Candy Cane Cookies

I found this recipe years ago and am now copying it here from our family cookbook binder. Enjoy!

Candy Cane Cookies

Ingredients:

• ½ cup softened butter
• ½ cup shortening 
• 1 cup powdered sugar  
• 1 egg 
• 1 ½ tsp. almond extract 
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp red food coloring
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy
• 1/2 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.  
2. Mix first six ingredients together until smooth.  
3. Then add flour and salt until all is well mixed together.  
4. Divide dough in half and add food coloring to one half of the dough, until dough is pink.  
5. Make 6-8 inch dough ropes out of the red and white dough.  Take one red rope and one white rope and twist them together.  Place twisted dough ropes on a cookie sheet and form into the shape of a candy cane.  
6. Bake 9 minutes (or until very light brown).  
7. Mix candy and sugar together and immediately sprinkle cookies with candy when removed from oven.  
8. Place on wire racks to cool.