Looking for a Christmas treats recipe the whole family can get stuck into? These Fantasy Christmas Canes are a lovely one to add to your baking list this year. They were shared with us by Mykidstime parent Aileen R, who first tasted them at a children’s party thanks to a Canadian friend – and couldn’t rest until she had the recipe.
“All the guests, young and not so young, fell in love with these wonderful canes that a Canadian friend once brought to a kids’ party, so I asked her for the recipe. Unlike their candy cousins, these canes just melt in your mouth. Bon appétit!” – Aileen R
Unlike traditional hard candy canes, these are a soft, buttery, shortbread-style biscuit twisted into a candy cane shape – red and white, or green and white. They’re a lovely one for kids to help roll and twist, and they look brilliant on a plate at a Christmas party or wrapped up as a homemade gift.
Preparation time: approximately 20 minutes (it gets quicker each time you make them)
Ingredients (makes 30–40 canes, depending on size)
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 1/2 cup softened margarine or vegetable fat
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 1 teaspoon almond essence
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Red and green food colouring
A note on measurements: this recipe comes from a Canadian tradition, so it’s written in cups rather than grams. A standard set of measuring cups will work perfectly here.
Method
1. Mix the butter, margarine and sieved icing sugar together in a large bowl.
2. Add the egg and both essences.
3. Add the sieved flour and salt, and mix well.
4. Divide the mixture in half, leaving one half in the original bowl. Split the remaining half into two smaller bowls. Add red colouring to one and green colouring to the other. Knead all three doughs.
5. Using a teaspoon, scoop out balls of dough and roll them between floured palms until smooth, about the size of a walnut. Place on a tray lined with greaseproof paper. You’ll want roughly the same number of white balls as coloured ones combined (for example, 20 white, 10 red, 10 green).
6. Cover with cling film or foil and chill in the fridge for about an hour.
7. On a floured surface, roll each ball into a thin “snake” roughly the length of a teaspoon. Lay a white and a red snake side by side and twist them together; do the same with a white and a green. Curve one end to form the cane shape, then place on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper.
8. Bake in the middle of the oven at 190°C for 7–9 minutes, depending on size. Keep an eye on them and take them out as soon as the edges just begin to colour.
9. Leave the canes to cool completely on the tray before moving them – they’re delicate while warm and will break if handled too soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can kids help make these?
Yes – rolling the dough into balls and twisting the coloured “snakes” together is a lovely hands-on job for children, with a grown-up handling the oven.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes. The dough needs to chill in the fridge for about an hour before rolling, so you can prepare it earlier in the day and shape the canes when you’re ready to bake.
Can I freeze the dough or the baked canes?
Both the dough and the baked canes freeze reasonably well. If freezing dough, let it come back to room temperature before rolling and shaping. Baked canes should be cooled completely and stored in an airtight container.
Why are the measurements in cups?
This is a Canadian family recipe, so it’s written in cups rather than grams or ounces. A standard set of measuring cups will give you the right proportions.
Related Articles
- 15 Easy Christmas Recipes
- More festive family baking ideas for kids
- Simple Christmas crafts to do alongside your baking
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If you’re planning your Christmas baking list, this one’s worth bookmarking or pinning for later – it’s a fun addition alongside cookies, mince pies and other festive treats.
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