PEPPERMINT MELTAWAY COOKIES 🍪✨
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup crushed peppermint candies
Directions:
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Preparation is key! You would want to line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking. This helps ensure that the bottoms remain golden brown and crisp.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and powdered sugar. Using an electric mixer or a wooden spoon, cream them together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This process usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Once creamy, add the vanilla and peppermint extracts to the butter mixture. Mixing these extracts not only adds flavor but also infuses the cookie with that delightful peppermint aroma which is essential for the holiday spirit.
- Slowly incorporate the flour and salt into your butter mixture. Ensure you mix until just combined; overmixing can lead to tough cookies. At this stage, you might want to use a spatula or wooden spoon to fold in the flour gently.
- Next, fold in the crushed peppermint candies. These pieces will give each cookie a lovely crunch and that iconic peppermint flavor, adding a festive touch.
- With your hands or a cookie scoop, form small balls of dough and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart as they will spread while baking.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 12-15 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden. Keep an eye out because cooking times can vary based on your oven.
- Once they are done, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For an additional touch, once cooled, you can dust them with extra powdered sugar or dip them in white chocolate and sprinkle more crushed peppermint on top for extra holiday cheer.
Additional Information:
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Cooking Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: Makes about 24 cookies
Nutritional Information (per cookie): Approx. 120 calories
Notes:
- Make sure the butter is at room temperature to achieve the best texture.
- Mixing the dough too much may lead to tougher cookies, so be gentle!
- Feel free to experiment by adding a little cocoa powder to the dough for a chocolatey twist!
