- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- Mix well the shortening and butter, sugar, egg, almond and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix flour and salt and add to shortening mixture. Divide dough in half.
- Blend red food coloring into one half. Roll 1 teaspoon of the red dough and 1 teaspoon of the white dough on lightly floured board into 4 inch strips. Place strips side by side and press lightly together and twist like a rope. Curve top of rope down to look like the handle of a candy cane.
- Bake 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove while still warm. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup crushed peppermint stick candy and 1/2 cup sugar (optional).