 | Want to try something new and fun this holiday season? Why not make edible candy canes to decorate your Christmas tree using peppermint cookie dough.
To make the cookie dough, follow the directions below:
- ½ cup butter softened
- 3 ½ cups sifted cake flour
- ½ cup butter flavored or regular shortening
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ tsp. peppermint extract
- ¾ tsp red food coloring paste
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
SET THE FOOD COLORING ASIDE. Beat the butter and shortening together at medium speed with an electric mixer; gradually add the sugar, beating well in between. Add egg; beat well. Stir in vanilla and peppermint extracts. Combine the dry ingredients; add to the butter mixture and beat well.
Remove half of the mixture to another bowl; add the food coloring, and mix until evenly distributed.
(Keep dough in both bowls covered while shaping candy canes to prevent drying.) Shape 1 ½-teaspoon of the plain dough into a 6-inch rope. Repeat process using red dough. Place the red rope and the plain rope side by side; carefully twist together. Using the palms of both hands, carefully roll twisted ropes into one smooth rope. Be careful not to ‘bleed’ the edges of the colors together.
Shape the rope into a cane; twist as needed to complete stripe design. Place cookie candy cane on an un-greased cookie sheet.
Repeat process with remaining dough. When complete, bake cookies in a preheated 375-degree oven for 8 minutes, or just until cookies begin to brown. Cool slightly; carefully remove cookies to a wire rack using a wide spatula. Cool completely
When cooled, use 7-inch lengths of red, white, and green narrow ribbon to make a loop for hanging on the tree. To make the loop, knot the ends of the ribbon together; lay ribbon flat on the sideboard. Lay the cane part of the cookie across the middle of the the ribbon. Pass the knotted end of the ribbon up over the cookie and down through the looped end. Pull gently.
If you like, the very tops of some of the candy canes can be dipped in melted white chocolate to look like snow. Transparent sugar crystals can be sprinkled on top before chocolate hardens to resemble frost. Set aside until chocolate hardens before attaching loops for hanging.
Besides hanging on the tree, candy cane cookies can be placed upright in a short wide container that has been decorated; use as a centerpiece, or keep by the door to offer carolers and other Christmas-time visitors.
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