I'm happy to share one of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes as a part of today's Christmas Cookie Swap over at Faith and Family Live! We made these a few years ago and though they look a little labor intensive, they are very fun to make with children.  Enjoy and please post your cookie recipe too!

Candy Cane Cookies

Prep Time: 40 min
Total Time: 6 hours 0 min
Makes: 4 1/2 dozen cookies

1    cup sugar
1    cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2    cup milk
1    teaspoon vanilla
1    teaspoon peppermint extract
1    egg
3 1/2    cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1    teaspoon baking powder
1/4    teaspoon salt
1/2    teaspoon red food color
2    tablespoons finely crushed peppermint candies
2    tablespoons sugar

  1. Stir together 1 cup sugar, the butter, milk, vanilla, peppermint extract and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Divide dough in half. Stir food color into 1 half. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
  2. Heat oven to 375ºF.
  3. Stir together peppermint candy and 2 tablespoon sugar; set aside.
  4. For each candy cane, shape 1 rounded teaspoon dough from each half into 4-inch rope by rolling back and forth on floured surface. Place 1 red and white rope side by side; press together lightly and twist. Place on ungreased cookie sheet; curve top of cookie down to form handle of cane.
  5. Bake 9 to 12 minutes or until set and very light brown. Immediately sprinkle candy mixture over cookies. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Find more cookie recipes at Faith and Family Live!