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One of our favorite family traditions during the holidays is making Candy Cane Cookies. I used to make these with my mom when I was young so it is nice to now make them with my girls. We tend to alter this recipe by using crushed candy canes instead of the peppermint extract.

You can put a few candy canes in a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin. My girls love doing that part. The crushed candy canes can be added to the dough for a real candy cane taste and a very pretty look. You can choose to add it to all of the dough or just the red dough.

The Recipe

1 cup butter or margarine -- softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract (only if not using real candy canes)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring

Mix first 6 ingredients together well.

Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well.

Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Add food coloring to 1 portion. Blend well and refrigerate.

When the dough is chilled enough to easily work with you can continue. Roll each color dough into ropes that are about 5-1/2-inches long. Lay them side by side. Pinch ends together. Twist the colors to make the spiral. Lay on baking sheet. Shape to form canes. Wreaths are easy to make too.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes until baked being careful to not let them brown much. Cool on sheet for 2 to 3 minutes then remove.

Makes about 4-1/2 dozen.