Party Cookie Recipes - Peppermint Lollipops Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups/300 g all purpose/plain flour

• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 6 tbsp butter, softened

• 6 tbsp vegetable shortening

• 3/4 cup/150 g granulated sugar

• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

• 1 tbsp milk

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract/essence

• 1/2 cup/50 g crushed peppermint candies

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Method:

1. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Beat the butter, shortening, and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until creamy.

2. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla, beating until just blended. Mix in the dry ingredients to form a smooth dough. Divide the dough in half.

3. Press into two disks, wrap  in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C/gas 4. Set out four cookie sheets.

4. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12 x 9-inch (30 x 23-cm) rectangle. Use a fluted pastry wheel to cut into twelve 3-inch (8-cm) squares.

5. Repeat with the remaining dough. Use a spatula to transfer the cookies to the cookie sheets. Do not place more than six cookies on each sheet as there must be space for the craft sticks.

6. Sprinkle with the crushed candies, pressing them lightly into the dough. Cut 1-inch (2.5-cm) slits in each corner toward the center of the square.

7. Fold every other corner into the center to make a windmill shape. Press craft sticks into the base of the squares, pressing the dough around them so that they are firmly held.

8. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 6-8 minutes, or until just golden at the edges. Cool on the sheets until the cookies firm slightly. Transfer to racks to cool.