Peppermint Meltaways Recipe
These Peppermint Meltaways are soft, buttery cookies with a refreshing peppermint flavor, perfectly complemented by a creamy peppermint frosting and festive crushed peppermint candy garnish. Ideal for holiday gatherings or cozy winter treats, these melt-in-your-mouth cookies pair wonderfully with hot cocoa or peppermint tea.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 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 until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the peppermint extract to infuse the dough with a delightful minty aroma.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the creamed butter and sugar, mixing until just combined to form the dough.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This step is essential to help the cookies maintain their shape during baking.
- Shape the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Form the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets to allow room for spreading.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly browned. Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
- Make the Frosting: In a small bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, milk, peppermint extract, and red food coloring if using. Continue to beat until the frosting is smooth and well blended.
- Decorate: Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread the peppermint frosting over each cookie. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies for a festive touch. Allow the frosting to set before serving.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is crucial to prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- If you prefer a stronger peppermint flavor, you can add a little more peppermint extract to the dough or frosting.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with a vegan butter alternative and use a plant-based milk for the frosting.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Crushing peppermint candies can be done by placing them in a plastic bag and gently pounding with a rolling pin.
Keywords: peppermint meltaways, peppermint cookies, holiday cookies, soft peppermint cookies, peppermint frosting
Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/peppermint-meltaways-recipe/