When it comes to festive treats, Peppermint Cookies are a holiday favorite. These delightful cookies combine a buttery base with a refreshing hint of peppermint, making them perfect for the holiday season. Ideal for cookie exchanges, holiday gatherings, or simply enjoying a cup of hot cocoa, they’re sure to become a seasonal staple.
Peppermint Cookies
Why These Peppermint Cookies Are the Best
Buttery and Soft Texture: The cookies have a soft, buttery texture that melts in your mouth, making each bite incredibly satisfying.
Refreshing Peppermint Flavor: The addition of peppermint extract and crushed peppermint candies gives these cookies a refreshing and festive twist.
Easy to Make: These cookies are simple to prepare and can be made in batches, making them perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Ingredient Notes:
Cookie Ingredients
All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and stability for the cookies, helping them hold their shape while still remaining tender.
Cornstarch: Contributes to the cookies’ meltaway texture, making them softer and more delicate.
Salt: Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients, balancing the sweetness and elevating the overall taste.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and moisture, contributing to the tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Softened butter helps to incorporate air for a lighter cookie.
Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the cookies while providing a fine texture that contributes to the meltaway quality.
Peppermint Extract: Infuses the cookies with a refreshing peppermint flavor, enhancing the festive aspect of the treat.
Frosting Ingredients
Salted Butter: Adds creaminess and flavor to the frosting, helping to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency.
Half & Half: Provides the right amount of creaminess to the frosting while ensuring it’s not too thick, allowing for easy spreading.
Peppermint Extract: Delivers a burst of peppermint flavor to the frosting, complementing the cookies and adding to the festive experience.
Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the frosting and helps achieve a smooth texture, creating the right consistency for spreading.
Finely Crushed Peppermint Bits (optional): Adds a delightful crunch and extra peppermint flavor, as well as a festive touch to the finished cookies.
Serving Suggestions
With a Cup of Hot Cocoa: Peppermint cookies are best enjoyed with a warm cup of hot cocoa. The combination of chocolate and peppermint is perfect for a cozy winter treat.
For Holiday Gatherings: These cookies are a hit at holiday gatherings and cookie exchanges. They’re easy to make in large batches and always a crowd-pleaser.
As a Festive Gift: Package these cookies in a festive tin or box for a delightful homemade gift. They’re sure to bring joy to anyone who receives them.
Tips for Perfect Peppermint Cookies
Use High-Quality Ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the flavor. Look for high-quality butter, sugar, and peppermint extract for the best results.
Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough before baking helps the cookies maintain their shape and enhances their flavor.
Don’t Overbake: Bake the cookies just until they are set around the edges. They will continue to cook slightly as they cool, ensuring a soft and chewy texture.
A Must Try
There’s nothing quite like the smell of peppermint cookies baking in the oven. These Peppermint Cookies are the perfect way to treat yourself or your loved ones to something special. Buttery, refreshing, and irresistibly delicious, they’re sure to become a favorite in your home.
Peppermint Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 1/4 cups 178g of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup 68g of cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp of salt
- 1 cup 226g of unsalted butter and softened
- 1/2 cup 68g of powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract
Frosting
- 2 Tbsp 28g of salted butter and softened
- 2 Tbsp half & half
- 1/4 tsp of peppermint extract
- 1 1/2 cups 200g of powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup 42g of finely crushed peppermint bits of candy canes if you want.
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and cornstarch, then add the salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and powdered sugar until well combined.
- Add the peppermint extract and mix on low speed. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour, until the dough is almost firm. Preheat the oven to 350°F during the last 15 minutes of chilling.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough at a time, roll it into balls, and place them on an ungreased 18x13-inch baking sheet, spacing the cookies 2 inches apart. Keep the remaining dough chilled.
- Bake for about 12 minutes, until the cookies are set and the bottoms are lightly golden. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the frosting, beat the butter, half-and-half, peppermint extract, and powdered sugar in the bowl of a mixer until light and fluffy.
- Frost each cookie, then immediately sprinkle crushed peppermint on top before the frosting sets. Repeat for all the cookies.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
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Peppermint Cookies