Peppermint Swirl Cookies

Step into a world of festive delight with these enchanting Candy Cane Cookies! Swirls of vibrant red and pristine white sugar cookie dough, infused with a refreshing hint of peppermint, create a holiday treat that’s as beautiful to behold as it is delicious to taste. Get ready to bake a batch of these holiday showstoppers that are sure to become a cherished tradition in your home.

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Unleash the Holiday Magic: A Sweet Twist on Tradition

The air is already buzzing with holiday cheer, and for me, that means one thing: Christmas cookies! While it might seem a little early to some, the joy of planning and perfecting new festive recipes each year is simply irresistible. I love having a collection of unique, homemade treats to share at bustling cookie exchanges, gift to wonderful neighbors, and bring to joyous holiday parties. For quite some time, these charming candy cane shaped cookies have been at the very top of my holiday baking wish list, and I’m thrilled to announce that this is the year I’ve brought them to life!

I genuinely couldn’t be more excited about the outcome! These cookies are not only incredibly tasty, bursting with that signature minty freshness, but they’re also absolutely adorable. Their vibrant red and white spirals evoke all the classic charm of the holiday season. Imagine a plate of these alongside some classic gingerbread men cookies on Christmas Eve – Santa is certainly in for a delightful surprise! These peppermint sugar cookies are destined to become a staple in your holiday baking repertoire, bringing smiles and festive flavors to everyone who tries them.

The distinctive twisted pattern of the red and white sugar cookie dough truly makes these cookies a visual masterpiece, perfectly mimicking the iconic candy cane. But it’s not just about looks; the delicate hint of pure peppermint extract elevates their flavor, making them one of the most irresistibly delicious treats you’ll encounter this holiday season. These cookies are a celebration of festive flavors and delightful textures, combining the comforting sweetness of sugar cookies with the refreshing burst of mint. I wholeheartedly believe these will quickly climb to the top of your holiday baking list, becoming a surefire hit at any gathering. So, gather your ingredients, clear your counter space, and let’s embark on this wonderful baking adventure together!

Essential Ingredients and Baking Supplies for Perfect Candy Cane Cookies

Crafting these beautiful and delicious Candy Cane Cookies requires a few simple, high-quality ingredients and basic baking tools. While the precise measurements and detailed instructions are provided in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need to prepare:

Key Ingredients for Festive Flavor:

• Unsalted butter, room temperature: Using room temperature butter is crucial for achieving a smooth, creamy dough that incorporates sugar and other ingredients evenly, leading to a tender and consistent cookie texture.
• Granulated sugar: The foundation of any classic sugar cookie, providing sweetness and contributing to the cookie’s structure.
• Heavy cream: Adds richness and moisture to the dough, helping to create a soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookie.
• Egg yolks: These contribute to the cookie’s rich flavor, tender crumb, and beautiful golden hue. They also act as a binder, ensuring the dough holds together well.
• Vanilla extract: A timeless flavor enhancer that complements the sweetness of the sugar and the brightness of the peppermint. Opt for pure vanilla extract for the best results.
• Pure peppermint extract: The star flavor of these cookies! Ensure you use pure extract for an authentic, refreshing peppermint taste that isn’t artificial.
• Red liquid food coloring: Essential for creating that vibrant, iconic red swirl. Liquid food coloring mixes easily into the dough.
• All-purpose flour: The structural backbone of the cookie. Proper measurement is key – too much flour can lead to dry, crumbly cookies.
• Baking powder: A leavening agent that helps the cookies rise slightly, giving them a tender texture without being overly cakey.
• Salt: A pinch of salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors in the cookie.

Necessary Baking Supplies for Seamless Creation:

• Baking sheet: You’ll need at least one, possibly two, to bake your batches of cookies efficiently. Ensure they are clean and ready.
• Parchment paper: An absolute must for preventing sticking and ensuring easy cleanup. It also helps the cookies bake more evenly.
• Electric mixer (stand or hand-held): For creaming butter and sugar, and thoroughly mixing the dough components. This will save you significant effort and ensure a well-combined dough.
• Plastic wrap: Crucial for chilling the dough, which makes it easier to handle and prevents spreading during baking.
• Lightly floured surface: For rolling out the dough ropes without them sticking.

Having these ingredients and tools ready before you begin will make the baking process smooth and enjoyable, allowing you to focus on the artistry of twisting your beautiful candy cane shapes!

Crafting Your Own Festive Candy Cane Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating these delightful Candy Cane Cookies is a fun and rewarding process that brings a touch of magic to your kitchen. Follow these detailed steps to achieve perfectly twisted, peppermint-infused holiday treats:

• Step 1: Prepare the Dough Base. In the spacious bowl of your electric mixer, begin by beating together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar. Cream them together on medium-high speed until the mixture becomes wonderfully light, fluffy, and pale in color. This process typically takes about 3-5 minutes and is crucial for a tender cookie. Next, reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually incorporate the heavy cream, egg yolks, fragrant vanilla extract, and the star ingredient, pure peppermint extract. Mix thoroughly until all these wet ingredients are fully combined. Finally, with the mixer still on low, slowly add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix just until the flour mixture is well combined and a soft, cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
• Step 2: Divide and Color the Dough. Gently remove half of the freshly mixed dough from the mixing bowl and shape it into a neat ball. This will be your white dough. To the remaining half of the dough in the mixer bowl, add the vibrant red liquid food coloring. Beat on low speed until the color is uniformly blended throughout the dough, creating a beautiful, consistent red hue. Once colored, shape this red dough into a separate ball. To ensure the dough is firm and easy to handle for shaping, wrap each ball of dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, or up to 60 minutes. Chilling is a vital step as it prevents the cookies from spreading excessively during baking and makes the twisting process much simpler.
• Step 3: Preheat Your Oven. While your dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when your cookies are ready to bake, allowing for even cooking. Prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper, which prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
• Step 4: Master the Art of the Twist. Once the dough is adequately chilled, retrieve both the red and white dough balls from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface, take a walnut-sized piece of the red dough and a similarly sized piece of the white dough. Working with one color at a time, roll each piece separately into a thin rope, approximately 6 inches in length. Aim for a consistent thickness, about the diameter of a pencil. Carefully place the red and white ropes side by side on your floured surface. Gently press them together along their length to adhere them, then carefully twist the two ropes around each other to form a beautiful, striped spiral. This is where the magic happens! Transfer each twisted spiral to your parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for slight spreading. To complete the classic candy cane shape, gently curve the top end of each twisted cookie down to form the distinctive hook. Repeat this process with the remaining dough until all your cookies are formed.

• Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection. Place your prepared baking sheets into the preheated oven. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the cookies are set. For even baking, it’s a good practice to rotate your baking sheets halfway through the cooking time. It’s crucial not to overbake these cookies, as they will lose their tender texture and become dry. They should still be slightly soft in the center when removed from the oven.
• Step 6: Cool and Store. Once baked, remove the cookie sheets from the oven and allow the Candy Cane Cookies to cool on the sheets for about 2 minutes. This brief cooling period helps them firm up before you move them. After 2 minutes, carefully transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Cooling on a rack ensures air circulation, preventing the bottoms from becoming soggy. Once fully cooled, store these delightful treats in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain fresh and delicious for several days, though they often disappear much quicker!

Aren’t they absolutely captivating? I am so incredibly thrilled with how these festive cookies turned out – their vibrant colors and perfect twists are truly a sight to behold. Just imagine the pure delight on Santa’s face when he discovers a plate of these charming peppermint-infused Candy Cane Cookies waiting for him! Paired with a tall, cold glass of milk, these homemade treasures are guaranteed to get you on the “Nice List” this year. Beyond their appeal to Santa, these cookies are perfect for sharing with family and friends, bringing a touch of homemade warmth to any holiday gathering.

As you embark on your holiday baking adventures, I would absolutely love to see your beautiful creations! If you make these adorable Candy Cane Cookies this festive season, please be sure to snap a picture. Share your culinary masterpiece with me or tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can admire your work. It truly brings me so much joy and inspiration to see how creative and enthusiastic you all get with the recipes I share. Your festive baking endeavors are what make this community so special! Wishing you the happiest of holidays filled with warmth, laughter, and plenty of delicious treats. Enjoy every moment of baking and savoring these delightful cookies!

xoxo,

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Candy Cane Cookies

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  Author: Maegan – The BakerMama
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  Prep Time: 60 mins
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  Cook Time: 10 mins
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  Total Time: 1 hour 10 mins
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  Yield: 32 festive cookies
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  Category: Holiday Dessert, Christmas Cookies

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Recipe Description

Delight in the festive spirit with these enchanting Candy Cane Cookies! Our recipe guides you through creating beautifully twisted red and white sugar cookie dough, each bite infused with a refreshing hint of pure peppermint. These visually stunning and deliciously minty cookies are more than just a treat; they’re a true holiday hit, perfect for cookie exchanges, gifting to loved ones, or simply enjoying by the fireplace. Their vibrant appearance and classic holiday flavor make them an irresistible addition to any festive celebration.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1–1/2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
• 2–1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon red liquid food coloring

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Instructions for Perfect Holiday Cookies

1. Prepare the Creamy Dough: In the large bowl of an electric mixer (either stand or hand-held), beat together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and noticeably pale in color. This creaming process should take about 3-5 minutes on medium-high speed. Reduce the mixer speed to low, then add the heavy cream, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Mix thoroughly until all these wet ingredients are fully incorporated. Finally, gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing on low speed just until the dry ingredients are combined and a soft, cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
2. Color and Chill the Dough: Carefully remove half of the prepared dough from the mixing bowl and shape it into a smooth ball; this will be your white dough. To the remaining dough in the bowl, add the red liquid food coloring. Beat on low speed until the red color is evenly distributed and well blended throughout the dough. Once colored, shape this red dough into another smooth ball. Wrap each ball of dough separately and tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate both dough balls for 30 to 60 minutes. Chilling the dough is essential as it firms it up, making it easier to roll and twist, and helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
3. Preheat Oven: While the dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line several baking sheets with parchment paper; this will prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the baked cookies.
4. Shape the Candy Canes: Once the dough is properly chilled, take a walnut-sized piece of the white dough and a similarly sized piece of the red dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll each colored piece of dough separately into a thin, even rope, approximately 6 inches (15 cm) long and about the thickness of a pencil. Place the red and white ropes side by side. Gently press them together along their length to adhere them. Carefully twist the two ropes around each other to form a beautiful, striped spiral, resembling a barber’s pole. Transfer each twisted spiral to your parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. To achieve the classic candy cane look, gently curve the top end of each cookie down to create a hook shape. Repeat this process with the remaining dough until all your delightful candy cane cookies are formed.
5. Bake to Perfection: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the cookies are set. To ensure even baking, rotate the baking sheets halfway through the baking time. It is crucial not to overbake these cookies; they should still be slightly soft in the center when you remove them from the oven. Overbaking will result in a dry texture.
6. Cool and Store: Once baked, remove the cookie sheets from the oven and allow the Candy Cane Cookies to cool on the sheets for 2 minutes. This brief resting period helps them to firm up slightly. After 2 minutes, carefully transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Ensure they are fully cooled before storing them. Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their freshness and delightful texture. They will keep well for several days, though they are usually devoured much sooner!

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