Description

Peppermint Crunch Snowball Cookies are delightful buttery cookies infused with festive peppermint flavor and crunchy peppermint candy pieces. Rolled in a sweet peppermint confectioner’s sugar coating, these cookies offer a perfect balance of soft texture and refreshing minty crunch, making them an ideal treat for holiday celebrations or any time you crave a sweet, mint-flavored bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

1 Cup butter, softened
1/2 Cup confectioner’s sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, optional
2 1/4 Cups all-purpose flour
1/4 Cup crushed peppermint candies

Coating

3/4 Cup confectioner’s sugar
1 Tablespoon crushed peppermint candies

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly spraying it with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar until smooth and creamy. Then add the vanilla extract and optional peppermint extract, beating until fully incorporated and creamy in texture.
Mix Dough: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candies to the butter mixture. Beat slowly until the dough becomes a bit stiff but holds together when pressed.
Form Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls using your hands and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies start to turn a light golden brown.
Cool Slightly: Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and let the cookies cool for 2 to 4 minutes until they are cool enough to handle without breaking.
Prepare Coating: In a small bowl, mix together 3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar and 1 tablespoon crushed peppermint candies to create a festive coating mix.
Roll Cookies in Coating: Carefully roll each warm cookie in the peppermint confectioner’s sugar mixture to coat them completely, giving them a beautiful snowy peppermint crunch finish.
Cool Completely: Transfer the coated cookies onto a wire rack to cool fully. If the confectioner’s sugar coating melts into the cookies for some, roll them again to restore the peppermint sugar coating.

Notes

Make sure the butter is properly softened for easier creaming and smooth dough texture.
The peppermint extract is optional but enhances the mint flavor; adjust quantity to taste.
Use crushed peppermint candies for a crunchy texture; can substitute with candy canes if needed.
Roll the cookies in the sugar mixture while still warm for the best coating adherence.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
For a festive touch, try adding a few drops of red food coloring to the dough before baking.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Baking
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Peppermint snowball cookies, peppermint cookies, holiday cookies, peppermint crunch cookies, festive cookies