Name: Peppermint Meltaways
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 1 cup butter (softened); ½ cup powdered sugar; ¾ tsp peppermint extract; 1 ¼ cups flour; ½ cup cornstarch; 1 ½ cups powdered sugar; 2 TBSP milk; ¼ tsp peppermint extract; Crushed peppermints for topping

Peppermint Meltaway Cookies offer a delightful combination of rich flavors and a unique melt-in-your-mouth texture. These Christmas peppermint cookies are perfect for the holiday season, blending refreshing peppermint with a buttery sweetness.

The appeal of these peppermint cookies lies in their versatility. They can serve as a festive dessert for gatherings or as a thoughtful homemade gift. With just a few ingredients, meltaway cookies deliver a satisfying treat that captures the essence of the holidays!

What Are Peppermint Meltaway Cookies?

These peppermint cookies are exactly like their name suggests, they melt away in your mouth. The cookie itself is soft and lightly flavored with peppermint, and the glaze is thick, sweet, and topped with even more peppermint for a bit of crunch.

For those seeking to elevate their cookie game, these meltaway cookies are a must-try. The delicate balance of peppermint and creaminess creates a memorable taste experience that is sure to impress anyone who tries them.

These cookies have become a holiday favorite in my family. We love to bake treats for our family and friends and these are always a huge hit. Give these a try this holiday season and see just how incredible they taste for yourself!

Why you’ll LOVE these amazing peppermint cookies

Simple ingredients. This recipe uses very simple ingredients like powdered sugar, flour, and butter to create a melt-in-your-mouth experience. You will need some peppermint extract to give them a lovely flavor, but you can easily locate that in your grocery store’s baking aisle.
Basic steps. The steps for making this recipe are simple and easy to follow so you should have no trouble following along with it. No matter what level of baking experience you may have.
One batch makes enough to share. With every batch of these meltaways making 2 dozen cookies, you will have plenty of cookies to share with others, or enjoy throughout the week yourself.

Peppermint Meltaway Cookie Ingredients

For the cookies, you will need:

Butter: You will need 1 cup of softened butter to make the cookies rich and tasty.

Powdered sugar: Use ½ cup of powdered sugar to get the cookies soft and sweet.

Peppermint extract: Adding ¾ tsp of peppermint extract will make the cookies well flavored.

Flour: The base and structure of the cookies is made with 1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour.

Cornstarch: Adding ½ cup of cornstarch will create cookies that are lighter than air.

For the glaze, you will need:

Powdered sugar: You will need 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar for the base of the glaze.

Milk: Add 1 to 2 TBSP of milk to get the glaze to the perfect consistency.

Peppermint extract: Use ¼ tsp of peppermint extract to flavor the glaze nicely.

Crushed peppermint: Add some crushed peppermints over the top of the cookies for a nice decoration. You can crush your own peppermints, but around the holidays, they sell pre-crushed peppermints in the baking section, and they work wonderfully.

How to Make Peppermint Meltaways

Cookie dough

In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract. Use an electric handheld mixer and beat the mixture until nice and creamy.

Next add in the flour and cornstarch, mix again until combined.

Chill

Proceed to place the cookie dough in the fridge and allow it to chill for 1 hour. This helps the flavors meld and will give the cookies an amazing depth of flavor.

tender meltaways cookies with crushed peppermint

Bake

Start preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Then line two baking sheets with parchment paper, or a silicon mat, and then set them aside.

Remove the dough from the fridge and shape it into 2 teaspoonfuls balls and place them onto the prepared baking sheets.

Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges look lightly golden.

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, and then carefully transfer them to a cooling rack. Be careful, as the cookies are fragile and may break.

Peppermint Meltaways are a soft, delicate cookies with fantastic peppermint flavor! Made with a simple icing & topped with crushed peppermint, these meltaways are a festive holiday cookie!

Glaze

In a medium size bowl, whisk to combine the powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and 1 tablespoon of milk, until smooth. If needed, add in another tablespoon of milk. You want the glaze thin enough to drizzle.

Proceed to drizzle the glaze over the tops of the cooled cookies and then immediately sprinkle the crushed peppermints over the top.

Serve the cookies immediately and enjoy!

How long are meltaway cookies good for?

For optimal freshness, Peppermint Meltaway Cookies should be stored in an airtight container and they will last up to 3-5 days. Storing in an airtight container keeps moisture away and maintains their soft texture.

It is best to keep them at room temperature, but they can also be refrigerated for longer storage. When refrigerated, allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture.

Variations & Serving Suggestions for Peppermint Cookies

Peppermint meltaway cookies hold a cherished place in various holiday traditions. Their unique flavor and texture make them a popular choice for festive gatherings. Variations in recipes and serving styles continue to evolve, reflecting regional preferences and personal creativity.

Recipe Variations

Peppermint meltaway cookies can vary widely in recipe and presentation. Traditional recipes may use butter, sugar, flour, and peppermint extract, while alternatives might swap butter for coconut oil or incorporate different sweeteners.

For a gluten-free option, almond flour works well in place of all-purpose flour.
Other variations include adding crushed candy canes for texture or incorporating chocolate for a richer flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Serving peppermint meltaway cookies can be as simple or elaborate as desired. They are often presented on decorative platters, dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant touch.

Pairing them with hot cocoa or coffee enhances the flavor experience.
For a creative twist, consider stacking cookies in clear jars tied with festive ribbons for gifting.
These cookies also serve well at cookie decorating parties, where guests can personalize their treats with frosting and toppings.

What are some ideas for adding festive touches?

If desired, you can add some red food coloring to the glaze for a burst of color. You could also add sprinkles to the toppings along with the crushed peppermint. Either of these options are easy to do and can lend a lot to the overall appearance of the cookies.

How do you achieve the ‘meltaway’ texture in these Cookies?

To achieve the desired meltaway texture, a combination of cornstarch and powdered sugar is crucial. The cornstarch helps create a delicate crumb while the powdered sugar adds sweetness without weight.

Additionally, using softened butter rather than melted butter contributes to the lightness of the cookies. It’s essential to cream the butter properly until fluffy, incorporating air into the mixture.

Do I have to chill the cookie dough?

When recipes request that you chill your cookie dough it is usually for a good reason. That reason is that the flavor gets a bit more time to develop and the cookies taste even more incredible. But the biggest reason is because of the butter/fats in the dough. By chilling the dough we allow the fats to solidify which means your cookies will not spread out as much while baking, so the texture turns out perfectly. This is especially important on warmer days or when your butter is warm or softened.

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Check out these other great Christmas Cookie Recipes!

Peppermint Meltaways are a light and airy cookie that is simply delightful. These Christmas peppermint cookies are made with a smooth glaze and crushed peppermints on top, these make such a fantastic holiday treat.

PEPPERMINT MELTAWAYS

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What Are Peppermint Meltaway Cookies?

Why you’ll LOVE these amazing peppermint cookies