Measure and add flour to a siever, then add baking powder and salt. Sieve it well for even mixing.

Now in another mixing bowl, add butter and powdered sugar. Cream together butter and sugar.

Whisk it for a minute, then add vanilla essence or any essence of your choice.

Now add flour mixture, combine and gather to form a soft dough.

Now your basic cookie dough is ready. Cling wrap it and refrigerate.

I took half of this dough for this candy cane cookies and used the other half for sugar cookies.

Divide the dough into two. Take one portion add red food color, I used red rose liquid food color.

Mix well so that the color is even in the dough.

Cling wrap both the dough separately and refrigerate at least for 20mins.

Now take the dough out pinch small pebble sized ball from each color.

Now first take the plain color dough. Roll it with your fingers like this.

Repeat the same for red color too.

Place both the ropes side by side, close to each other then twist and turn.

Twist and turn like this to get a spiral. Check out the video demonstration to get a clear idea.

While you do this, preheat oven at 180 deg C for 10mins.

Bend one side to form cane shape.

Repeat the process until the entire dough is finished.

Arrange it in a baking tray with butter paper. Bake in preheated oven at 180 deg C for 10-12 mins or until the edges start to brown.

Cool down completely then store in a clean airtight box.

Enjoy Candy Cane Cookies!