Homemade cookies are always a great idea at Christmas time, and this is a fun recipe for the holiday season: Candy Cane Cookie Bliss. These cookies are made with the soft, buttery cookie and the sweet and refreshing candy cane.
They make a great gift for Christmas parties and cookie exchanges, for family get-togethers, for holiday dessert tables, or just for a cozy day at home to bake.
The red and white also add a festive touch to these cookies! Crushed candy canes, white chocolate candy canes or even just sugar candy canes can make them special.
This Candy Cane Cookie Bliss recipe is easy to make and the ingredients are readily available.
What Is Candy Cane Cookie Bliss?
Candy Cane Cookie Bliss is a Christmas cookie featuring a sweet cookie dough, with peppermint and candy cane flavours.
Depending on your baking time the cookies will be soft or slightly crisp.
Common ingredients include:
- All-purpose flour
- Butter
- Sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Peppermint extract
- Crushed candy canes
- Baking powder
- White chocolate, optional
The peppermint adds an authentic holiday flavor to the cookies.
Ingredients You Need
To make this easy candy cane cookie recipe, you’ll need:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup saltless butter, softened - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
2/3 cup crushed candy canes
White chocolate chips, optional (1/2 cup)
For decoration:
An additional crushed candy cane
White chocolate candy, optional
In addition, red and white ‘spinkles’ for the holidays (optional)
Peppermint extract is strong so use sparingly. A teaspoon is enough!
How to Make Candy Cane Cookie Bliss
Heat the oven to 350 °F.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use parchment paper to avoid cookies sticking to the pan and to ease clean-up.
Step 1: Combine the Dry Ingredients
Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
Mix them together until they are well blended.
Set the bowl aside.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar.
This step will help a fluffier cookie.
Ensure that the butter is softened but not melted.
Step 3: Add the Egg and Flavor
Stir in the egg, vanilla extract and peppermint extract.
Mix until everything is well combined.
The peppermint extract imparts the candy cane flavor to the cookies.
Step 4: Add the Dry Ingredients
Add the flour mixture, dropwise into the wet ingredients.
Knead until a soft dough has formed.
Avoid over working the dough.
Scoops. Cookies can become tougher if they are overmixed.
Step 5: Add Crushed Candy Canes
Fold the crushed candy canes a little bit into the dough.
Add white chocolate chips, if using, at this point.
Avoid crushing the candy canes to an extremely fine powder. The peppermint flavour can be complemented by small crunchy bits.
Shape the Candy Cane Cookies
Divide the dough into small portions with a spoon or with a cookie scoop.
Gently form each into a ball.
Arrange dough balls on the prepared baking sheet.
Separate cookies as they tend to spread during baking.
To make a festive appearance, lightly flatten each dough ball.
A little crushed candy cane can be added on top, before baking.
Bake the Candy Cane Cookies
Put baking sheet in preheated oven.
Bake for approximately 9 to 12 minutes.
The edges should be lightly golden and the centers can be a bit soft.
Make sure you don’t over bake cookies.
As they cool they will further harden.
Take the baking sheet out of the oven and allow the cookies to cool a few minutes.
Transfer to a cooling rack.
Add White Chocolate Topping
You can use white chocolate to add some extra holiday flavour to the cooled cookies.
Carefully melt white chocolate, short intervals of heating and stirring in between.
Pour the melted chocolate on top of the cookies.
When the chocolate cools, top with crushed candy canes.
Allow the chocolate to become firm before serving.
Tips for Making Soft Candy Cane Cookies
Use Softened Butter
Butter which is softened will blend with sugar more easily and will help to make a smooth dough.
Do Not Overmix
Only mix the dough until ingredients are combined.
Keep a close eye on the baking time.
If left in the oven for too long, candy cane cookies may get dry.
Carefully crush the candy canes.
Take candy canes and place in a sealed bag and lightly roll them with a rolling pin.
Don’t make the pieces too big, since hard candy pieces may be hard to chew.
Cool Before Decorating
Add melted chocolate after cookies have completely cooled.
Easy Candy Cane Cookie Variations
There are a number of ways that this Christmas candy cane cookie recipe can be customized.
Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies
If you like, add cocoa powder to the dough for a chocolate and peppermint mix.
May need a little fine-tuning of the flour to balance the dough.
White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Place white chocolate chips into cookie dough.
Peppermint seems to be a good match with white chocolate.
Candy Cane Sugar Cookies
Avoid adding chocolate, instead dust the dough balls with a mixture of sugar and crushed candy cane before baking.
Chocolate-Dipped Cookies
Dip the bottom half of each cookie into the melted chocolate.
While the chocolate is still soft, add crushed candy cane.
How to Store Candy Cane Cookies
Put completely cooled cookies in an airtight container.
If the chocolate topping is added on top, put parchment paper between the layers.
Store in a cool dry location.
When the kitchen is too hot, the chocolate decorations can melt.
Try not to let the cookies get moist as the candy cane chunks will get sticky.
Are Candy Cane Cookies Freezeable?
Yes, these cookies can be frozen.
Wait until the cookies have cooled down completely before putting them in a freezer safe container or bag.
Separate layers with parchment paper.
The cookie dough can also be frozen until it is ready to be baked.
Divide the dough into pieces and freeze on a tray and then place in a freezer container.
Follow safe food handling practices and modify baking times as necessary when ready to bake.
Christmas Candy Cane Cookies
The perfect holiday cookie for Christmas: Christmas peppermint cookies!
They can be served at:
- Christmas parties
- Cookie exchanges
- Family gatherings
- School celebrations
- Holiday dinners
- Winter parties
- Dessert tables
- Homemade gift baskets
Store the cookies in a pretty food-safe gift box or clear bag for a gift.
Use a simple holiday ribbon for an elegant presentation.
Food Safety Tips
Here are some basic food safety tips:
Wash your hands and use clean kitchen equipment to make cookies.
Separate raw dough from ready to eat foods.
Do not eat raw dough containing raw flour and egg.
Allow baked cookies to cool before storing them.
Note on food allergy: Review the label of ingredients for cookies if serving to a person who has an allergy to chocolate, candy cane sweets, packaged baking goods, etc.
Why Make Candy Cane Cookie Bliss?
The cookies are simple, festive and customizable.
The buttery cookie provides a soft base and peppermint will add a cool holiday flavor.
Crushed candy cane adds color and a slight crunch.
White chocolate can provide additional sweetness and a festive look to cookies.
They can also be made in advance, making them more convenient if you’re decorating multiple recipes for holiday season dishes.
Final Thoughts
Candy Cane Cookie Bliss is a fun Christmas cookie recipe, made with peppermint and candy cane flavored cookies.
The recipe is easy to make and adapt. You can add white chocolate, dip the cookies in chocolate, use additional candy cane pieces, or create a chocolate peppermint version.
The softened butter is best, and be careful that the dough is not over mixed, be mindful of the baking time and wait until the cookies have cooled before decorating.
These cookies are a winter treat for any Christmas party, holiday gift, cookie exchange or family dessert table, and they are no exception to the rule that anything made with candy canes is a delicious treat.
