Candy Cane Bow Sugar Cookies

Forming the dough:

1. Pour the dry ingredients into a separate mixing bowl (Flour, baking powder and salt,)  and whisk until combined. Set aside.
2. In a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer) cream the butter (of choice) and sugar together until light a fluffy.
3. Then mix in the egg, vanilla and quality peppermint extract until fully combined.
4.  Once combined pour the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt into the egg, sugar and butter, mixing until well combined. You’ll know the dough is ready when the mixing bowl is clean and the dough attaches to the paddle.
5. Remove approximately half of the dough (does not have to be weighed) and cover with plastic wrap. Then color the remaining dough in the mixing bowl with a few drops of red gel coloring, mixing until incorporated and the desired candy cane hue is achieved.
6. Next shape the dough.

Shaping the candy canes and bows

1. Line a solid surface with parchment.
2. Next scoop about 1 tablespoon sized amount of each color of dough onto the parchment lined surface.
3. Roll each of the colors of dough separately with your fingers, until they form a thin log, about 1/2″ thick.
4. Then twist the rolled and colored dough together evenly to form the combined candy cane colors.
5. Continue rolling the combined dough together to smooth out the lines.
6. Roll the candy cane log to about 8″.
7. Then cut the log in half.
8. Next take each of the cut halves and form them into a hooked candy cane shape.
9. Connect the two candy cane cookie shapes so they form a heart that is attached at the top center.
10. Once the heart is formed, cross the bottoms of each candy cane cookie over each other so that they overlap and stick out on either side.
11. Push the top center of the candy cane heart down towards the overlapped pieces of the candy cane heart to form the bow shape.
12. Lastly, roll a small separate piece of dough to a thin log (about 2″ long).
13. Place the thin rolled dough vertically into the center of bow shaped cookie dough, pressing firmly at the top and bottom to attach and complete the bow design.
14. Repeat steps for all cookies.
15. Bake at 400 degrees F, for 4 1/2 to 5 minutes.
16. Dust with a little powdered sugar and gold or silver glitter for a finishing touch!
17. Enjoy!