mrs. horton's candy cane cookies

this is a family favorite.
i love it because it is not a peppermint flavored candy cane cookie.
instead it's flavored with a hint of lemon rind.

cAndy caNe coOkiES

2 & 3/4 cup sifted flour

1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp  nutmeg (secret ingredient)

1 & 1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla 

1/4 cup milk

3 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter

1 tsp grated lemon rind

1 egg

sift flour (or not), baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg onto waxed paper.  cream butter with sugar til fluffy light in a large bowl; beat in egg, lemon rind & vanilla.  stir in flour mixture, 1/3 at a time, adding alternately with milk and blending well to make a stiff dough.  if the dough is too sticky, you can add up to 1/4 cup more flour.  it also helps to flour your hands while shaping.  spoon 1/2 of dough into medium-size bowl; blend in a few drops of red food coloring tinting pink; leave other half plain.
REFRIGERATE THE DOUGH FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.
 pinch off a teaspoon-full each of pink & white doughs at a time, roll each into a pencil-thin strip five inches long.  press ends together then twist into a rope, bend top to form a cane shape.  place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

bake in 350 oven for 10 minutes.

at the request of my children, i make these every year.

they have a sweet tang with a little spice & are especially yummy dipped in milk.


image via tastes of home