Almond Candy Cane Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, soft
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. red food coloring

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix thoroughly butter, shortening, sugar, egg, and flavorings. Blend in flour and salt. Divide dough in half, blend food coloring into one half. Shape dough from each half into 4-inch ropes. For smooth, even ropes, roll them back and forth on lightly-floured board. Place ropes side by side, press together lightly, and twist, shaping each cookie into a candy cane. Place on ungreased baking sheet.

Bake about 9 minutes or until set and very light brown on the bottom.

Topping:

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Mix together and immediately sprinkle onto cookies after baking so it looks like snow. It helps the sugar mixture to stick if you roll the hot cookies directly in it.

Yields: 4 dozen cookies.