Sweet Holiday Treats: Candy Cane Edition

Posted on December 17, 2025December 14, 2025 by Reluctant Retiree

The holidays just wouldn’t be the same without candy canes hanging from the tree. They are also tucked into stockings. Candy canes take the starring role in all our favorite sweet treats! With these recipes you can enjoy the beloved Yuletide flavor in cakes, cookies, cocoas and more.

Our Best Peppermint Recipe Ideas

No flavor gives us that nostalgic holiday feeling, quite like peppermint. One bite of a candy cane-inspired dessert transports us to childhood. Even better is one that uses candy canes in the recipe. So, every year, when holiday baking season rolls around, we make sure to add peppermint treats to our lineup. We always include a few of them. From festive cookies and batches of fudge topped with crushed candy, there is something for everyone. Holiday cocktails infused with peppermint flavor are also included in this roundup.

The combination of white peppermint bark atop a chocolate cookie base equals the ultimate holiday treat. This big-batch recipe is ideal for cookie swaps, festive parties or even wrapping up as gifts. It is also easy enough for baking with the whole family. Instead of forming individual cookies, you break the giant sheet into pieces, just like you would with traditional bark.

Food Network

From My Kitchen

Maple Cookies

Posted on November 14, 2025November 13, 2025 by Reluctant Retiree

I love oatmeal raisin cookies and gingersnaps as much as the next gal, but I like to look for cookie recipes that are a bit out of the ordinary too. Show up at a party with a batch of maple-glazed maple cookies and you’ll put smiles on a lot of faces! Plus, they’re a gorgeous bake. The maple glaze—made with a combo of butter, confectioners’ sugar and maple syrup—helps set the cookies apart, both visually and in terms of flavor.

Maple Cookie Ingredients

Butter: Either salted or unsalted butter will work in this maple cookie recipe. Use a brand with a nice, rich dairy flavor. To add an extra Vermont-y touch, use the butter that Ina Garten loves.
Sugars: This recipe calls for three types of sugar: granulated sugar, brown sugar and confectioners’ sugar. Granulated sugar is the standby for use in baked goods, brown sugar adds a delicious molasses flavor, and confectioners’ sugar is perfect for smooth homemade frosting and icing.
Eggs: If you have access to local or free-range eggs, those are always a good bet for baking.
Maple flavoring: For the best flavor, seek out natural rather than imitation maple flavoring. If you can’t find maple flavoring, real vanilla is a fine substitute, although you could also use real maple syrup.
Flour: There are many different types of flour, and for this maple cookie recipe, you’ll need regular old all-purpose.
Baking soda: Baking soda is often included in cookie recipes because it promotes browning.
Salt: In desserts, adding enough salt is crucial to achieving a balanced flavor, so don’t be shy.
White baking chips: White chocolate chips are creamy and mild, pairing well with lots of different flavors. Check out the maple cookie recipe variations below for other baking chips that are a great match for this treat.
Pecans: South meets north when you mix pecans and maple syrup, and the results are delicious.
Maple syrup: Maple syrup is made by simmering sap from sugar maple trees until it has reduced and caramelized. The flavor is unlike any of the imitation maple pancake syrups, so make sure you’re buying the real thing.

Taste of Home

Find more recipes like this on my companion blog, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let’s Eat!”

From My Kitchen

Our Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes and Tips for the Perfect Cookie

Posted on February 1, 2025January 30, 2025 by Reluctant Retiree

How to Make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are one of our go-to bakes. Our Test Kitchen regularly whips up these big and buttery cookies (and they are an office favorite!). But there are lots of ways for you to create your version of a great cookie at home. If you want to play around with the recipe, then learn how to make a giant chocolate chip pizookie.

Also before moving ahead, take a quick look at this cookie salad recipe perfect as a sweet side.