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Sometimes I have trouble sleeping at this time of the year. As I lay awake (praying I'll be sprinkled with sleep-dust!), I'm often reminded of an age-old holiday story. Can you guess which one?
If your hunch was "Twas the Night Before Christmas", you win the prize!
Twas the night before 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 hopes that 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 a child. Actually, far from it, and to be honest, I'm not even sure what "sugar plums"are!
But I do lay awake some nights with a zillion sweet ideas for the upcoming holidays flooding my mind. That's how my Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies came into being. I saw these 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 dreaming up 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 from Land O Lakes and I've made it untold times over the years. It's always a hit, and the simplest recipe ever. It comes together with four 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 added before baking. The result is an irresistible, melt-in-your-mouth thumbprint cookie with a jewel-like center. I've had fun adapting this recipe lots of different ways; including these Raspberry Peach Thumbprint Cookies.
This time, I simply formed the same dough into small balls then rolled each one in Christmas-hued sprinkles before baking. As soon as the colorful, whimsical little cookies rolled out of the oven, I nestled a Hershey's Candy Cane Kiss right in the center of each and could hardly wait for them to cool enough to 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 treat that will bring oohs 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 holiday cookie 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.
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Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup color nonpareil sprinkles
- 1 10- ounce bag 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.
Notes
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I would love the printable labels for this candy cane shortbread cookie.
Thanks so much, I cannot wait to make so many of these recipes for Christmas.
Gladys
Hi Gladys, we do not have labels for this recipe at this time.
May I get the free printable labels.
Thank you!!
Hi Leslie, we do not have labels for this recipe at this time.
use egg white to hold the spinkles it works i figures it held the pecan so i tries ir with these it work
Thanks, Gwen!
You need to freeze the kisses first, then take out whilst they are baking. Should solve the melting issue .
Thanks, Sheila!
The kisses melted. I’m sad to see my ingredients go to waste. 😢
So sorry you had trouble with these melting, Emilu!
Mine spread out and the kisses melted too much. They were a fail for me 😔
Hi K, so sorry these did not work out for you. It's difficult to say what went wrong.
They tasked good, and didn't crack and most of the candies kept their shape, but the nonpareils would not stick!
1
Hi Daphne, you do have to roll the little balls fairly firmly in the sprinkles and then pat them on in any areas where they didn't stick.
Mine are just spreading out! I decided to then refrigerate the dough and the same thing happened.
Hi Jessica,
I'm so sorry you had trouble with these cookies. It's difficult to say what went wrong without having been right there in the kitchen with you. Moisture content of butter and flour can vary. Perhaps, it might be good next time to try a test cookie and, if it spreads, add a bit more flour to the dough and then do another test.
I do a lot of testing with recipes to ensure success but there are some variables that I don't have any control over.
These were great and fairly easy for me and my twin 6-year-old girls to make! They loved taking turns using the scoop to make the balls of dough while the other rolled in the sprinkles.(we didn't have 1/2 cup non pareils, so it was more like 40% non pareils 10% long chocolate sprinkles) We also did some variations. I split the dough in half and added 1/3 cocoa powder to half to make chocolate shortbread. We used peppermint kisses, regular chocolate ones, and cookies & cream ones. They turned out great! Only had 1 that collapsed as I tried to move it from pan to rack to cool, but my daughter still ate it. Other daughter ate one and hubby already had two! Now I need to go try! Would love to post pics, but I'll do it on the Pinterest pin I found this recipe from! Thank you for an easy fun recipe!
How fun that you did this with your daughters, Amy! You're creating wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing your results and adventure!
Made these and the kisses melted over the cookie - didn’t move them as was in a previous response- still tasted awesome. Next batch I cooled them in the fridge and only a few melted down. So pretty on my trays!
Thanks for sharing your review, Mary!
i had to try these cookies as they are perfect for Christmas, love how they look. i didn't get them made before Christmas, however i had to make them, so they are baking as i type. So easy , i love the way the batter is soft. thank you so much for sharing this recipe . They will definitely be on my baking list for Christmas and i think i will make them for Valentines and just use pink, red and white sprinkles. one of the reasons they didn't get made for Christmas all the color sprinkles were sold out.
thanks again for sharing, Happy New Year
Deolinda
Thanks, Deolinda, for sharing your review. So happy you got to try them!
I make peanutbutter blossoms and that batter calls for an egg...
There is no egg in you mix. Have you tried it? I wonder if the would keep the mix together?
Hi Barbara, you could try it. This recipe does not include egg as it is a classic shortbread recipe.
These are delicious and very festive! Thank you!
Thanks so much, Shebs! So happy you enjoyed them!
Made these today and their so pretty on my Christmas cookie platter. They took 16 minutes. Thanks for great recipe.
You are speedy! Thanks so much for sharing your results, Patricia!
I made them and they didn't turn out at all, but I troubleshooted a bit and found solutions and they were perfect. Add 1/4 c milk to dough and they will roll fine and the non perils will stuck perfectly. Once baked, flatten them out a tiny bit and make a thumb print in the middle but don't add the kiss just yet. I waited about 2-3 min for them to cool slightly so the bottom of the kiss sticks, but the kiss doesn't melt.
Hi Naomi, thanks for sharing your experience. Flour can vary in moisture content and that may be why you needed more liquid. The amount given worked well for me in my testings however, it's great to adapt as needed.
Came out so pretty and so easy to make
Yay! So happy you had great results Rachel!
I just made these and they came out great! I made no changes except to use unsalted butter (because that's what I had) and added a half teaspoon of salt. I am at altitude and just baked them for 5 minutes longer without raising the temp of the oven. I couldn't wait to try one and it was delicious. I'm adding these to my cookie gifts that I give to neighbors!
Thanks so much for sharing your results, Dawn! Merry Christmas!
These were a greasy mess! I am an excellent baker but these just spread all over creation!
Hi Susan, not sure what could have gone wrong. I've never had an issue with these. I hate wasting good ingredients.
These cookies are great and so cute! I’m waiting for the kisses to firm up and it’s taking forever. How long should i allow?
Hi Becky, I usually let them sit overnight.
While there were similar recipes, yours was very simple (no milk etc) which is much appreciated! Like some other commenters said, I had a bit of trouble getting the sprinkles to stick, so I ended up having to add more butter to the mix and then no issues.
I made these for a bake exchange and they were a BIG hit! Stored the leftovers in the freezer and am constantly popping them out to snack (I think they might be EVEN BETTER frozen!) Thank you! xo
Did you freeze after baking and adding the kisses.
These cookies are so pretty but I couldn't get the nonpareils to stick to the dough very well. I tried wetting my fingers a little but then the red nonpareils started to bleed into the white making the white nonpareils pink-ish. I might try again without using white nonpareils - maybe just red and green. Also I might try to refrigerate the dough on the cookie sheets before putting in the oven. My dough spread while in the oven and did not retain it's shape.
Hi Sheri, you do have to roll the little balls fairly firmly in the sprinkles and then pat them on in any areas where they didn't stick. I could see how wetting your hands could cause a mess. Sorry you had this problem. Yes, if your cookies are spreading too much, it would help to refrigerate before baking.
How many dozen does this recipe make?
Hi Patricia, 3 dozen.
Made these tonight and the dough seemed very dry. The non-pareils would not adhere to dough. Suggestions?
Hmmm, not sure Stephanie, I've never had that problem. Sometimes butter can have more or less moisture, might be that.
I did the same thing! Then I realized that one stick of butter is 1/2 cup. Ha ha! So I softened one in the microwave added it to the dough mixture and Ta-Da!
So you think I could mix in food processor or just use hand mic?
These came out great except that my kisses melted. I pressed them in fast and put the tray in the freezer for 5 mins. The kisses sunk and my cookies look foolish. Any suggestions?
Hi Jen, I'm sorry this happened. One little trick to keep in mind is to add the kisses and then leave the cookies right where they are. If you move them, the kisses are prone to collapsing.😬
Hi can you make these without adding the kisses I them and just having a delicious shortbread cookie, also will they store well if made a few week ahead time.
Thanks you
Yes, you definitely could make them without the kisses. If I was making them a few weeks in advance, I'd just pop them in the freezer.
Pop in the freezer before baking or after? Thanks! These look magical.
Hi Debbie, I freeze them after baking. I put them on a pan in a single layer and put them in the freezer, uncovered for about an hour. Then I put them in a covered storage container. That way they don't get squished while freezing.
Hi- Love these cute and festive cookies of yours. I have a baking question: is it better to bake them as balls, or better to make a depression in the center and then bake? A typical "thumbprint cookie" has a central depression in the uncooked dough- do i need to make a depression in the dough for your cookies?
Also, what would you think of adding lemon extract and a plain white chocolate kiss with multicolored nonpareil sprinkles for a non Christmas time occasion?
thank you
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I haven't tried the cookies any other way. A lemon version sounds lovely, YUM!
Hi Mimi, I would add 1/2 teaspoon. Hope you enjoy them!
If I use unsalted butter, how much salt should I add?
Hi Chris! These look very yummy and festive! If baking ahead, would you recommend freezing, or how long would they keep? Thank you!
Yes, I would freeze them if making more than a day or two in advance.
Beautiful cookies! I bought all ingredients and I am thinking of baking them to take to a dessert holiday party on Sunday, but would have to bake them the day before
do you think that is a problem?
thanks so much for your input....
No problem at all Sally, they should be just fine!
and fine they are! 😉
no problems making them, I think it's important to roll the balls of dough very well, if the dough seems to want to crack at that point, I made sure to compress a little more.
loved making them... so many possibilites to decorate them for V-day, Halloween, 4th of July.... really a great recipe!
Happy Holidays!
Hi how many cookies does this recipe make?
Hi Lorrie, it will make about 3-3 1/2 dozen cookies.
Thank you need to make 5 dozen for cookie party
Thanks for this super cute recipe. I will be making them today for my son's first grade cookie exchange! These are also a great Christmas cookie option for kids with nut allergies,
I didn't think of that, but you're right Elena!
Hi Chris - made these tonight and they are delicious - but every one of them cracked when I put the kiss on them. Any ideas? Did I overcook them perhaps?
Hi Laura,
So sorry your cookies cracked. I didn’t have that problem and I did test them several times with different types of sprinkles till I got them the way I wanted them.
Perhaps you baked them too long. The other thing I’m wondering is if you pushed the kiss down too far. I just put the kisses in far enough so that they would stay in place, but not very deep. Another thing if, they crack, these cookies are pretty forgiving when they’re hot. If they crack just a little, you could just push them back into place. Sometimes in the past, when I’ve made other versions of these, I’d notice I didn’t get the balls very round, but I could quickly push them a little with a small spatula and “round” them up right after they came out of the oven. Hope that helps!
These would probably go first on any tray of cookies I could put in front of my grandsons! So cute, Chris!
They're great for kids of all ages Susan!
These cookies are on cuteness overload! Just perfect for each and every Christmas platter!
They truly are Diane! So cheerful!
My children would love these, they are so pretty and they love everything with sprinkles. But I have never heard of the candy cane kisses before, I am not sure I can get them here. Are they the same as candy cane only formed differently? I might find normal candy cane at the Christmas markets.
The candy cane kisses are made by the Hershey's Chocolate Company here in the U. S. Adina. They're just a version of Hershey's regular chocolate kisses that are wrapped up in foil. They are different than candy canes, since they're made of white chocolate.
I don't know what sugar plums are either, but I want one! Although honestly, I think I'd prefer a plate of these cookies. Love shortbread! And these are terrific -- thanks.
Thanks John - shortbread is one of our long-time favorites too!
These cookies are so pretty Chris!! Sound easy too, now I have visions of sugar plums dancing in my head!
Ha ha! They are very simple Jenna!
Cutie Patooties! Guess who'll be wide awake in the wee hours of the morning thinking about these?
Sandra, you crack me up! We easily could be sisters, couldn't we?
These festive cookies are prettiest cookies I ever laid my eyes on!!!
That's so sweet of you to say!
Oh my, how festive are these., great for making with the family.
Thanks Amy! They can really brighten up a Christmas event!
These cookies look absolutely stunning and festive! Thanks for sharing, Chris.
Thanks Angie! And happy holidays!
I could stare at these cookies forever. So, so pretty! I need to get baking some, because we are all candy cane lovers here 🙂
Isn't it fun when the candy cane season rolls around?
Chris, that is the same recipe I have used for years, too...your cookies are beautiful! I like that the sprinkles have different shades of the same colors.
Thanks Marigene! I'm always searching stores for new and different things to decorate cookies and cakes with!
What festive and pretty cookies for gifting!
Thanks Laura! They would make great Christmas visit gifts!
Are you going to ship a big box over to England?? These are adorable, and i think they'd be the star of any Christmas cookie assortment!
Our daughter is visiting from London in two weeks, so we'll send them back over with her Sue!
I have a thing for pretty cookies and these cookies are BEAUTIFUL! I love the sprinkles and the stripes and all of the colors and flavors going together so wonderfully. Eye catching is an understatement! I am with you. This time of year especially, there are so many possible ideas and so little time, it's hard to turn your brain off to sleep. My kids used to say sleep is for the weak. I don't exactly agree, but I know sleep isn't for a food blogger in December! May your visions always be so lovely, Chris!
Thanks for your sweet comment Wendy! You're right, we always seem extra busy at this time, don't we? Add a trip to France and a new baby, and it's a crazy house here!
I am just getting ready to make something very similar to these but the recipe is slightly different. I also wanted to make a batch of shortbread cookies so I think I'll combine your recipe with the topping I'd plan to use. Then I'll get both recipes I'd intended to do anyway. These are so festive. Have a nice holiday
Thanks Vicki! I think you'll love them!
I'd much rather have your Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies than sugar plums - these are absolutely gorgeous Chris! Loving the shortbread base - and those sprinkles just make these cookies doubly festive!
Our grands haven't seen them in person, but I bet they concur Shashi!
These are the most adorable, colorful, perfect Christmas cookie ever! They are eye-catching and no doubt delicious. Love at first sight!
Thanks Tricia, they do look pretty cheerful, sitting on their little throne!!