White Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies are a festive, yet easy drop cookie. They’re perfect for any holiday cookie plate.

Cookies for Christmas

As the Christmas season begins, our thoughts naturally turn to….cookies! Who knows why having so many Christmas cookies available is a thing during the holiday season, but I’m not complaining! Having a baked cookie around as a delicious treat just makes Christmas that much better.

I will admit, I am a fairly impatient baker. I tend to get a little bored with scooping cookie dough, making the little dough balls, putting them on the cookie sheet and waiting for each batch to bake. This particular recipe works great for me, though, because it makes a manageable three dozen delicious cookies which fit perfectly on two baking sheets and bake up all at one time.

However, a perfect Christmas cookie recipe for me can’t just be about easily scooping cookie dough, it also has to taste delicious. And, for me, one of my favorite cookie recipes is the chocolate chip cookie.

White Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

But, just making a regular chocolate chip cookie doesn’t really celebrate the Christmas season. And let’s be honest, throwing chocolate chip cookies in your local holiday cookie exchange isn’t going to really stand out.

So, how to make a chocolate chip cookie more Christmas-y? Candy canes! Peppermint candies (and especially candy canes) are everywhere this time of year and do have that taste and smell of Christmas.

The other great thing about baking with candy canes is that you can usually find already-crushed candy canes in your local grocery store. So, while you can crush your own candy canes or peppermint candies, you can also go the easy route and buy your candy cane pieces. And I like easy!

Bring on the White Chocolate Chips

As this is a Christmas cookie recipe, I also wanted to get away from the look of a traditional chocolate chip cookie with its dark chocolate chips. I wanted to get more of the light, “snowy” feel of the Christmas season into the cookie and I thought white chocolate chips were the answer. These give the cookies a lighter, brighter look – almost like sugar cookies.

The combination of peppermint from the crushed candy canes and the creamy, mild flavor of the white chocolate are just meant for each other. They’re a perfect flavor combination and you end up with chewy cookies with nice crispy edges. 

And while you don’t have to do this, I did use premium white chocolate chips (Ghirardelli) because I happened to have some in my pantry. I love their chocolate and there might have been some extra chips that ended up in me instead of the cookies! 

Be a Christmas Season Cookie All-Star

So, for this holiday season, definitely give this White Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies recipe a try. Who knows, they may end up being your new favorite Christmas cookie and the all-star of any Christmas cookie exchange!

Enjoy!

Tips for Making the Best White Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

• If you aren’t able to find crushed candy canes, you can use regular candy canes and create your own crushed candy cane pieces. It will take about 8 regular size candy canes to make 1/2 cup.
• To crush the candy canes, put them into a plastic bag (a zip top bag works best) and use a rolling pin, meat mallet or the bottom of small skillet to crush them.
• I suggest using unsalted butter to prevent the cookies from being too salty.
• Using either a hand mixer or stand mixer will make the mixing much easier, as the dough is fairly stiff.
• After the cookies have come out of the oven and they’ve set for a few minutes, transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
• Store in an airtight container once they’re completely cooled to keep them fresh.
• These cookies are freezer friends. Start by freezing them on a pan in a single layer. Then transfer to a plastic freezer bag or any airtight container that is freezer safe and store in the freezer. 
• General consensus is you can freeze these cookies for about 2-3 months.

Ingredients Needed to Make White Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

Full instructions can be found below in the recipe card

• All purpose flour – Any all purpose flour will work with this recipe.
• Baking powder 
• Baking soda 
• Salt 
• Unsalted butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter in baking recipes to prevent the recipe from becoming too salty. Salted butter will also work, just be mindful of how much additional salt you add to the recipe.
• Brown sugar 
• Sugar – Regular granulated white sugar is what you need to use.
• Vanilla extract – It costs a bit more, but pure vanilla extract is far superior to artificial vanilla flavoring. 
• Egg 
• White chocolate chips 
• Crushed candy canes – Around the holidays your local market may have already crushed candy canes available, otherwise regular candy canes that you crush yourself will work just fine.

How to Make White Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Beat butter, white and brown sugars and vanilla extract together until creamy.
• Add egg and beat in.
• Beat in flour mixture, a little at a time.
• Mix in white chocolate chips and crushed candy canes.
• Drop by spoonful onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (I find a small scoop works really well for this). You will likely need two baking sheets.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned.
• Let set for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

More Holiday Cookie and Sweets Recipes

• Glazed Double Chocolate Cherry Cookies
• Toffee Triangles
• Five Ingredient Peppermint Holiday Almond Bark
• Grinch Short Bread Bites
• Peppermint Sandwich Cookies
• Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
• Lemon Snowflake Cookies
• Chewy Chocolate Cookies

ENJOY!