Soft and fluffy, light and moist, Candy Cane Cookies are for the serious candy cane lover, complete with real crushed candy canes!
If you’re looking for a festive cookie to make this holiday season that will please everyone, here’s your answer! Even though this cookie looks and tastes great, it’s actually quite budget friendly.
I bet you already have most of these ingredients in your pantry already. Sugar, butter, eggs, flour, salt, baking soda, etc. – everyone who loves to cook or bake already has these things on hand at all times, right?
Let’s talk about candy canes!
In the recipe card below, I indicated that you would need a total of 1/4 cup of crushed candy canes. Now, if you’d like to crush candy canes yourself, you can do so, but you can easily find them already crushed at any bulk food store. Walmart carries them and so does most dollar stores at Christmastime.
I’ve come to find that crushing whole candy canes doesn’t work too well for me. I think it’s because I crush them a little too fine. The crushed candy canes will leave behind bright bursts of red colour if the bits are larger.
A great way to separate the larger bits of crushed candy canes from the smaller particles and candy cane dust is to use a colander. Use one with small holes and sift out the smaller bits.
Candy canes are a very common ingredient here at Lord Byron’s Kitchen. I use it quite often during the holidays. Just last month, I published my Candy Cane Peppermint Bundt Cake. You have to see that cake!
Cookie options:
Admittedly, these cookies look a little bit plain Jane. I get that; I do! But every cookie doesn’t need to be decorated to the max. It is Christmastime though, so a little decorating is allowed.
So, if you want to make this cookie look more special, you can easily drizzle the cookies with chocolate. Line the cookies up on a cooling rack and leave a little bit of space between each one. Drizzle melted white or milk chocolate over the tops of the cookies.
Another option is to dip half of the cookie into the melted chocolate and gently tap off the excess. Lay the cookie on a parchment-lined baked sheet. Sprinkle more crushed candy canes over the melted chocolate and allow the chocolate to fully harden.
Conclusion:
These are not only easy to make and budget friendly too, but I happen to think they look rather impressive in their simple, modest form. Pile them into a serving platter and put them out at your holiday party. Kids and adults alike will love them!
It is my opinion that every social gathering should find your guests leaving with loot bags. I like to have little cellophane bags or food-safe boxes on hand so that guests can pick up a few goodies to take home with them. These cookies would be a great take home gift!
Candy Cane Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup crushed candy canes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a baking sheet with a silicone liner or parchment paper. Set aside.
- Using a hand-held mixer, blend together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, peppermint extract, and salt. Mix into the butter mixture.
- Add the flour and baking soda. Mix until just incorporated. Do not over mix.
- Stir in the crushed candy canes.
- Use a small cookie scoop, about 1 tablespoon in size, to scoop the cookie batter into even portions. Roll into balls and place on the baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately transfer to a wire cooling rack to completely cool.
Nutrition
Ramona says
Real beauties! So tasty and good looking cookies. My kids helped making them and guess what … the next day (yesterday) there were none left! They took some to school and a couple of their friends wanted some more 😋. They now want to make some more this weekend to ‘deliver’ the order. Delicious and easy to make. Thank you for sharing this cheering candy cane cookies.
Leanne says
There is nothing plain Jane about these cookies Byron! They look perfect for dunking in hot chocolate, and the speckles of candy cane look perfectly festive. I’m also not a one for crushing candy canes and prefer to buy them at the bulk store. I guess I’ll be making a trip there soon!
Natalie says
These cookies look so fun and festive, perfect for upcoming Holidays. They are so easy to make too. I will definitely put this recipe on my Christmas baking list. My family will be delighted.