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Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 60 reviews

Peppermint Snowball Cookies are festive, melt-in-your-mouth treats perfect for the holiday season. These buttery cookies are infused with peppermint extract and studded with crushed candy canes, then generously coated in confectioners’ sugar for a snowy appearance and sweet finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
  • ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar (plus more for coating)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup crushed candy canes (finely crushed)

Instructions

  1. Cream Butter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter on medium speed until creamy, creating a smooth base for the dough.
  2. Add Sugar: Add ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar to the butter and beat until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, ensuring even sweetness.
  3. Mix Extracts: Mix in the vanilla extract and peppermint extract thoroughly to infuse the dough with classic holiday flavors.
  4. Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually beat in the all-purpose flour and salt on low speed until a soft dough forms, careful not to overwork the dough to keep it tender.
  5. Fold in Candy Canes: Gently fold in the finely crushed candy canes, distributing them evenly without overmixing the dough.
  6. Chill Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up, which will help in shaping the cookies.
  7. Prepare Oven and Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  8. Shape Cookies: Scoop 1 tablespoon of chilled dough and roll into balls, placing each about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets for even baking.
  9. Bake: Bake the cookies for 15 minutes or until the bottoms turn lightly golden, but the tops remain pale for that classic snowball look.
  10. First Sugar Coating: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then roll the warm cookies in confectioners’ sugar to begin the snowy coating.
  11. Final Cooling and Coating: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, then roll them in confectioners’ sugar again before serving for a perfect sweet finish.

Notes

  • Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier mixing and fluffier cookies.
  • Be careful not to overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep cookies tender.
  • Crush candy canes finely to avoid large chunks in cookies that might affect the texture.
  • Double coating with confectioners’ sugar gives the iconic snowball look and extra sweetness.
  • Storing cookies in an airtight container will keep them fresh for up to a week.

Keywords: Peppermint Snowball Cookies, holiday cookies, peppermint extract cookies, candy cane cookies, festive cookies, Christmas cookies

Find it online: https://freshrecipehub.com/peppermint-snowball-cookies-recipe/