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Candy Cane Cookies

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  • Prep 40 min
  • Total 6 hr 0 min
  • Servings 54
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These red and white striped Candy Cane Cookies have been completing Christmas cookie trays for years—since 1963 to be exact—and this version is based on the classic recipe from Betty’s Cooky Book, so you know it’s the real deal. The elves in the Betty Crocker™ Kitchens have given it a little extra sweetness and oomph with vanilla and peppermint extracts. If you’re new to Candy Cane Sugar Cookies, we promise that baking a batch will make for wonderful holiday memories. Your family will love twisting together the red and white cookie dough ropes and turning them into cute-as-can-be candy canes. The finishing touch? Sprinkling crushed peppermint candy over the top for tastes-like-Christmas flavor—nothing beats scratch candy cane sugar cookies! With 54 servings, this recipe is perfect for sharing at a cookie exchange or giving as gifts. And once you’ve mastered this classic, you’ll want to check out the rest of Betty's Christmas cookie recipes.
Updated Sep 21, 2023
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 egg
  • 3 1/2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon red food color
  • 2 tablespoons finely crushed peppermint candies
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
Make With
Gold Medal Flour

Steps

  • 1
    Stir together 1 cup sugar, the butter, milk, vanilla, peppermint extract and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Divide dough in half. Stir food color into 1 half. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
  • 2
    Heat oven to 375°F.
  • 3
    Stir together peppermint candy and 2 tablespoon sugar; set aside.
  • 4
    For each candy cane, shape 1 rounded teaspoon dough from each half into 4-inch rope by rolling back and forth on floured surface. Place 1 red and white rope side by side; press together lightly and twist. Place on ungreased cookie sheet; curve top of cookie down to form handle of cane.
  • 5
    Bake 9 to 12 minutes or until set and very light brown. Immediately sprinkle candy mixture over cookies. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    To make your Candy Cane Cookies about the same size, measure the dough for one cookie with a ruler; then use that dough to measure all the rest.
  • tip 2
    Not a fan of peppermint extract? Try substituting a teaspoon of vanilla or almond extract.
  • tip 3
    If you can’t get enough candy canes during the holidays, try one of our 11 Candy Cane Desserts. From coffee cake to fudge, you're bound to find a new favorite among these peppermint-packed delights!
  • tip 4
    Feel free to get creative with this cookie—after all, it’s your kitchen! Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top, drizzle with melted dark chocolate or dust with sparkling colored sugar for even more Christmas flair.

Nutrition

85 Calories, 4 g Total Fat, 1 g Protein, 11 g Total Carbohydrate

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
85
Calories from Fat
35
Total Fat
4 g
Saturated Fat
2 g
Cholesterol
15 mg
Sodium
45 mg
Potassium
15 mg
Total Carbohydrate
11 g
Dietary Fiber
0g
Protein
1 g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
2%
2%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
0%
0%
Iron
2%
2%
Exchanges:
1 Fruit; 1/2 Fat;
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • These sugar cookies are all dressed up and ready for the cookie exchange. With their red and white braiding and crushed candy canes on top, we can’t think of a cuter or tastier cookie—nothing beats a scratch sugar cookie!
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