Description
Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies are a festive twist on classic shortbread, featuring buttery, crumbly cookies with a hint of peppermint. Shaped like candy canes and sprinkled with sugar, these are perfect for holiday gifting or pairing with your favorite hot drink.
Ingredients
Scale
- 110g unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup caster sugar
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg white (from a free-range egg), at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups plain flour
- 2 tsp cornflour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp table salt
- Red food coloring gel
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Beat softened butter, caster sugar, peppermint, and vanilla extracts in an electric stand mixer for 6 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Whisk the egg white in a separate bowl. Add half of it to the butter mixture and beat until combined.
- In another bowl, whisk together plain flour, cornflour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough in half. Add a few drops of red food coloring to one half, kneading to create an even color. Wrap both portions in cling film and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced). Line baking trays with parchment paper. Roll each dough half into 1 cm thick ropes, twist one red rope with one white rope, roll again, cut into 12 cm lengths, and curve into candy cane shapes.
- Brush the cookies with the remaining egg white and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake for 12–15 minutes until pale golden. Let cool on trays for 10 minutes before transferring to a rack.
Notes
- The dough can be prepared a few days in advance and stored in the fridge. Knead slightly to soften before shaping.
- If peppermint isn’t your favorite, substitute almond or orange extract.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes (+ 2 hours chilling time)
- Cook Time: 12–15 minutes per batch
- Category: dessert
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: cookie
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 4g
- Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 1g