Description
A festive sugar cookie shaped like candy canes with buttery vanilla flavor, swirls of red sugar, and optional peppermint crunch. Perfect for the holidays, cookie swaps, or gifting!
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup red sanding sugar
¼ cup crushed peppermint candies (optional)
Instructions
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
2. Add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix until fully combined and smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together. Do not overmix.
4. Divide the dough in half, shape into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
5. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out chilled dough to ¼ inch thick. Cut out ring shapes using a round cookie or donut cutter.
6. Decorate by gently pressing red sanding sugar onto the dough in swirls. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candy if using.
7. Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are just golden.
8. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Chill the dough thoroughly so the cookies hold their shape.
For neat sugar swirls, press the sanding sugar onto the dough before baking using your fingers or a small spoon.
You can freeze the shaped dough and bake directly from frozen—just add 1–2 extra minutes to baking time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: holiday cookies, peppermint cookies, sugar cookies, Christmas desserts