Peppermint Snowflake Sugar Cookies: Festive Holiday Treats Recipe

Introduction

Celebrate the season with these delightful Peppermint Snowflake Sugar Cookies. Crisp, tender, and bursting with festive peppermint flavor, they’re perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting. Decorate each cookie with colorful icing and crushed peppermint to create beautiful snowflake patterns.

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp peppermint extract
• 2–3 TBSP milk (only as needed, for dough consistency)
• 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar (for icing)
• 1–2 TBSP milk (for icing)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (for icing)
• ¼ tsp peppermint extract (for icing)
• Optional: a few drops white gel coloring (for brightness)
• Red gel icing (for decoration)
• Green gel icing (for decoration)
• Crushed peppermint candies or sanding sugar (for decoration)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
2. Step 2: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. Step 3: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract to the butter mixture and mix until fully incorporated.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. If the dough feels crumbly, add milk one tablespoon at a time until smooth but not sticky.
5. Step 5: Divide the dough into two discs, wrap them in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
6. Step 6: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness.
7. Step 7: Use snowflake-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
8. Step 8: Bake the cookies for 8–10 minutes, until the edges are just pale and not browned. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
9. Step 9: For the icing, stir together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and optional white gel coloring until smooth and spoonable.
10. Step 10: Pipe or spread the icing over cooled cookies. Immediately use red and green gel icing to add thin lines and create snowflake patterns by lightly dragging a toothpick outward from the center.
11. Step 11: Finish each cookie with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candies or sparkling sugar for a festive touch.

Tips & Variations

• For a softer cookie, slightly reduce the baking time by a minute or two.
• Substitute peppermint extract with pure vanilla extract if you prefer a classic sugar cookie flavor.
• Add a drop of almond extract to the dough for an extra layer of flavor.
• Use royal icing instead of the powdered sugar icing for more intricate decorations.
• Chilling the dough overnight enhances flavor and makes rolling easier.

Storage

Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, freeze undecorated cookies tightly wrapped for up to 3 months; thaw completely before icing and decorating. Reheat is not recommended to preserve texture and decoration.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, the dough can be prepared, wrapped, and refrigerated overnight or frozen for up to 3 months. Just thaw before rolling and cutting.

What can I use if I don’t have peppermint extract?

If peppermint extract is unavailable, you can omit it or replace it with vanilla extract for a traditional sugar cookie flavor. Alternatively, a drop of almond extract offers a nice twist.

Peppermint Snowflake Sugar Cookies: Festive Holiday Treats Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 141 reviews

• Author: lina
• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Create festive magic with these Peppermint Snowflake Sugar Cookies, perfectly soft and tender with a refreshing hint of peppermint. Decorated with bright red and green gel icing and crunchy crushed peppermint, these cookies are an ideal treat for holiday celebrations.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp peppermint extract
• 2–3 TBSP milk (only as needed, for dough consistency)

Icing Ingredients

• 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar
• 1–2 TBSP milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp peppermint extract
• Optional: a few drops white gel coloring (for brightness)

Decorations

• Red gel icing
• Green gel icing
• Crushed peppermint candies or sanding sugar

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Instructions

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, beat softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together for about 2 minutes until the mixture is fluffy and light.
3. Add Flavorings: Mix in the large egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
4. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough begins to form.
5. Adjust Dough Consistency: If the dough is crumbly, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing gently until the dough holds together smoothly without being sticky.
6. Chill Dough: Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour to firm up and improve rolling.
7. Preheat Oven: Set the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) to preheat for baking.
8. Roll Out Dough: Lightly flour a clean work surface and roll one disc of dough to a ¼-inch thickness for even cookies.
9. Cut Shapes: Use snowflake-shaped cookie cutters to cut the dough into festive shapes.
10. Arrange Cookies: Place the cut cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheets, spacing them evenly.
11. Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges appear pale but not browned to ensure soft texture.
12. Cool Cookies: Remove cookies from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack before applying icing.
13. Prepare Icing: In a bowl, stir together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and optional white gel coloring until the icing is smooth and spoonable.
14. Icing Application: Use a spoon or piping bag to spread or pipe the icing evenly over the cooled cookies.
15. Decorate with Gel Icing: Immediately add thin lines of red and green gel icing over the white base.
16. Create Snowflake Patterns: Using a toothpick, gently drag lines outward from the center of each cookie to form snowflake designs.
17. Final Touch: Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies or sparkling sanding sugar over the decorated cookies for a festive finish.

Notes

• If the dough becomes too sticky while rolling, chill it again for 15 minutes to handle more easily.
• Use parchment paper on baking sheets for easy cookie removal and cleanup.
• Store iced cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
• For a stronger peppermint flavor, increase the peppermint extract cautiously.
• Gel icing colors brighten the decoration but can be omitted or substituted based on preference.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: peppermint cookies, snowflake sugar cookies, holiday cookies, festive cookies, Christmas baking, peppermint sugar cookies