Peppermint Meltaways Cookies Recipe
Peppermint Meltaways are delicate, buttery cookies infused with refreshing peppermint flavor, topped with a creamy peppermint frosting and garnished with crushed peppermint candies. These melt-in-your-mouth treats are perfect for the holiday season or any festive occasion, offering a delightful combination of soft texture and cool minty taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 to 3 drops red food coloring (optional)
- Crushed peppermint candies for garnish
Instructions
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and confectioners’ sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the peppermint extract thoroughly to infuse the dough with the minty aroma.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the creamed butter mixture, mixing until everything is just combined and forms a soft dough.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This step is important to help the cookies maintain their shape during baking and to enhance the texture.
- Shape the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Once chilled, shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for gentle spreading.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the bottoms turn lightly browned. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the Frosting: In a small bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, then mix in the milk, peppermint extract, and red food coloring if using. Beat the mixture until smooth and spreadable.
- Decorate: Spread the prepared frosting evenly over the cooled cookies. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top for an added festive touch. Allow the frosting to set before serving your delicious peppermint meltaways.
Notes
- For best results, use softened butter to ensure proper creaming and texture.
- Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- Red food coloring in the frosting is optional but adds a festive holiday color.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Crushed peppermint candies can be substituted with candy canes if preferred.
Keywords: peppermint cookies, meltaway cookies, holiday cookies, peppermint extract cookies, frosted peppermint cookies, Christmas cookies
Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/peppermint-meltaways-cookies-recipe/
