The English term candy cane refers to the classic sugar sticks (in plural candy canes), the iconic J-shaped Christmas candies, characterized by red and white stripes. A symbol of Christmas especially in Anglo-Saxon countries, candy canes are often used to decorate the tree, the holiday table, or to enrich gift packages.
In this recipe, I reinterpreted candy canes in the form of shortcrust pastry cookies, transforming them into homemade spiced Christmas cookies, fragrant and crumbly. A simple and creative preparation, perfect for the Christmas season, ideal to enjoy during the holidays or to give as a sweet homemade gift.
Will you try them? Let me know… in the meantime, Merry Christmas!
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 20 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
- Energy 116.06 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 15.25 (g) of which sugars 5.60 (g)
- Proteins 1.89 (g)
- Fat 5.59 (g) of which saturated 3.45 (g)of which unsaturated 2.04 (g)
- Fibers 0.30 (g)
- Sodium 1.62 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 25 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 4.23 oz butter
- 3.53 oz granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 2.7 tbsp whole milk
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet vanillin
- 0.14 oz red food coloring
- to taste powdered sugar
Tools
- Bowl
- Baking Sheet
- Cutting Board
- Cooling Rack
Recipe: candy cane
In a bowl, mix the butter with sugar until you get a light cream. Add the egg yolks and milk, mixing well.
Note: Divide the freshly prepared dough into two equal parts, then add the packet of vanillin to the flour and divide this in half as well.
Add to the first dough half of the sifted flour, work quickly and form a smooth and even ball.
In the second dough add the red food coloring and mix. Then add the other half of the flour, work quickly, and also form the second dough ball.
Wrap the two dough balls in food-grade plastic wrap and let them rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Take the doughs out of the fridge, form into balls weighing approximately 0.53 oz each, then shape them into cylinders about 7 inches long.
Place the light and red cylinders side by side, then gently twist them together until you get a twisted shape, and finally bend one side to form classic candy canes.
Place the obtained cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Here are your candy cane cookies in white and red shortcrust pastry, perfect to make Christmas sweet and colorful! Easy to prepare and beautiful to see, they are ideal for surprising friends and family… and to enjoy with a nice cup of hot chocolate!
👉 Extra idea for Christmas: small, cute, and irresistible: homemade candy canes are a sweet, original, and super festive gift: you can put them in transparent bags, close them with a colored ribbon or a personalized tag, and pair them with assorted cookies, homemade chocolates or small Christmas decorations for a “gift basket” effect. If stored well in airtight boxes or well-sealed bags, they remain crunchy for several days.
Storage and Advice
Storage: candy canes keep for a week at room temperature, stored in a cookie jar or airtight container.
Advice: before shaping the sticks, it’s important to let the shortcrust pastry rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. It will be easier to roll without cracking.
When rolling out the dough, try to keep it the same thickness along the entire stick. This way they will bake evenly and look better.
FAQ
Can I make the candy canes with cocoa instead of using red coloring?
Yes! If you want a more chocolatey taste, you can replace the red food coloring with 0.53 oz of unsweetened cocoa powder. You’ll get truly delicious vanilla and cocoa cookies.
Can I make the dough in advance?
Yes! The shortcrust pastry dough keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 days, wrapped in plastic wrap. You can also freeze it for 1-2 months: just thaw it in the fridge before rolling it out and shaping the candy canes.
Does the color of the candy cane cookies change during baking?
Yes, that’s completely normal. During baking, the coloring tends to lighten, especially with light doughs like shortcrust pastry. That’s why candy canes may appear more pinkish than deep red once baked.
