Thursday, November 8, 2007

CANDY CANE COOKIES

These mild mint cookies are easy to form once you color the dough-just roll into ropes and twist together.

1/2 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Green and red food coloring

In a bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugars. Beat in milk, egg and extracts. Gradually add flour and salt. Set aside half of the dough. Divide remaining dough in half; add green food coloring to one portion and red food coloring to the other. Wrap dough separately in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. Roll 1/2 teaspoonfuls of each color of dough into 3-inc. ropes. Place each green rope next to a white rope; press together gently and twist. Repeat with red ropes and remaining white ropes. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. curve one end, forming a cane. Bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes or until set. Cool for 2 minutes; carefully remove to wire racks.

Yield: about 6 dozen.

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