Description
These Peppermint Meltaway Cookies are a delightful holiday treat that melt in your mouth, leaving a refreshing burst of peppermint. Perfect for cookie exchanges and festive gatherings, they are sure to become a cherished tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter (softened)
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar (Confectioners' Sugar)
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/4 cup Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
- Red Food Coloring (optional)
- 1/2 cup Crushed Candy Canes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat your softened unsalted butter until it's light and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and almost white in color, about 3-5 minutes.
- With the mixer on low speed, beat in the peppermint extract until just combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and cornstarch.
- Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- If desired, divide your dough in half. Leave one half plain and knead a few drops of red food coloring into the other half until evenly colored. Lightly twist the two dough colors together for a swirled effect.
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for about 15-20 minutes.
- Once chilled, roll the dough into small, 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just barely set and the cookies are still very pale in the center.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the optional glaze, whisk together 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1-2 tablespoons of milk, and 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cookies and immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes before the glaze sets.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: Don't overmix the dough to maintain a tender texture. Properly softened butter is crucial for the best results. Use the spoon-and-level method for measuring flour to avoid tough cookies.