Homemade Christmas Candy Canes Recipe
Candy canes are a holiday classic, and making your own candy canes at home can be a fun family project, and perhaps become a cherished family tradition.
Ingredient List
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup of crushed candy canes or peppermint candies
- 1/2 cup or 1 stick of butter or margarine
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 cup of confectioner’s sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract
- 1/2 teaspoon of red food coloring
- 2-1/2 cups of all purpose flour
Preparation Steps
Adjust the oven racks to divide the oven into thirds, then preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare two ungreased baking sheets for later use.
Use a small bowl to mix the sugar with the crushed candy canes or peppermint candies then set aside.
Use a large bowl and an electric mixer to beat together the butter, shortening, egg, confectioner’s sugar, vanilla extract and peppermint extract. Beat at medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, typically between 2 and 3 minutes.
With the mixer at medium-low speed, gradually add the flour to the mixture, beating the flour in just until blended. Remove half of the dough from the bowl and set aside on a sheet of wax paper.
Add the red food coloring to the remaining dough and beat the mixture until it is evenly colored. For each of the candy canes, scoop a teaspoonful of the plain dough and a teaspoonful of the red colored dough, then roll each scoop in your hands to make a four inch long rope. Twist the two ropes together, making the shape of a candy cane. As the candy canes are made, arrange them on the ungreased baking sheet, spaced approximately one inch apart.
Bake the candy canes for approximately nine minutes, or until they are firm to the touch and just barely golden brown. The baking sheets should be reversed from front to back once during the baking process to ensure that they brown evenly.
As soon as the candy canes come out of the oven they should be sprinkled with the sugar and peppermint mixture. Use a wide turner to transfer the candy canes to wire racks for cooling, then store in a tightly covered container. The candy canes can be stored in a container with wax paper in between the layers to prevent them from sticking together.
