Peppermint Swirled Cookies & Vanilla Dipped Peppermint Sticks

Christmas is fast approaching so I am sure everyone is in full baking mode. I can't believe that I am actually going to say this but...... I think I am getting tired of all this holiday baking. Now my family on the other hand is enjoying it tremendously.

As fast as I am baking all these goodies I am having to hide them out in my deep freeze. If I don't hide them they will be eaten as fast as I can bake them up.

With all of our teacher gifts out of the way now I can concentrate on baking up some goodies for the family.

The other day I baked up some yummy Peppermint Cookies and I have to say they turned out better than I expected. I used crushed soft peppermint sticks instead of regular candy canes.

I had a few peppermint sticks left over so I dipped one end in melted vanilla bark and then rolled them in the remaining crushed peppermint.

 I hate to waste anything so I thought that would be a great idea and a nice touch to our festive christmas goodies bags.

Peppermint cookies was not what I had planned on making. I wanted to make some yummy little Candy Cane Cookies that I found on my Gooseberry Patch Calender. They looked so easy to make but I had two problems.

I thought I had almond extract and red food coloring, but I was out of both. I was half way through the recipe so I had to improvise. I did have peppermint extract, rose colored icing paste and peppermint sticks. So I decided on peppermint cookies instead.

I used my mini chopper to chop up the peppermint sticks. Then I prepared the cookie dough and tinted half pink. I rolled each of the dough halves into a rectangle and then stacked the dough on top of each other. Roll up like you would for cinnamon rolls and then cut into 1/4 inch circles using string or dental floss to make a clean cut.

Roll the sides of each cookie into the crushed peppermint sticks and placed them on a ungreased baking sheet. You can sprinkle more peppermint on top if you want. Bake at 350 degree for 8-10 minutes. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.


I think the vanilla peppermint sticks turned out so pretty.

Add the cookies to clear gift sacks and insert vanilla dipped peppermint sticks for a festive touch. You can also place the cookies and the peppermint sticks in a holiday tin with tissue paper.



Peppermint Cookies

1 - cup sugar
2/3 -cup margarine, softened
2 - eggs, beaten
2 - teaspoons vanilla extract
1 - teaspoon peppermint extract
3 - cups all purpose flour
1 - teaspoon baking powder
1/2 - teaspoon pink or rose icing paste
1 /2 - 3/4 cup crushed soft peppermint sticks

Preheat you oven to 350 degrees. Beat together sugar and margarine with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy.

Beat in eggs and extracts; set aside. Mix flour and baking powder together. Stir into margarine mixture.

Divide dough in halves; tint one half with red food coloring. Wrap separately and refrigerate 1-2 hours.

Using waxed paper roll each dough half into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Place the red dough on top of the plain cookie dough and roll up like you would for cinnamon rolls.

Using string or dental floss cut into 1/4 inch thick circles. Roll the side of each cookie into the crushed peppermint sticks and place on a un greased baking sheet.

Sprinkle more crushed peppermint on top if you like. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.

Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Store cookies in a air tight container.

Recipe adapted from: Gooseberry Patch




10 comments

Anonymous said…
Now I know how you made those Peppermint Cookies. They were my favorite in the bag of goodies. Thanks.
Anonymous said…
Hi Tina! I love your cookies, but I really like those peppermint stick. I have some I got the other day and now I have a way to make them even prettier! Thanks for the idea! Angie
Wow! This looks so perfect! I can't wait to make some for myself!
Hi

Good recipe and there are many people want to make this recipe of cookies at home. It is not difficult to make and everyone can make this recipe at home.
Julie said…
Both treats look so pretty! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas :)
nfaband said…
Now those cookies look yummy ... but there is no holiday baking at my house any longer, no one wants them anymore. My DH and I both need to lose copious amounts of weight if we ever want to be healthy again ... and my college senior certainly doesn't want anything that would take her out of her size 6 jeans ... so I admire all that yumminess from afar. Thanks for sharing!
so festive - I especially love the cookies! I have never had these - can't wait to try!

Merry Christmas!

Susan www.ugogrrl.com
Leslie said…
These are adorable! I am all baked out!
Merry Christmas to you
Miss Candiquik said…
Yummy w/ good presentation - can't go wrong :)

Happy holidays everyone!

Sarah at blog.candiquik.com
Ali said…
These look pretty and delicious! Not to mention get you in the holiday mood....