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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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- 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
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Heat oven to 350°F. Pour sprinkles into shallow bowl. Unwrap Candy Cane Kisses
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Combine butter, sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy.
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Add flour; beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
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Shape dough into small 1-inch balls (I use a small ice cream scoop).
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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.
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Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
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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.
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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.
Sandy says
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
Chris Scheuer says
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.
Debbie Rogers says
Pop in the freezer before baking or after? Thanks! These look magical.
Chris Scheuer says
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.
lisa hansen says
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
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Lisa,
I haven't tried the cookies any other way. A lemon version sounds lovely, YUM!
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Mimi, I would add 1/2 teaspoon. Hope you enjoy them!
Mimi says
If I use unsalted butter, how much salt should I add?
Traci says
Hi Chris! These look very yummy and festive! If baking ahead, would you recommend freezing, or how long would they keep? Thank you!
Chris Scheuer says
Yes, I would freeze them if making more than a day or two in advance.
SallyBR says
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....
Chris Scheuer says
No problem at all Sally, they should be just fine!
SallyBR says
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!
Lorrie says
Hi how many cookies does this recipe make?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Lorrie, it will make about 3-3 1/2 dozen cookies.
Lorrie says
Thank you need to make 5 dozen for cookie party
Elena says
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,
Chris Scheuer says
I didn't think of that, but you're right Elena!
Laura Clark says
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?
Chris Scheuer says
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!
Susan says
These would probably go first on any tray of cookies I could put in front of my grandsons! So cute, Chris!
Chris Scheuer says
They're great for kids of all ages Susan!
Diane (Created by Diane) says
These cookies are on cuteness overload! Just perfect for each and every Christmas platter!
Chris Scheuer says
They truly are Diane! So cheerful!
Adina says
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.
Chris Scheuer says
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.
John/Kitchen Riffs says
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.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks John - shortbread is one of our long-time favorites too!
Jenna says
These cookies are so pretty Chris!! Sound easy too, now I have visions of sugar plums dancing in my head!
Chris Scheuer says
Ha ha! They are very simple Jenna!
Sandra says
Cutie Patooties! Guess who'll be wide awake in the wee hours of the morning thinking about these?
Chris Scheuer says
Sandra, you crack me up! We easily could be sisters, couldn't we?
Easyfoodsmith says
These festive cookies are prettiest cookies I ever laid my eyes on!!!
Chris Scheuer says
That's so sweet of you to say!
Amy says
Oh my, how festive are these., great for making with the family.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Amy! They can really brighten up a Christmas event!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
These cookies look absolutely stunning and festive! Thanks for sharing, Chris.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Angie! And happy holidays!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
I could stare at these cookies forever. So, so pretty! I need to get baking some, because we are all candy cane lovers here 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
Isn't it fun when the candy cane season rolls around?
Marigene says
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.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Marigene! I'm always searching stores for new and different things to decorate cookies and cakes with!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
What festive and pretty cookies for gifting!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Laura! They would make great Christmas visit gifts!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
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!
Chris Scheuer says
Our daughter is visiting from London in two weeks, so we'll send them back over with her Sue!
Wendy says
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!
Chris Scheuer says
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!
Vicki Bensinger says
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
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Vicki! I think you'll love them!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
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!
Chris Scheuer says
Our grands haven't seen them in person, but I bet they concur Shashi!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
These are the most adorable, colorful, perfect Christmas cookie ever! They are eye-catching and no doubt delicious. Love at first sight!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Tricia, they do look pretty cheerful, sitting on their little throne!!