Total Time: 40 minutes
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Sometimes Ihave trouble sleeping atthis time of the year. As I lay awake (praying I'll be sprinkled with sleep-dust!), I'm often reminded of an age-oldholiday story. Can you guess which one?
If your hunch was "Twas the Night Before Christmas", you win the prize!
Twas the nightbefore Christmas
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse
The stockings all hung
By the chimney with care
In hopesthat St. Nicholas
Soon would be there
The children were nestled
All snug in their beds
With visions of sugarplums
Dancing in their heads
That's me! I've been having "visions of sugar plums dancing in my head"lately when I'm supposed to be sleeping. Except, I'm not achild. Actually, far from it, and to be honest, I'm not even sure what "sugar plums"are!
But I do lay awake some nightswith a zillion sweet ideasfor the upcoming holidays flooding my mind.That's how myCandy Cane Shortbread Cookies came into being. Isawthese delightful Dark Chocolate Peppermint Patty Thumbprints on Pinterest the day before and thought they were just too fun and pretty for words. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning,thinking about them (I know, crazy, right?) and started dreamingup my own variation.
I decided to go a little different route and, instead of a chocolate base, I used an old faithful, never-fail shortbread recipe. It's fromLand O LakesandI've made it untold times over the years. It's always a hit, andthe simplest recipe ever. It comes together withfour basic ingredients: butter, sugar, flour and vanilla. In the original recipe, the dough is rolled into little balls, the center is indented and a little scoop of jam is addedbefore baking. The result is an irresistible, melt-in-your-mouth thumbprintcookie with a jewel-like center. I've had fun adapting this recipe lots of different ways; includingthese Raspberry Peach Thumbprint Cookies.
This time,I simplyformed the same doughinto small balls thenrolled each onein Christmas-hued sprinkles before baking. As soon as the colorful,whimsical little cookies rolled out of the oven, I nestled aHershey's Candy Cane Kiss right in the center of each and couldhardly wait for them tocool enoughto try one.
Delish! The wonderful, buttery shortbread pairs beautifully with the white chocolate mint kisses, and makes a fun, super pretty presentation with the multi-hued sprinkles and candy cane striped kisses. I honestly wasn't sure if I'd like a cookie with all those sprinkles but, if you use the tiny ones called non-pareils*, it's similar to a sugar coating and adds a nice little crunch to each bite.
Need a fun holiday project to do with your kids? How about a sweet treatthat will bringoohs and aahs at the cookie exchange? A fun gift for a friend, neighbor, co-worker, teacher, etc? Perhaps an easy,festive, make-ahead dessert to serve with a bowl of good vanilla ice cream? Gotcha covered! And while I can't promise they'll elicit "visions of sugar plums", I'm quite certain these Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies will be sure to please children of all ages!
P. S. * If you're looking for the exact sprinkle colors in my cookies, I used the kind on the far right in this variety package of sprinkles.
Oh, and if you're in a cookie baking mood, here's another holidaycookie we love to make this time of year. It seems to be going crazy over on Pinterest right now! Just click on the picture or link below for the recipe.
Red Velvet Kiss Cookies
YOU CAN JOIN US ONFACEBOOKANDTWITTERAS WELL ASINSTAGRAM–WE HAVE LOTS OF FUN OVER THERE!
AND WE’RE FOREVER PINNING RECIPES AND INSPIRATIONAL IDEAS ONPINTEREST– JUST CLICK TO FOLLOW US
4.6 from 10 votes
Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies
Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies - easy, whimsical and eye-catching, these incredibly delicious cookies have a buttery shortbread base and a sprinkle coating, topped with a Hershey's candy-cane kiss.
Author: Adapted by Chris Scheuer from Land O Lakes
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:Holiday foods
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Servings: 36
Ingredients
- 1cupsalted buttersoftened
- ⅔cupsugar
- ½teaspoonvanilla extract
- 2cupsall-purpose flour
- ½cupcolor nonpareil sprinkles
- 1 10-ouncebag Hershey's Holiday Candy Cane Kisses
Instructions
Heat oven to 350°F. Pour sprinkles into shallow bowl. Unwrap Candy Cane Kisses
Combine butter, sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy.
Add flour; beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
Shape dough into small 1-inch balls (I use a small ice cream scoop).
Roll balls of dough in sprinkles, patting sprinkles gently onto any areas where sprinkles have not adhered. You want to have the little balls covered with sprinkles.
Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 14-18 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove from oven and quickly place a kiss in the center of each cookie, pressing down barely (about ¼ inch or less!) into the cookie. Don't be tempted to press the kiss too deeply into the cookies as they will crack at the edges. If you do have any cracking, gently push the crack back together while the cookies are still warm.
Let the cookies stand 5 minutes on sheet pan, then carefully remove to cooling rack. Cool completely before moving or touching. The kisses will take a while to firm up. If you try to move them too soon the kisses will collapse or distort in shape.
Recipe Notes
