3. In a small bowl, combine peppermint candy and 2 tablespoons sugar. Set aside.
  4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  5. To make a candy cane cookie, take 1 level teaspoon of each dough. Roll each teaspoon into a 5″ rope (use a ruler, if necessary). Place one red and one white rope next to each other and begin twisting the two colors together, while pressing ends together so that they won’t unravel.
  6. Place on an ungreased baking sheet, curving the top to one side to form the look of a candy cane. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately sprinkle cookies with the sugar/peppermint mixture. Movie cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Notes

This recipe adapted from the Betty Crocker Original Candy Cane Cookie recipe

  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Recipe Card powered byChristmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe (9)

I’d love to hear if you have Christmas Candy Cane Cookie memories – did someone in your family make them? Have you ever made them for your family?

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe (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.

What peppermint ingredient is used to flavor candy canes? ›

Peppermint oil and extracts, primarily the essential oil menthol, are used to flavour candy canes.

Do candy canes have red 40? ›

This is what's in the average candy cane... Ingredients: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, PEPPERMINT OIL, RED 40, RED 40 LAKE.

What does cream of tartar do in candy canes? ›

Cream of tartar helps give the candy canes their more white color and softer texture so this ingredient isn't always used but is definitely preferred.

Should candy canes be chewy? ›

One of the qualities of a good candy cane is its brittleness: not being bendy, tough and chewy. You can tell a good candy cane apart, by breaking it in your hands.

What does vinegar do to candy canes? ›

Within 25 minutes or so, we had our results and we could determine if our predictions were correct/incorrect. The cup with the warm water was the first liquid to completely dissolve the candy cane, while the vinegar was the first liquid to remove all of the red from the candy cane.

Are candy canes related to Jesus? ›

One legend suggests that an Indiana-based candymaker shaped the peppermint stick into a “J” shape to represent Jesus, with the white stripe symbolizing the purity of his birth and the red stripe later added to acknowledge the blood he shed on the cross.

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 does an upside down candy cane mean? ›

This hard candy was shaped so it would resemble a “J” for Jesus or, turned upside down, a shepherd's staff. He made it white to represent the purity of Christ.

What country did candy canes come from? ›

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.

Do candy canes expire? ›

"Things like candy canes or ribbon candy are good for well over a year, up to five years possibly. The sugar creates a matrix that holds it all together," said Allured. This is as long as you store it in a cool, dry place: "Humidity is the enemy."

How many candy canes are made each Christmas? ›

1.76 billion candy canes are produced every year for the holiday season.

What if my dog ate a candy cane? ›

Candy Canes May Contain Xylitol

Xylitol is found in a lot of candy canes and is used as an artificial sweetener. It is extremely dangerous to dogs, as they cannot metabolize it. In severe situations, it can lead to death.

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.

Do any candy canes have gelatin? ›

Gelatin is an ingredient typically not found in hard candy like candy canes, but to be 100% sure, always read the ingredient list before buying.

What is true of candy canes? ›

Another persistent tale explaining the origin story of the candy cane says a 1600s German choirmaster made peppermint candy sticks, which were a popular treat, in the shape of a cane to quiet down rowdy choir boys — the cane shape was intended to represent a shepherd's staff.

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