Holiday Cooking: Candy Cane Cookies

[Guest guest]

This one is fun to make with the little kids. Sort of like edible Play Dough

that doesn't end up in the carpet. Each candy cane cookie they make is a work of

art.

 

Candy Cane Cookies

1/3 to 1/2 cup finely crushed peppermint candy

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon peppermint flavoring

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon red food coloring

 

Combine finely crushed peppermint candy and 1/3 cup granulated sugar in bowl,

mixing well. Put aside for now.

 

Cream shortening and butter together in a large mixing bowl; gradually add 1 cup

powdered/confectioner's sugar until it is light and fluffy. Add egg; beat well.

Stir in flavorings. Add flour and salt; mix well.

 

Divide dough in half; tint half of the dough with the red food coloring. Shape

teaspoons of tinted and plain dough into 4 1/2 " rolls. (This is where the kids

come in handy; all that Play Dough experience makes them highly gifted at making

dough snakes for candy cane cookies). Place a tinted roll next to a plain one

and carefully twist together. Put on ungreased baking sheet, shaping to form a

cane. Continue till all cookie dough is turned into candy canes. Bake at 375*F

for 9 minutes or until edges begin to lightly brown. Remove cookies (gently)

from cookie sheets and put on cookie rack with plate underneath. Sprinkle each

cookie generously with the crushed candy/sugar mixture. When you have finished

that, take the plate from under the rack and, using the sugar/candy mixture

that has fallen off the cookies,pour it all over the cookies. Let the cookies

cool. They will be a little fragile till cooled. To hang on the tree, wrap

each cookie in plastic wrap, tie with

ribbon and hang on the tree.

 

This cookie is one of those Happy Family bonding time things. Oh you know how

that goes; the family sticks around till the second or third cane is done then

they leave to return to video games, movies, telephone or anything else vastly

more interesting than making dumb cookies. It should be noted, however, that

they will be happy to help you clean up by eating the dumb cookies. You are on

your own when it comes to the dishes, however.

 

It should be noted that if you are going to store these cookies, you will need

to store them in a tin of their own or everything else is going to taste like

Candy Cane cookie. They also freeze well, so you can do them now and freeze and

look so brilliantly organized around the holidays...

 

Jeanne in GA

 

 

 

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