Candy Cane Cookies

I'm going out later this morning to visit the ladies on my visiting teaching list. I wanted to bring them something special to show them that I love them and I thought that there's nothing that says "lovin' like somethin' from the oven!"



My Visiting Teaching partner plus all the ladies we visit have young children and so I thought they'd just love to get some Candy Cane Cookies.



I always made these for Christmas when my own kiddies were growing up and they used to love them, so I thought their children would enjoy them as well.



They look a bit complicated, but really they're not. If you are good at making ropes with play dough, then you are good at making these.



Coz that's all it basically is . . . making ropes and twisting them together.
Once baked, you get a tasty almond flavoured buttery cookie . . . shaped like a Candy Cane!



Of course I can't leave well enough alone and I like things to be a bit pretty, so I always melt some white choclate and drizzle it over top and then throw on some cake decorations. Here I used non-pareils, silver dragees and some edible glitter!



Don't they look pretty! I hope that they like them!



*Candy Cane Cookies*
Makes about 30 cookies
Printable Recipe

Two toned cookies, delicately almond flavoured and buttery, easily shaped into candy canes!

for the white dough:
4 ounces butter softened (1/2 cup)
3 ounces caster sugar (1/3 cup plus 1 TBS)
1 egg yolk
1/4 tsp almond essence
6 1/2 ounces plain flour (approximately 1 1/4 cup)

For the red dough:
4 ounces butter softened (1/2 cup)
3 ounces caster sugar (1/3 cup plus 1 TBS)
1 egg yolk
1/4 tsp almond essence
2 tsp red food colouring
6 1/2 ounces plain flour (approximately 1 1/4 cup)

Preheat the oven to 220*C/425*F/gas mark 7.

Make the white dough first. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolk and almond essence. Beat in the flour until well blended. Shape into a ball, wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.

To make the red dough do exactly the same except beating in the food colouring along with the egg and almond. Wrap in cling film and chill for half an hour.

To make, tear off walnut sized pieces of the red dough. Using your palms, shape into ropes about 1/4 inch in diameter and 5 inches long. Do the same with the white dough. Twist the ropes together and then bend the top into a curve like a cane. Place on ungreased baking sheets, at least one inch apart.

Bake for about 8 minutes, or until lightly browned on the bottom.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store packed in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper.



Voucher Codes is having a baking contest to celebrate Christmas Baking. You can find all the details here. This has been my entry into the contest. To enter you can bake a cake, cupcake, bread, pie, cookie or anything else that says "Christmas" to you. The winner will receive a £150 John Lewis Voucher and two runner's up will each receive £25 Lakeland Vouchers. Sounds like a good deal to me!