These two-toned cookies, delicately flavoured and with a soft, buttery texture, are especially fun for children to make because the dough is shaped by hand, just like modeling clay.

INGREDIENTS
Red dough
½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
¼ teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons red food colouring
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

Plain dough
½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
¼ teaspoon almond extract
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

Directions
Preheat an oven to 425F.

To make the red dough: In a bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter until soft and creamy. Slowly beat in the sugar, and when it is fully incorporated, beat in the egg yolk, almond extract and food colouring until well blended.

Beat in the flour until well blended. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

To make the plain dough: Repeat the process for the red dough, omitting the food colouring. Shape into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Tear off a walnut-sized piece of red dough, and using the palms of your hands, roll it out on aluminum foil to form a rope about ¼ inch in diameter and 5 inches long. Do the same with the plain dough.

Twist the ropes together and then bend the top into a curve to make a candy cane. Place on an ungreased baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Repeat until all the dough is used.

Bake for about 8 minutes, or until lightly browned on the bottom.

Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool. To store, pack in an airtight container in single layers, separated by waxed paper.

Makes about 30 cookies.