Cookie Candy Canes Or Valentine Hearts - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 c. butter or margarine (room temperature)
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
3/4 tsp. red food coloring
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 egg white, beaten slightly
red sugar crystals

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375\u00b0. In a medium bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, vanilla and peppermint extracts until light and fluffy.
Add flour and baking powder, beating until blended. Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Stir red food coloring into 1 portion of dough, beating or kneading until well blended.
For each cookie, shape 1 teaspoon of each color dough into a 4-inch long rope, rolling back and forth until smooth, even ropes. Place 1 red rope and 1 white rope, side by side.
Press together lightly and twist.
Place 1-inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Curve 1 end of cookie dough down to form handle of candy cane. Brush with slightly beaten egg white and sprinkle with red sugar crystals. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown lightly. Remove cookies from baking sheets.
Cool on racks.