Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe

Creating Peppermint Snowball Cookies is a delightful way to bring some holiday magic into the kitchen. These melt-in-your-mouth cookies are buttery, soft, and coated with a festive dusting of powdered sugar and peppermint. From their snowy exterior to the subtle crunch of optional nuts inside, these cookies perfectly capture the holiday spirit.

Gathering Ingredients for Peppermint Snowball Cookies

The ingredients in this recipe are straightforward yet combine beautifully to create a rich, buttery, and festive cookie. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Butter: This is the base of the cookies, giving them a soft and tender texture that almost melts in your mouth. Use unsalted butter and ensure it’s softened to room temperature so it creams smoothly with the sugar.
• Powdered Sugar: Unlike granulated sugar, powdered sugar creates a softer cookie with a fine crumb. This sugar also doubles as part of the peppermint coating.
• Vanilla Extract: Adding vanilla infuses the cookies with warmth and complements the peppermint coating.
• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure without overpowering the buttery softness of the cookies.
• Salt: Enhances the flavor balance, preventing the cookies from becoming overly sweet.
• Optional Nuts: Finely chopped pecans or walnuts are optional but add a lovely, subtle crunch that contrasts nicely with the powdered sugar coating.
• Peppermint Candies or Candy Canes: Crushed into small pieces, these give the cookies a festive, wintry look and a refreshing hint of peppermint flavor in each bite.

Preparing the Dough for Perfect Texture

Start by creaming together the butter and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process is crucial, as it incorporates air into the dough, making for a light and delicate cookie. After adding the vanilla extract, the dry ingredients are gradually introduced. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt to evenly distribute the salt, then fold this into the butter mixture. This method keeps the dough from becoming overly dense.

If you’re adding nuts for a bit of extra texture, fold them in at this stage. The result is a dough that’s easy to handle but still tender, ensuring the cookies will have a wonderful melt-in-the-mouth quality once baked.

Shaping and Baking for Even, Golden Cookies

Once your dough is ready, shape it into small, 1-inch balls. Rolling them to this size ensures an even baking time, with each cookie getting a soft, golden base without browning on top.

Bake the cookies at 350°F (175°C) for about 12–14 minutes. The goal is a slight golden tint on the bottoms while keeping the tops pale, which preserves their tender texture. Overbaking will dry out the cookies, so check them carefully as they bake. Once done, let them cool briefly on the baking sheet to set, then prepare them for their final snowy coating.

Creating the Perfect Peppermint Coating

For the coating, combine powdered sugar with crushed peppermint candies or candy canes in a shallow bowl. The key here is texture—having both fine powder and small, crunchy bits of peppermint gives each bite a delightful mix of textures. The powdered sugar helps the peppermint adhere to the cookies and creates the signature snowball look.

The Art of Coating Warm Cookies

Rolling the cookies while they’re still warm is essential, as the warmth helps the powdered sugar and peppermint mixture stick. Allow the cookies to cool just a couple of minutes before rolling. Gently roll each cookie in the peppermint mixture, coating it generously for that festive snowy appearance. The powdered sugar creates a wintery white coat, while the peppermint bits add eye-catching pops of red.

Optional Second Coating for Extra Sweetness

For an extra layer of sweetness, let the cookies cool completely and then roll them in the peppermint-powdered sugar mixture a second time. This step not only enhances their snowy look but also adds to the flavor and festive appearance, making them even more irresistible.

Serving and Storing Your Peppermint Snowball Cookies

These cookies are best enjoyed fresh, but they also keep well for holiday gifting. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Over time, the peppermint flavor continues to infuse the cookies, giving them a delightful wintery twist.

Tips for the Best Peppermint Snowball Cookies

1. Soft Butter Is Key: Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature before starting. Softened butter will cream better with the powdered sugar, resulting in the lightest, fluffiest texture.
2. Handle the Dough Gently: Don’t overwork the dough when mixing in the flour or shaping the balls. A gentle touch keeps the cookies tender.
3. Monitor Baking Time Closely: These cookies bake quickly, and it’s easy to overbake them. Check the bottoms around the 12-minute mark to ensure they’re just slightly golden and remove them promptly.
4. Experiment with Peppermint Texture: Try crushing some of the peppermint candies into fine dust and leaving other pieces slightly chunky for a mix of textures in each bite.

Enjoying Your Festive Peppermint Snowball Cookies

Peppermint snowball cookies bring a joyful pop of winter cheer to any holiday table, with their light texture, delicate sweetness, and refreshing peppermint kick. These treats are as charming as they are delicious, perfect for holiday gatherings, gift exchanges, or even a cozy night in with a warm drink.