I'm always on the lookout for Christmas cookies my kids can help me make. They can help unwrap kisses while I measure out and start the cookie dough, then help scoop the cookies onto the pan. You'll love the heavenly peppermint aroma that fills your kitchen while this bake!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This recipe has simple tasks that children can do to help with these holiday cookies!
- Very similar to the Otis Spunkmeyer peppermint chip cookies!
- Delicious peppermint Christmas cookies speckled with red and white color are ideal for a cookie exchange!
- Much like my Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe but with a peppermint holiday twist!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Peppermint Extract - If you find you don't have this in your cupboard or you prefer not to add peppermint extract, it's OK. The cookies won't be as pepperminty but will still be good.
- Candy Cane Kisses - This recipe calls for 70 candy cane kisses. This is at least a 10-ounce bag. The bag sizes seem to vary year to year, and sometimes I just want to get the large bag. As long as you have 70 kisses, you're covered. I usually get mine at the grocery store, but you can order them from Amazon as well.
- Butter Flavored Shortening- Using shortening in this recipe is what makes them work. If you want to substitute half butter, you can, but I wouldn't substitute all of it. It's also important to use the butter-flavored shortening. Regular shortening will make these taste borderline nasty.
- Flour - Always all-purpose flour, never self-rising.
A Few Things You'll Need For This Recipe
How to Make Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly spray them with non-stick cooking spray.
- Unwrap and chop up 70 Candy Cane Kisses.
- In a large bowl or in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter flavored shortening, brown sugar, and white sugar.
- Add the eggs, vanilla, and peppermint extracts. Mix well at a medium speed.
- Add the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well.
- Add half the flour. Mix well at low speed.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the chopped Candy Cane Kisses and the last half of the flour. Mix until all the flour is mixed in.
- Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop the cookie dough onto a prepared cookie sheet.
- For soft and chewy cookies, bake them at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.
- The bottom edges should be starting to turn golden brown, but the tops will not be browned at all.
- For a crisper, chewy cookie, adjust the baking time to 10 minutes; they will be lightly golden all over.
- Cool on wire cookie racks.
- Store the cooled cookie in an airtight container.
Recipe FAQs
Can I substitute butter for the shortening?
You can substitute half of the shortening with butter. Using all butter in place of the shortening will cause the dough to spread too much, and it won't bake up and retain the proper shape or thickness.
How many kisses or what size bag of kisses do I buy?
For some reason, Hershey's varies their bag sizes year to year. You will need at least a 10 oz bag. You will want to have a total of 70 candy cane kisses, give or take 2 or 3.
Do these cookies freeze well?
Yes, they do. Make sure the cookies have cooled completely before wrapping them tightly with plastic wrap and popping them in the freezer.
Related Christmas Treat Recipes
- Iced Gingerbread Men - a perfect addition to cookie platters!
- Cranberry Crumble Bars - great for leftover cranberry sauce!
- Small Batch Homemade Caramels - just for this time of year!
- Christmas Sugar Cookies - these will get you into the Christmas spirit!
- Almond Brittle - better than peanut brittle!
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Candy Cane Cookies Recipe
I'm always on the lookout for Christmas cookies my kids can help me make during the holiday season. They can unwrap kisses while starting the cookie dough, then help scoop the cookies onto the pan. Plus, you'll love the heavenly peppermint aroma that fills your kitchen while this bake!
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Butter Flavored Shortening do not sub. butter or margarine
- ¾ Cup Sugar
- ¾ Cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- ¼ teaspoon Peppermint Extract
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 ¼ Cups Flour
- 10 oz. Hershey Candy Cane Kisses 10 oz. bag
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly spray your baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray or line them with parchment paper.
- Unwrap and coarsely chop the candy cane kisses.
- In a mixing bowl, cream the butter-flavored shortening and sugars.
- Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and peppermint extracts.
- Mix in the baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Stir in half the flour, then the chopped-up candy cane kisses, then the last of the flour.
- Scoop the dough out by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets and bake at 350 for 8 minutes for soft chewy cookies, with browned bottom edges, not browned tops. Or 10 minutes for crisper, chewy cookies, golden brown all over.
- Cool and eat!
Notes
- Peppermint Extract - If you find you don't have this in your cupboard or you prefer not to add peppermint extract, it's OK. The cookies won't be as pepperminty but will still be good.
- Candy Cane Kisses - This recipe calls for 70 candy cane kisses. This is at least a 10-ounce bag. The bag sizes seem to vary year to year, and sometimes I just want to get the large bag. As long as you have 70 kisses, you're covered.
- Butter Flavored Shortening- Using shortening in this recipe is what makes them work. If you want to substitute half butter, you can, but I wouldn't substitute all of it. It's also important to use the butter-flavored shortening. Regular shortening will make these taste borderline nasty.
Nutrition
Calories: 95kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 0.3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0.2mgSodium: 41mgPotassium: 8mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 0.3IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 0.4mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Maurine
Great recipe! Fun to make with the grandkids.
Jeff
Great Christmas treat!!
L.S
Simply wonderful! These pass the cookie lover test.
Julie
We made these cookies and LOVED them! We'll definitely be making them again.
mindeescookingobsession
Thank you so much