Peppermint Meltaways Recipe
Delight in these charming Peppermint Meltaways, delicate buttery cookies infused with peppermint extract and topped with a creamy peppermint frosting and crushed candies. Perfect for festive occasions, their tender texture melts in your mouth with a refreshing minty finish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies
- 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
For the Frosting
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2–3 drops red food coloring (optional)
- Crushed peppermint candies, for garnish
Instructions
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and confectioners’ sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the peppermint extract to infuse a festive aroma into the batter.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the creamed butter mixture, mixing gently until a soft dough forms without overworking.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step ensures the cookies hold their shape during baking and enhances the texture.
- Shape the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets to allow spreading.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake in the preheated oven for 9-11 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned. Remove from oven and transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a small bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, milk, peppermint extract, and red food coloring if using, mixing until smooth and spreadable.
- Decorate: Spread the peppermint frosting evenly over the cooled cookies. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top for a festive touch. Allow the frosting to set before serving to ensure it holds well.
Notes
- Refrigerating the dough is key to preventing the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- Using cornstarch in the dough helps create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- For a more intense peppermint flavor, increase the peppermint extract slightly, but avoid overpowering the delicate cookie taste.
- Crushed peppermint candies add a nice crunchy texture and decorative appeal, but you can omit if desired.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week for freshness.
Keywords: Peppermint Meltaways, peppermint cookies, holiday cookies, meltaway cookies, peppermint frosting, festive desserts
Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/peppermint-meltaways-recipe/
