Peppermint Meltaways: A Festive Deligh Recipe
Peppermint Meltaways are delightful, minty, and festive cookies that are perfect for the holiday season. These melt-in-your-mouth treats are easy to make and even easier to enjoy!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 2 dozen cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
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
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 butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the peppermint extract for that delightful minty aroma.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually add this to the creamed mixture and mix until combined.
- Chill the Dough: Cover and chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. This step helps the cookies keep their shape when baking.
- Shape the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned. Transfer the cookies to wire racks and let them cool completely.
- Make the Frosting: In a small bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, milk, peppermint extract, and food coloring (if using), mixing until smooth.
- Decorate: Spread the frosting over the cooled cookies and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies. Allow them to set before serving.
Notes
- For a stronger peppermint flavor, you can add more peppermint extract to both the cookie dough and the frosting.
- Store the Peppermint Meltaways in an airtight container to maintain their freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
