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Every holiday season I look forward to making these Peppermint Cookies. They combine everything I love about Christmas baking the buttery softness of sugar cookies that amazing cream cheese frosting and the refreshing pop of peppermint. When those crushed candy canes sparkle on top it's like having little pieces of holiday magic right in your kitchen. Every time I make them they fill the house with the most wonderful minty sweet aroma.
What Makes These Extra Special
What I love most about these cookies is how simple yet impressive they are. There's no waiting around for dough to chill you can go straight from mixing to baking. The cream cheese in the frosting adds this wonderful tang that balances the sweetness perfectly. When people see that red and white swirled design their eyes light up it's like each cookie is a little celebration.
Everything You'll Need
- Unsalted Butter: Room temperature for the cookies cold for that perfect frosting texture.
- Sugar: Regular granulated for the cookies powdered sugar makes the frosting silky smooth.
- Flavorings: The combination of vanilla and peppermint creates that perfect holiday taste.
- Cornstarch: My secret weapon for keeping these cookies perfectly soft.
- Cream Cheese: Makes the frosting extra special and less sweet.
- Red Gel Food Coloring: Gives us those beautiful candy cane stripes.
- Candy Canes: That sparkly finishing touch that makes everyone smile.
Let's Make Some Holiday Magic
- Starting the Dough
- First I mix all those dry ingredients together the flour cornstarch and salt. Then comes my favorite part creaming the butter and sugar until it's light and fluffy. When you add those extracts the kitchen starts smelling like Christmas.
- Into the Oven
- Once the cookies are rolled and cut I pop them in the oven. Those 8-10 minutes feel like forever because they smell so amazing! I watch them closely we want them just barely golden around the edges.
- Creating That Perfect Frosting
- While they cool I make the frosting. The trick is having your butter and cream cheese cold it makes the frosting so much more stable. That touch of peppermint extract makes it extra special.
- The Fun Part
- Now comes the creative part! I pipe the red frosting in a star pattern then fill in with white. When you add those crushed candy canes on top they sparkle like little jewels.
My Best Tips for Success
After making these countless times I've learned some important tricks. Using a kitchen scale makes sure everything is perfectly measured. Don't overbake them they should be soft in the middle. Keep your frosting nice and cold for those clean piped designs. And always start with just a little peppermint extract you can add more but you can't take it away!
Keeping Them Fresh
These cookies keep beautifully. Once they're decorated they'll stay perfect at room temperature for a couple days or in the fridge for almost a week. I love making the components ahead unfrosted cookies and frosting ready to go. Then I can assemble them whenever I need them. Just remember to bring them to room temperature before serving.
Perfect for Every Holiday Event
These cookies have saved so many holiday gatherings! They're perfect for Christmas parties cookie exchanges or just brightening someone's day with a sweet gift. I love watching people's faces light up when they see that beautiful peppermint swirl pattern. And when you serve them with hot cocoa oh my goodness it's like the perfect Christmas moment in every bite.
Getting Creative
Let me share some fun decorating tricks I've discovered. Sometimes I'll use different piping tips to create unique patterns or add a sprinkle of edible glitter for extra sparkle. For holiday parties I've even used pieces of peppermint bark instead of candy canes. And my latest discovery? Using a mix of red and green for the frosting makes them look like little Christmas wreaths.
Making Them Your Own
I love how these cookies can be adapted for everyone. For my dairy-free friends I use plant-based butter and cream cheese alternatives they turn out just as delicious. When I need gluten-free cookies a good cup-for-cup flour blend works perfectly. The key is making sure all your ingredients including those candy canes are suitable for your dietary needs.
A Perfect Family Project
Making these cookies with family has created some of my favorite holiday memories. My kids love crushing the candy canes (in a sealed bag of course!) and helping with the decorating. Even the littlest ones can help sprinkle those crushed candies on top. Sometimes our designs aren't perfect but those slightly messy cookies made with little hands end up being the most special ones.
What Makes These Special
You know what really makes these cookies stand out? It's that perfect balance of flavors the buttery cookie base that cream cheese tang in the frosting and that refreshing pop of peppermint. They're not just pretty they're absolutely delicious. Every time I make them people ask for the recipe they can't believe something so festive could be so easy to make.
Serving in Style
I love serving these cookies alongside other holiday treats. A mug of hot chocolate with these cookies is pure comfort. Sometimes I'll make a coffee station with these cookies nearby the peppermint flavor pairs perfectly with a morning coffee or afternoon latte. For parties I arrange them on tiered stands mixed with other holiday cookies it looks so festive.
Share the Joy
These cookies make the most wonderful gifts. I love packaging them carefully in festive tins lined with parchment paper. Sometimes I'll add a little note with serving suggestions or even the recipe if someone asks. There's something so special about giving someone a box of homemade cookies especially ones this pretty. During the holidays I keep extra supplies on hand just in case I need a last-minute gift.
A Holiday Tradition
These Peppermint Cookies have become such an important part of our holiday traditions. Whether they're sitting pretty on a dessert table bringing smiles at a cookie exchange or being packaged up as gifts they just make everything feel more festive. It's amazing how a simple cookie can capture so much of what makes the holidays special the joy of creating something beautiful the fun of sharing with others and those perfect minty sweet flavors that just taste like Christmas.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why use cold cream cheese in the frosting?
- Cold cream cheese helps maintain the frosting's structure and prevents it from becoming too soft for piping the detailed peppermint pattern.
- → Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
- Yes, you can make the cookies ahead and freeze unfrosted for up to a month. The frosted cookies will keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- → Why shouldn't the cookies brown?
- Over-browning indicates overbaking which will make the cookies dry. Remove them when centers are puffy but still pale for the best texture.
- → Can I use salted butter?
- Unsalted butter is recommended so you can control the salt content. If using salted butter, reduce or omit the added kosher salt.
- → Why weigh ingredients?
- Using a kitchen scale provides more accurate measurements than cups, resulting in more consistent and reliable baking results.