Creating these Candy Cane Cookies can be effortless if you follow these straightforward steps:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cream Butter and Sugars: In another bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add Egg and Extracts: Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract until well combined.
5. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until a soft dough forms.
6. Add Crushed Candy Canes: Fold in the crushed candy canes gently.
7. Color the Dough: Divide the dough in half. Leave one half plain and add red food coloring to the other until you achieve your desired shade.
8. Shape the Cookies: Take small portions of each dough and roll them into long strips, about 6 inches long. Twist one red and one white strip together to form a cane shape.
9. Arrange on Baking Sheets: Place the shaped cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, ensuring there is enough space between each one.
10. Bake the Cookies: Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden at the edges. Don’t overbake; they will harden as they cool.
11. Cool Completely: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Following these steps, you’ll create a batch of Candy Cane Cookies that are sure to be a hit this holiday season.