My mom has made these cookies every Christmas since I can remember and they've always been my favorite! Her original recipe came from a 1980 Parenting magazine and instead of rolling the hot cookies in the crushed candy cane, we've always mixed a little bit of water with confectioner's sugar and brushed it on the tops of the cooled cookies and then rolled them in the crushed candy cane. Works great!
These cookies are delicious... I really liked the crushed candy cane bits on top... though, I had a little trouble getting it to stick... even hot out of the oven... but if you put it on before they go in the oven, the will melt. If you are looking for a quicker method of making these cookies... I got tired of rolling out all the pieces towards the end of my baking, so I made one big log out of the two colors and put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes... then I cut off slices of the dough and baked them... they looked beautiful, and tasted just as good!!
These are really good. I'd add at least 1 tsp of peppermint extract though. I crushed some candy canes and put them in with the red dough and only put sugar on top and I prefer them that way the candy canes can be a bit sticky on top. I'll make these again!
I have 2 little girls, now ages 7 and 8. I found this recipe on this site 2 years ago. I was so flattered when we started talking about Christmas baking... my girls wanted to know if we would be making the candy cane cookies. They enjoy creating this cookie, it's easy and fun to make...not to mention tasty! I want to thank you for sharing this recipe with us and allowing me to start my "own" little Christmas tradition with my daughters.
Christine
I added an extra 1/2 tsp of peppermint per the advise of another reviewer and it was wonderful! I had my mom taste them to make sure they tasted like hers and she loved them!! They were very delicate to take of the cookie sheet once out of the oven probaly a good idea to let them cool first. I will definetly make these every year!
A Christmas cookie tray is incomplete without these! I always double the recipe. I make one recipe of plain dough and refrigerate it. Using the mixing bowl "as is" (without washing) I then mix up a full recipe of red dough. I just set the hot baked cookies up-side-down in sugar. Added some extra peppermint flavoring to make up for the missing crushed candy canes. Not worth the hassle. No one even noticed! I make these every year!
These are a holiday tradition at our house. I use butter instead of margarine and a full tsp of peppermint extract to increase the flavor. I also use gel food coloring so the red dough isn't so moist that you can't work with it. I also divide the dough and color half BEFORE I chill it in the fridge. Much easier. I also find it easier not to roll the hot cookies but instead sprinkle the candy on the top with a spoon when they are hot. The candy sticks really well if you do it that way and the cookies don't break. YUM.
Just like my mom's cookies! I replaced the peppermint flavor with almond flavoring.
This recipe is AMAZING. Today was the first time I had ever made candy cane cookies and this recipe was absolutely perfect. I didn't need to change a thing. They are delicious and look great. The sugar on top really makes them stand out! GREAT recipe I will be making a few more batches of these before Christmas!
My toddler and I were so excited to make these and when they finally came out--they were awful...I debated about adding the peppermint extract and I did...and they were not sweet and all I could taste was mint. They were too thick and cake-like. So disappointed!
