• Home
  • About
    • Member Of
    • As Seen In
  • Contact
  • Work with Me
  • Link Parties
  • Full Recipe Index
  • Holiday & Celebration Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • Tips & Ideas
  • Printable Grocery Coupons
You are here: Home / Celebrations & Holidays / Christmas / Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

by brandie 52 Comments

Share695
Pin8K
Tweet
Yum1K
Email
10K Shares

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

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

This post is brought to you in partnership with REAL® Seal & contains some affiliate links for your convenience.  Click here to read our full disclosure policy.

When I was little, there were only two 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 will me 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 the top memory-making Christmas cookies.

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

But, making candy cane cookies side-by-side with my mother, 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 maybe us 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 understand how 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 she didn’t give me all her secrets and so the magic remained.

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

At some point, my mom stopped making Candy Cane Cookies. But her times of making them were enough to seal a memory in my mind. Eventually, when I was a young wife and mom, I made those Candy Cane Cookies for my kids. I’m not sure my kids are as impressed with mine, as I 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.

You’ll be relieved to know that Candy Cane Cookies are actually quite easy to make. No magic is needed and you don’t have to have superpowers. The dough is a simple sugar dough, which is divided in half. Half is tinted with red food coloring gel.

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.

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

The cookies are baked in the oven, giving you just enough time to create a mixture of sugar and crushed peppermint candies. This is what is sprinkled on top of the cookies immediately after coming out of the oven. I recommend that you don’t skip this step – it really makes them quite pretty and even more delicious.

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

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

When buying ingredients for these Candy Cane Cookies and your other holiday cookies, be sure to look for the REAL® Seal on your butter. When you see the REAL® Seal on a product (which can be on the front, back, or side of the product), it’s a sign that the product you are buying is a genuine dairy product, made with milk from cows on U.S. dairy farms. You can learn more on the REAL® Seal website.

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

  • 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
  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. Move cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling.

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

Print

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

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

Ingredients

  • 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. <g class=”gr_ gr_114 gr-alert gr_spell gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling” id=”114″ data-gr-id=”114″>Movie</g> cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Notes

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



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?

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Share695
Pin8K
Tweet
Yum1K
Email
10K Shares

Filed Under: Christmas, Dessert Recipes, New

Did you make this recipe?
Please give it a star rating below!

Comments

  1. Cheryl@SewCanDo says

    December 28, 2017 at 2:53 pm

    I made these for Christmas and they were a huge hit. Everyone loved them – definitely going on my annual to-make list! Thanks for sharing these at the Craftastic Monday Link Party.

    Reply
  2. Nicole says

    December 24, 2017 at 8:06 am

    I have a relative who is not fond of almond extract… if I omit it, should I add extra vanilla extract?

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      December 24, 2017 at 9:13 am

      Meant to say “peppermint extract” instead of “almond extract.” Sorry.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • brandie says

        December 24, 2017 at 10:18 am

        Yes, you can substitute vanilla extract. The cookies won’t have the peppermint flavor, of course, but it’s an option if someone doesn’t like it.

        Reply
  3. Jenna says

    December 18, 2017 at 11:57 am

    This looks great – haven’t made them yet… can you make the dough then refrigerate until the following day, before shaping and baking?

    I’m planning on doing some Christmas baking with my toddler but the 3-4 hours in the fridge would make it a bit tight to get it done all in one day.

    TIA

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • brandie says

      December 24, 2017 at 10:21 am

      Yes, absolutely. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Kynthia says

    December 18, 2017 at 7:28 am

    I made these last year and they were perfect, other than the fact that they weren’t very sweet at all. It was more like peppermint dough. What did I did wrong??

    Reply
  5. Cynthia A. Rider says

    December 16, 2017 at 5:09 pm

    My mom made the Betty Crocker Candy Cane cookies. I’ll have to try your version. I don’t like to spend the time twisting the candy canes so I roll the dough out and cut with cookie cutters or make the dough into a log, chill it and then slice.

    Reply
  6. Peggy Dewey says

    December 12, 2017 at 8:22 am

    This was a tradition in our family,my mom made these every year.Still make them for my family every yr.I have passed this on to my daughters,it’s not Christmas without them.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  7. Miz Helen says

    December 8, 2017 at 12:43 pm

    Congratulations!
    Your post is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week and will be pinned to our Featured Board. Thanks so much for sharing with us and enjoy your new Red Plate!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
  8. Carole from Carole's Chatter says

    December 7, 2017 at 11:10 am

    Hi Brandie, this looks like a goodie. Please bring this over to Food on Friday: December so everyone can see it. Cheers from Carole’s Chatter

    Reply
  9. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says

    December 2, 2017 at 8:58 am

    Great and easy to follow directions – and love the cookies! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party!

    Reply
  10. Shelby says

    December 26, 2016 at 8:41 pm

    Would I be able to bake these then freeze them for about a week or two before consuming?

    Reply
    • brandie says

      December 27, 2016 at 8:23 am

      I haven’t personally tried freezing them, but I do imagine that they would freeze well. If you try it, let us know how it works for you.

      Reply
  11. Margo says

    December 21, 2016 at 2:00 pm

    Hi, these cookies are so good but mine came out flat and not round like yours look. what did I do wrong or how do you make them round?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • brandie says

      December 27, 2016 at 8:28 am

      It’s hard to say for sure, but make sure the dough isn’t too soft (or warm) before you start rolling the ropes. If the dough is too soft, try refrigerating it for about 30-45 minutes. If the dough is too warm or too soft, it can result in flat cookies.

      Reply
    • Nancy Burkley says

      December 10, 2017 at 6:32 pm

      I found that adding some cream of tarter with the flour helps them puff up more.

      Reply
  12. Jill Brula says

    December 17, 2016 at 11:23 am

    Hi! My mom and I are currently making these for the first time. We were wondering when do you use the vanilla extract?

    Can’t wait to try them!!

    Jill

    Reply
    • brandie says

      December 17, 2016 at 11:52 am

      Hi Jill!
      Both extracts are added at the same time (with the butter & sugars). I’ve made it more clear in the instructions. Happy Baking!

      Reply
  13. Megan says

    December 15, 2016 at 2:44 pm

    Hello! I am making these for a cookie exchange this year and I have a question about the recipe.

    When do you use the powdered sugar?

    Reply
    • brandie says

      December 15, 2016 at 3:46 pm

      Hi Megan,
      Thanks for asking – I can see where that wasn’t clear. It’s added when creaming the butter (with the granulated sugar). I’ve edited the recipe.

      Reply
      • Megan says

        December 16, 2016 at 6:23 am

        Thank you!!

        Reply
  14. Sara says

    December 10, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    About how many cookies should the recipe make? I’m going to make them for my annual cookie exchange party!

    Reply
    • brandie says

      December 10, 2016 at 10:52 pm

      Hi Sara,
      This recipe makes about 3 1/2 – 4 dozen cookies.

      Reply
  15. Tosh says

    December 2, 2016 at 5:08 pm

    I use to make these with my mom as a kid, some of the best childhood Christmas memory..on of my favorite Christmas cookies. Thanks for posting. I’ll be making these this Christmas season especially for my mom, she can see to bake any more….Thank you! !!♡

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  16. Karly says

    November 27, 2016 at 10:08 am

    These are just gorgeous! Thanks for linkin’ up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!

    Reply
  17. Swapna says

    November 22, 2016 at 5:26 am

    Love these! Pinning for later 🙂

    Reply
  18. Virginia says

    November 21, 2016 at 9:55 pm

    These cookies are adorable and sound delicious! Thanks for the recipe. I host my family Christmas party of 60 people every year and I’m going to put these on the menu this year!

    Reply
  19. Charlotte Burkholder says

    November 21, 2016 at 6:23 pm

    I remember a friends mom made these. I’ve never made them but maybe I should try it this year. My kids would love those pretty cookies.

    Reply
  20. Janet Vinyard says

    November 20, 2016 at 9:02 pm

    Hi Brandie, My Mom made these cookies, too. I think yours are really shaped nicely – the thinner ropes must work well! I’ve never eaten them with sugar and crushed peppermint candies on top – what a great sounding addition! Thanks for sharing the memories and the recipe! Blessings, Janet

    Reply
  21. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says

    November 20, 2016 at 12:22 pm

    Not only do they sound delicious – they look delicious AND fun! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner Link up!

    Reply
  22. Renee says

    November 2, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    Planning on making these Candy Cane cookies for a Christmas cookie exchange. How many cookies would you get making this recipe?

    Reply
    • brandie says

      December 10, 2016 at 10:52 pm

      Hi Renee,
      This recipe makes about 3 1/2 – 4 dozen cookies. Enjoy!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 25+ Christmas Cookie Recipes - Gingerbread, Sugar, Peppermint, & more! says:
    December 17, 2017 at 6:00 pm

    […] Christmas Candy Cane Cookies via Home Cooking Memories (PIN IT) […]

    Reply
  2. 10 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes That Will Rival Betty Crocker - Write Your Story says:
    December 16, 2017 at 9:09 am

    […]  Christmas Candy Cane Cookies by homecookingrecipes.com […]

    Reply
  3. Must Make Holiday Cookie Recipes | TidyMom® says:
    December 14, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    […] Christmas Candy Cane Cookies recipe from Home Cooking Memories. A family-favorite cookie that creates sweet holiday memories. The colorful dough is packed with plenty of festive peppermint flavor and twisted to look like a real candy cane. Always a favorite at Christmas parties and cookie exchanges. […]

    Reply
  4. Favorite Holiday Treats - The Fashionable Wife says:
    December 12, 2017 at 4:02 am

    […] candy cane cookies are so cute and fun. It also helps that they too are peppermint […]

    Reply
  5. Best Friday Features! says:
    December 8, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    […] My favorite project this week are these Christmas Candy Cane Cookies from Home Cooking Memories! […]

    Reply
  6. Great Ideas -- 25 Cookie Exchange Recipes! says:
    December 4, 2017 at 3:22 pm

    […] Candy Cane Cookies @ Home Cooking Memories […]

    Reply
  7. 30 of the Most Scrumptious Classic Christmas Cookies Ever says:
    December 3, 2017 at 11:15 am

    […] Cookies by The Baking ChocolaTess 8. Chocolate Cake Mix Christmas Cookies by Mom Endeavors 9. Christmas Candy Cane Cookies by Home Cooking Memories 10. Apricot Pinwheel Cookies by Create & […]

    Reply
  8. 15 Festive Christmas Cookie Ideas - mother2motherblog says:
    December 1, 2017 at 8:14 pm

    […] Christmas cookie idea is candy canes. Who doesn’t love Candy Canes?  They’re great in hot chocolate or with hot […]

    Reply
  9. The BEST Christmas Cookie Recipes! Perfect for your cookie exchange! says:
    November 9, 2017 at 12:03 pm

    […] Candy Cane Cookies by Home Cooking Memories […]

    Reply
  10. 20+ Candy Cane Desserts - Boston Girl Bakes says:
    December 16, 2016 at 6:02 am

    […] Candy Cane Cookies (Home Cooking Memories) […]

    Reply
  11. Holiday Recipes That Show Love | Mom2.comMOM 2.0 says:
    December 14, 2016 at 5:31 am

    […] Image credit: Home Cooking Memories […]

    Reply
  12. Week 100 Mother 2 Mother's Sunday's Best Linkup • Life in a House of Testosterone says:
    December 8, 2016 at 7:36 pm

    […] Candy Cane Cookies from Home Cooking Memories […]

    Reply
  13. 30 Simple and Delicious Christmas Cookies - Love to be in the Kitchen says:
    December 8, 2016 at 1:56 pm

    […] Christmas Candy Cane Cookies from Home Cooking Memories […]

    Reply
  14. 50+ Yummy Christmas Cookie Recipes says:
    December 2, 2016 at 8:00 am

    […] – The Kitchen is My Playground Old Fashioned Snowball Cookies – To Simply Inspire Candy Cane Cookies – Home Cooking Memories Peanut Butter Buckeyes – O Taste and See Old Fashioned Tea Cake […]

    Reply
  15. 30 Holiday Baking Favorites - The Cookie Rookie says:
    November 30, 2016 at 9:00 am

    […] Candy Cane Cookies | Home Cooking Memories […]

    Reply
  16. Oh My Heartsie Girls Wonderful Wednesday | Oh My Heartsie Girl says:
    November 29, 2016 at 6:02 am

    […] Sweet Pea (Pin To Share) Feature Pick By Donna // Two Chicks and A Mom Candy-Cane-Cookies-Recipe//Home-Cooking-Memories (Pin To Share) Feature Pick By Oh My Heartsie Girl Christmas-Star-Art//Busy Being Jennifer (Pin […]

    Reply
  17. Sunday’s Best Link-up Week 100 | The Pinterested Parent says:
    November 26, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    […] Candy Cane Cookies from Home Cooking Memories […]

    Reply
  18. 36 Cookies and Bars Perfect for Holiday Parties or Gifts! says:
    November 24, 2016 at 8:29 pm

    […] Candy Cane Cookies from Homecooking Memories […]

    Reply
  19. 25 Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes ⋆ says:
    November 8, 2016 at 8:01 am

    […] Gal On a Mission 8. Chocolate Covered Oreos: Christmas Version – Happy Deal-Happy Day 9. Candy Cane Cookies – Home Cooking Memories 10. White Chocolate Snickerdoodle Cookies – Katrina’s Paperie 11. Vanilla Meltaway […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Welcome!

Cooking doesn't have to be complicated to be memorable! We share fun & easy recipes to get you out of the kitchen fast!

Contact us at homecookingmemories@gmail.com

As Featured In:

FREE Newsletter!

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. com and affiliated sites.

Archives

Google+

Connect with Home Cooking Memories!

twitter facebook google+ subscribe to RSS feed email
pinterest

Categories

This website receives commissions if purchases are made through our links to retailers. View our our full disclosure policy to learn more
· Copyright © 2019 · Nutritional Information Disclosure · Photo & Recipe Sharing Policy · Log in