Candy Cane Cookies Recipe (2024)

These unique Candy Cane Cookies will make your entire house smell like Christmas! The cool, refreshing taste of peppermint is the perfect holiday flavor. Easy to make, these candy cane cookies are great for cookie exchanges and your holiday cookie platter.

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

These candy cane cookies are a bit different than your usual candy cane-shaped cookies in that they use crushed candy canes in the batter, and are not shaped like a candy cane. In other words, it is the taste and ingredients that earn the candy cane cookie moniker, not the shape and size.

These truly are simple to make. If you can roll dough in your hands and operate a stand-mixer, you are good to go. These are not soft cookies, however, so they are great for a cookie exchange. And, of course, they are fabulous with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk. Yum!!

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe Notes:

● I suggest pairing peppermint with peppermint. If you prefer spearmint, there is no reason you cannot pair spearmint extract and spearmint crushed candy canes instead.

● The look of these cookies is very dependent upon the size of your crushed peppermint candies. If you crush them finely the cookies are going to have a more delicate appearance; if you crush your peppermint candy canes coarsely the crushed candy will be more pronounced.

coarsely crushed candy cane cookies

● To crush candy canes (or starlights), simply place them in a plastic baggie (if it has a zipper, leave it a smidge open to allow air to escape), and using a rolling pin, roll to crush. If you want your candy canes (or starlights) to be very fine, use a small food processor and give it a few pulses.

● For my UK and Australian friends: confectioners sugar is icing sugar (powdered sugar, 10x).

● To soften butter, simply leave it out on the counter for 30-60 minutes. You can peel the wrapper off and put it in your mixing bowl if you like.

● 8 TBSP (tablespoons) = 1 stick of Butter

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe Ingredients:

● 16 TBSP Butter, softened
● 1 cup Confectioners Sugar
● 1 Egg
● ½ tsp Peppermint Extract
● ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
● 2½ cups All-purpose Flour
● 1 cup Peppermint Candy Canes, crushed
● 3 TBSP Sugar

Candy Cane Cookies Mise en Place:

● Measuring Cup
● Spatula
● Stand Mixer
● Non-stick Spray
● Parment Paper (optional)
● Bowl(s)
● Measuring Spoons
● Baking Sheet
● Wire Cooling Racks

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe Directions:

1. Using a stand mixer, in a large mixing bowl cream together 16 tablespoons of softened butter (2 sticks) and 1 cup of confectioners sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Add one egg, ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.

3. Beat until well blended.

4. Gradually add 2½ cups of all-purpose flour, mix well.
5. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
6. Preheat oven to 375°.
7. Coat three baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray (and parchment paper, if you like).

8. In a small bowl combine one cup of crushed candy canes and three tablespoons of granulated sugar until well mixed.

9. Shape the chilled dough into small balls. Scoop a little of the candy cane mixture into your hands, and roll the chilled dough between your hands and the candy cane mixture to form a ball.

10. Place candy cane balls on the baking sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

11. Immediately remove from the baking sheets and place on wire racks to cool.

Looking for more Christmas cookie recipes? Try these great holiday cookie recipes:

● Cranberry Noels Cookie Recipe – Slightly chewy, slightly crunchy and totally delicious, these Cranberry Noels Cookies are a wonderful holiday cookie, perfect for a snack, after dinner dessert or as a welcome addition to a holiday cookie tray.

● Kris Kringle Cookie and Frosting Recipe – Traditional Christmas cut-out cookie and frosting recipe!

● Rum Logs Recipe – Delicious, light and a touch sweet, these Rum Logs are a festive, melt in your mouth holiday cookie your entire family will enjoy.

● For more Recipes on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

● If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for the Ann’s Entitled Life weekly newsletter, and never miss another article!