Candy Cane Cream Cheese Cookies are soft, chewy, festive, and perfect for Christmas baking. These easy cream cheese cookies are dotted with crushed candy cane pieces, giving every bite a sweet peppermint crunch and a pretty holiday look. They are ideal for Christmas cookie trays, homemade gifts, parties, or a cozy afternoon treat with a cold glass of milk.
Christmas is one of the best times of year to bake cookies. Whether you are making a batch for your family, preparing a festive dessert table, or putting together homemade cookie boxes for friends and neighbors, this candy cane cookie recipe is a lovely choice. The cookies are simple to make, full of seasonal flavor, and have that cheerful red-and-white candy cane color that looks wonderful during the holidays.
These cookies are made with cream cheese in the dough, which helps create a tender, soft, and slightly rich texture. The outside bakes up lightly crisp around the edges, while the center stays chewy and delicate. Crushed candy canes add peppermint flavor, sparkle, color, and a little crunch without making the cookies complicated. This is a straightforward Christmas cookie recipe using everyday baking ingredients, so it is easy to prepare even during the busy holiday season.
The method is easy to follow. You cream the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until fluffy, add the egg and vanilla, mix in the dry ingredients, then fold through the crushed candy canes. The cookies bake in about 10 to 12 minutes, making them a quick and reliable recipe for holiday baking. This recipe makes 20 cookies, but they disappear quickly, so you may want to double the batch if you are baking for a crowd.
If you would like to make these Candy Cane Cream Cheese Cookies even more special, you can fold in white chocolate chips for extra sweetness and creaminess. Chopped macadamia nuts would also add a buttery crunch, though they are optional. You can keep the cookies simple, add a festive drizzle, or serve them as they are. Their soft texture and peppermint flavor make them a beautiful addition to any Christmas cookie platter.
These festive peppermint cream cheese cookies are a great choice for cookie exchanges, Christmas parties, dessert trays, or a simple holiday baking day at home. They look pretty, taste delicious, and are easy enough for beginner bakers. Happy baking!
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Serves
20 cookies
Ingredients
½ cup or 115g unsalted butter, softened
4 oz or 115g cream cheese, softened
1 cup or 200g granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups or 250g all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup or 55g crushed candy canes
Optional: ½ cup or 90g white chocolate chips
Note: The easiest way to crush candy canes is to pulse them briefly in a food processor. You can also place them in a sealed bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, add the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar.
Cream the butter, cream cheese, and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
2. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then beat until everything is well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix just until combined. Avoid overmixing so the cookies stay soft and tender.
5. Fold in the crushed candy cane pieces until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. If using white chocolate chips, fold them in at this stage.
6. Drop rounded tablespoons of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch of space between each cookie.
7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may still look slightly soft, but they will continue to set as the cookies cool.
8. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Serve the cookies once cooled, or enjoy them slightly warm with a cold glass of milk.
We would love to hear what you thought of these Candy Cane Cream Cheese Cookies. If you made any changes or added extra ingredients, share your ideas in the comments. Thanks for reading, and happy baking!
Recipe Card
Candy Cane Cream Cheese Cookies
20 cookies
15 minutes
10 minutes
25 minutes
Soft and chewy Candy Cane Cream Cheese Cookies with crushed peppermint candy canes throughout. This easy Christmas cookie recipe is perfect for holiday cookie trays, festive parties, and homemade gifts.
Ingredients
- ½ cup or 115g unsalted butter, softened
- 4 oz or 115g cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup or 200g granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups or 250g all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup or 55g crushed candy canes
- Optional: ½ cup or 90g white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, then beat until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold in the crushed candy cane pieces. Add the white chocolate chips if using.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch of space between each cookie.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look soft but will set as they cool.
- Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
The easiest way to crush candy canes is to use a food processor. For a chunkier texture, crush them by hand in a sealed bag with a rolling pin.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 245
Total Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Cholesterol: 46mg
Sodium: 140mg
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fiber: 0g
Sugar: 15g
Protein: 3g
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary.