Candy Cane Cookies

Description
Recipe Courtesy Sandra Lee
 * Show: FoodNetwork Specials
 * Episode: All Star Holiday Cookies
 * Contributed by Catsrecipes Y-Group

Ingredients

 * 1 box sugar cookie mix
 * ½ stick butter, melted
 * 1 egg
 * ⅓ cup softened cream cheese
 * ½ cup all-purpose flour, plus additional for surface
 * red food coloring
 * 1½ teaspoons peppermint extract

Directions

 * 1) Preheat oven to 325°F.
 * 2) In a bowl, combine sugar cookie mix, melted butter, egg, cream cheese, and flour; mix together to form dough.
 * 3) Separate dough into 2 equal portions and place in 2 different bowls.
 * 4) Add red food coloring gradually to 1 bowl of dough, kneading together until desired shade of red is created.
 * 5) To second bowl of uncolored dough, add peppermint extract and knead together.
 * 6) On a floured work surface, shape each dough into balls and then roll each ball into ¼-inch-wide ropes, each about 6 inches long.
 * 7) For each cookie,carefully twist some of the red and white ropes of dough together and shape into a candy cane.
 * 8) Spread candy canes out on cookie sheets and bake on the top shelf of the oven for about 10 to 12 minutes.
 * 9) Transfer to a rack to cool before serving.