Candy Cane Cookies

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cups butter or margarine
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 egg
• 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 3-1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 egg white, slightly beaten
• red food coloring
• green sugar crystals

Directions

*CREAM together butter and powdered sugar. BEAT in egg and vanilla.
*COMBINE flour and salt. STIR into first mixture. SET aside half of dough. TINT the remaining half light red with a few drops of food coloring.
*Keep the dough chilled to make it easier to handle.
*Roll the dough into teaspoon-sized balls
*Take 1 teaspoon-sized ball of white dough and 1 teaspoon-sized ball of red dough and roll each into 4-inch strips.
*Put strips side-by-side and twist lightly.
*Repeat with remaining dough.
*Arrange on ungreased baking sheets. Curve one end down to form the candy cane shape.
*Brush cookies with egg white and sprinkle with green sugar crystals.

*BAKE at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
*Cool on wire racks.

*Store airtight for freshness.