Candy Canes

These are my favorite cookie ever, but they take a little time and patients to roll out and shape each cookie. My sister's instructions are to "keep them fresh in a tightly sealed container, because it's a lot of work you don't want ruined by the humidity!" Thanks for that Jenna. I don't know how long she wants them to last, I'll settle for eating them....

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Yields: 4 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• 3 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1 1⁄4 cups butter, soft
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  large egg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  red food coloring
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  peppermint extract

Directions

1. Measure first 6 ingredients into large bowl with mixer on low speed, beat until well blended, scraping bowl.
2. Set aside half of dough.
3. Into remaining dough add the red food coloring and the peppermint extract, knead in until well blended.
4. On lightly flowered surface, roll 1 tsp of white dough into a 4" rope, repeat with red dough.
5. Place ropes side by side and gently twist and curve to make a candy cane.
6. Bake 10 minutes at 375F degrees.