Candy Cane Cookies #Foodie Friday

candy cane cookies: simple living and eating

My mother's mom was an amazing baker. She made intricate Italian cookies for weddings and holiday get together. Most of the cookies she made were too complicated to create with children, except candy cane cookies, which do require a little patience, but are a fun way to spend the afternoon with your grandchildren.

When my grandmother passed away my mother continued to make candy cane cookies every Christmas with us kids. Doing this kept the memory of my grandmother alive for me.

When my kids were little my mother would make these cookies with them and tell them about what a mess I would make when I made them as a kid. She is getting older and we don't live close by, so I make candy cane cookies with my kids every year. We decorate presents with them, hang them on the tree, and leave them out in a plate on Christmas Eve for Santa.

They are truly our most special holiday cookie…from my family to yours…enjoy.

Candy Cane Cookies

by Diane Balch

simplelivingeating.com

preparation: 1 hour serving: 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

3/4 cup softened unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, plus 1/4 cup of flour for red dough

20 drops of red food coloring

Directions:

1) Make the dough at least 2 hours before you want to bake it. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours or overnight.

2) In a mixer on medium high cream the butter and sugar together. When it smooth add the egg, salt and almond and vanilla extracts.

3) On medium low speed slowing pour in the flour until it is all mixed with the wet ingredients.

4) Remove half of the dough from the mixer. The remaining dough add 1/4 cup of flour and the food coloring. Mix until color is evenly spread through the dough.

5) Roll out a tablespoon of red dough and a tablespoon of uncolored dough into 6 to 8 inch long sticks.

6) Twist them together and shape them into a candy cane. Press the dough together a little, especially on the ends.

7) Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all the cookies are shaped. If the dough gets to wet add a little flour or roll the pieces on a well floured surface.

8) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, center rack.

9) Bake the cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet for about 8 to 10 minutes or until they set but don't let them brown. Turn the sheet midway through cooking.

Images from: Tablespoon

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