Description
These Easy Christmas Peppermint Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and perfectly festive with a refreshing peppermint flavor. Topped with a creamy peppermint frosting, they are a delightful treat that bring joy to your holiday celebrations. Simple to make and perfect for sharing, these cookies combine classic holiday flavors with a sweet, minty twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (can substitute with coconut sugar)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (pure)
- 1 tsp peppermint extract (pure)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Frosting
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream (can substitute with dairy-free alternative)
- 1 tsp peppermint extract (for frosting)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla and peppermint extracts thoroughly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to handle and to enhance the texture of the cookies.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass or your palm to form cookie shapes.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 7 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet before frosting.
- Make the Frosting: In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and peppermint extract until smooth and spreadable. Adjust consistency with more cream or sugar if needed.
- Frost the Cookies: Once cookies have cooled, spread or pipe the peppermint frosting on top of each cookie. Allow the frosting to set before serving or storing.
Notes
- You can substitute granulated sugar with coconut sugar for a slightly different flavor.
- Use gluten-free flour blend to make the cookies gluten-free.
- Heavy cream in the frosting can be replaced with coconut cream or other dairy-free alternatives for a vegan option.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- To intensify peppermint flavor, add crushed peppermint candies on top of frosting before it sets.
