Peppermint Meltaways

These peppermint meltaways cookies have a simple frosting and crunch candy pieces for sweetness.

Table of Contents

Peppermint Meltaways Ingredients
Substitutions for this Recipe for Peppermint Meltaways
How To Make This Peppermint Meltaways Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
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Peppermint is one of those flavors that make us think of the Christmas season, and this simple recipe for peppermint meltaways is full of holiday spirit. You can make these cookies with mint-flavored creamy frosting at any time of the year, but they do look pretty special for Christmas Eve!

Peppermint Meltaways Ingredients

Peppermint Meltaways raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

For The Cookie Dough:

1¼ cups of all-purpose flour
½ cup of cornstarch
1 cup of unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup of powdered sugar, sifted
½ teaspoon of real peppermint extract

For The Frosting:

2 cups of powdered sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3 tablespoons of half & half
½ teaspoon of real peppermint extract
¼ cup of crushed peppermint candies or candy canes

PRO TIP:

During the winter holiday season, you can find pre-crushed peppermint candies in the sprinkles section of your grocer or where you would find your specialty cookie decorating supplies. This makes making these cookies even easier. You can also crush up a couple of candy canes into very fine pieces.

Substitutions for this Recipe for Peppermint Meltaways

FOOD COLORING: If you want to make these peppermint meltaway cookies even prettier, add a few drops of red food coloring to the frosting to turn them into a lovely pink shade.

Or even go a bit stronger and have them match the crushed candy canes!

PEPPERMINT: These cookies have a medium level of peppermint flavor, so feel free to add or cut back on some of the peppermint extract.

You can also change up your flavors for these cookies and add lemon extract or vanilla extract in place of the peppermint, and these would make a delicious spring or summertime treat.

PEPPERMINT CANDY: During the holidays, you can often find the peppermint crunch Andes Mints.

These would be a great substitute for crushed peppermint candies.

They have a little more of a subtle peppermint flavor in comparison to the traditional peppermint candies.

How To Make This Peppermint Meltaways Recipe

STEP ONE: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and cornstarch until fully incorporated.

STEP TWO: Beat together the softened unsalted butter, sifted powdered sugar, and peppermint extract for one to two minutes or until the butter is light and fluffy.

Use a handheld mixer at medium speed and a large mixing bowl.

butter, sugar, and peppermint extract combined in a bowl

STEP THREE: Add the flour mixture to the butter and beat again until combined.

The cookie batter will be thick. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.

flour mixture combined with the butter mixture

STEP FOUR: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

STEP FIVE: Scoop a level amount of dough using a one-inch cookie scoop and roll it into a smooth ball in the palm of your hand.

Place the rolled cookie dough ball onto the prepared baking sheet.

Repeat with the remaining cookie dough until all the balls have been rolled, being sure to space the cookies two inches apart on the baking sheets.

STEP SIX: Bake the cookies for nine to eleven minutes or just until the center of the cookies is set.

These cookies should not be browned. They should be very pale in color.

PRO TIP:

You are NOT looking for golden brown here. They should be pale but fully set in the center.

cookies placed on a parchment lined baking sheet

STEP SEVEN: Allow the baked cookies to cool on the baking sheet for ten minutes before removing them to cool completely on a wire rack on the counter.

STEP EIGHT: While the cookies are cooling, make the frosting by adding the sifted powdered sugar, softened butter, half & half, and peppermint extract to a medium mixing bowl.

Beat on medium-high speed, using a handheld mixer, for one to two minutes or until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.

The frosting should be soft enough to spread easily onto the delicate peppermint meltaway cookies.

PRO TIP:

Remember not to frost your cookies until they are completely cooled.

peppermint extract, half & half, powdered sugar, and butter combined in a bowl

STEP NINE: While handling these delicate cookies very carefully, use an offset spatula to spread approximately two to three teaspoons of frosting to the tops of each cookie.

Do not frost all the way to the edges. Garnish the frosted cookies with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candies.

PRO TIP:

Be very very careful when handling your cookies to frost them. They are an extremely delicate cookie.

frosting spread on top of each cookie and topped with crushed candy canes

How To Serve

This sweet cookie would be ideal for a cookie exchange along with our gingerbread cookies and snowball cookies.

Mint works perfectly with chocolate so if you want to carry on the mint theme, then try making homemade mint chocolate fudge.

Or, if you want to have a few cookies available for the holidays, you could make Christmas pinwheel cookies too.

If you want to enjoy them yourself, add a warm cup of whipped hot chocolate to wash them down.

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Storage

ON THE COUNTER: These peppermint cookies will keep on the counter, in a sealed container, for two to three days.

I do not recommend stacking these buttery cookies while storing them because of their delicate nature. They will crumble very easily.

IN THE FREEZER: If you want to make these cookies ahead of time, you will freeze the uncooked, fully chilled dough balls in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag for up to two months.

Be sure to thaw them completely in the refrigerator before baking and frosting.

MAKE-AHEAD: You can make your frosting ahead of time. You will need to store it in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator.

When you are ready to use it, make sure to let it come to room temperature and you may need to give it a quick whisk to make sure it is smooth and creamy for use.

close up shot of Peppermint Meltaways on a plate

These peppermint meltaway cookies melt in your mouth when you eat them. Plus, they look brilliant on the table on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus to eat. Or for everyone else to finish off the next morning!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store these cookies?

This cookie recipe can be stored at room temperature for up to three days.

Can I change the flavor of these cookies?

Instead of peppermint extract, try orange, lemon, almond, or vanilla extract to add a different spin to these cookies.

Can I make these cookies ahead of time?

You could make the cookie dough ahead of time and freeze the dough balls for up to two months until you are ready to bake.

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Peppermint Meltaways

5 from 2 votes

These peppermint meltaways cookies have a simple frosting and crunch candy pieces for sweetness.

Prep Time 2 10

Cook Time 12

Total Time 2 22

Servings cookies

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Ingredients

Cookie Dough

1¼ cups all-purpose flour,
½ cup cornstarch
1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
½ teaspoon real peppermint extract

Frosting

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3 tablespoons half & half
½ teaspoon real peppermint extract
¼ cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes for garnish

Instructions

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and cornstarch until fully incorporated.
In a large mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium speed, beat together the softened unsalted butter, sifted powdered sugar, and peppermint extract for 1-2 minutes or until the butter is light and fluffy.
Add the flour mixture to the butter and beat again until combined. The cookie batter will be thick. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Using a one-inch cookie scoop, scoop a level amount of dough and roll, in the palm of your hand, into a smooth ball. Place the rolled cookie dough ball onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough until all the balls have been rolled, being sure to space the cookies 2 inches apart on the baking sheets.
Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes or just until the center of the cookies is set. These cookies should not be browned. They should be very pale in color.
Allow the baked cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before removing them to cool completely on a wire rack on the counter.
While the cookies are cooling, you will make the frosting by adding to a medium mixing bowl the sifted powdered sugar, softened unsalted butter, half & half, and peppermint extract. Beat on medium-high speed, using a handheld mixer, for 1-2 minutes or until the frosting is smooth and fluffy. The frosting should be soft enough to spread easily onto the delicate peppermint meltaway cookies.
Using an offset spatula, or a butter knife, frost each cookie making sure to not go all the way to the edge of the cookie.
While handling these delicate cookies very carefully, use an offset spatula to spread approximately 2-3 teaspoons of frosting to the tops of each cookie. Do not frost all the way to the edges. Garnish the frosted cookies with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candies.

Notes

You are NOT looking for golden brown here. They should be pale but fully set in the center.
Remember not to frost your cookies until they are completely cooled.
Be very very careful when handling your cookies to frost them. They are an extremely delicate cookie.
During the winter holiday season you can find pre-crushed peppermint candies in the sprinkles section of your grocer or where you would find your specialty cookie decorating supplies. This makes making these cookies even easier. You can also crush up a couple of candy canes into very fine pieces.

Nutrition

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Peppermint Meltaways

Peppermint Meltaways Ingredients

Substitutions for this Recipe for Peppermint Meltaways

How To Make This Peppermint Meltaways Recipe