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Peppermint Meltaways Recipe

Peppermint Meltaways Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 23 reviews

Peppermint Meltaways are tender, buttery cookies infused with a refreshing peppermint flavor and topped with a creamy peppermint frosting and crushed peppermint candies. Perfectly melt-in-your-mouth, these festive treats are ideal for holiday gatherings or special occasions, offering a delightful combination of soft texture and cool minty sweetness.

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

  1. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract and continue beating to incorporate the minty aroma evenly throughout the dough.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup cornstarch, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, mixing just until combined to form a smooth dough.
  3. Chill the Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step is important to ensure the cookies keep their shape during baking and have a tender texture.
  4. Shape the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Remove the dough from the fridge, shape it into 1-inch diameter balls, and place them about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets to allow room for spreading.
  5. Bake to Perfection: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the bottoms are just lightly browned. Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
  6. Make the Frosting: In a small bowl, beat 2 tablespoons softened butter until creamy. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract, and red food coloring if using. Mix until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
  7. Decorate: Once the cookies are fully cooled, spread a generous layer of peppermint frosting on top of each cookie. Immediately sprinkle crushed peppermint candies over the frosting for a festive touch. Allow the frosting to set before serving.

Notes

  • For best results, ensure butter is softened but not melted before starting.
  • Chilling the dough is key to maintain cookie shape and a meltaway texture.
  • You can omit red food coloring to keep the frosting white and natural.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.

Nutrition

Keywords: Peppermint cookies, meltaway cookies, holiday cookies, peppermint frosting, festive treats, Christmas cookies

Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/peppermint-meltaways-recipe/