Peppermint Twists - great to make with your kids!

2/3	Cup	Butter
1	Cup	Sugar
1/2	Teaspoon	Baking Powder
1/4	Teaspoon	Salt
1		Egg
1	Teaspoon	Peppermint Extract
2 1/4	Cup	All-purpose Flour
		Red Food Coloring
		Sugar

  
In a large bowl cream butter and sugar.  Add baking powder and salt.  Beat in egg and peppermint extract.  Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer.  Stir in any remaining flour.  Divide dough in half.  Knead enough red food coloring into half of the dough to reach desired color.  Wrap each dough portion in plastic wrap; chill for 1 hour.

Shape plain and red cookie doughs into 1 inch balls.  Roll each ball into a rope about 6 inches long.  Place one plain and one red rope side by side: twist together.  Roll slightly to press doughs together.  Roll the twist into additional sugar.

Place twists 2 inches apart on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.  If desired, bend one end of twist to resemble a candy cane.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

Bake in oven preheated to 375 degrees F about 8 minutes or until surfaces are set.  Cool completely on cookie sheets.  Carefully remove cookies from cookie sheets.

Makes about 30 cookies.