Nothing says Christmas like peppermint flavored treats, and peppermint meltaways are the perfect holiday baking item. After one bite you will see where they get their name!

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These Peppermint Meltaway cookies literally melt in your mouth. After one bite, you will see where they get their name, they are the perfect holiday cookie. Topped off with creamy frosting and crunchy candy cane bits, these little treats are packed with big deliciousness.

Peppermint Meltaways – A Classic Christmas Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
Substitutions & Additions
How to Make Peppermint Meltaways
Tips:
Storing Your Peppermint Meltaways
More Holiday Cookie Recipes
Peppermint Meltaways Cookies Recipe

While there are always loads of treats and desserts around during the holiday season, I can typically maintain my self-control decently well. But not with these Peppermint Meltaway cookies!

These bite-sized, melt-in-your-mouth, minty, sweet treats are just too good. Once you have one, you will want another! What’s more, they are as easy to make as they are to eat! There are only 5 ingredients in the cookies themselves and just 10 simple steps from start to finish.

You are going to love these perfect Christmas treats. They are so delicious and easy to make. Just make sure to hide a few for yourself, because they are sure to be gone in no time!

Ingredients

All purpose flour
Unsalted butter
Powdered sugar
Cornstarch
Kosher salt
Peppermint extract
Half & half
Crushed peppermint candies

Substitutions & Additions

Frosting: If you prefer, you can use a store-bought frosting instead of making your own. You can use a regular vanilla frosting and mix in some peppermint extract and crushed candy canes to get the same effect. Otherwise, you can just use a plain vanilla frosting and add whatever you like to the top as decoration.
Candy Canes: You can leave the candy canes out of the frosting if you do not like them and simply just have plain frosting on your meltaways. If you plan to leave out the candy canes but still want a crunch on your cookies you can add sprinkles. Red and green would add a festive look! You could also add sanding sugar for a pretty final touch.

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How to Make Peppermint Meltaways

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the peppermint extract and kosher salt. Mix until incorporated.
In a small bowl add the cornstarch and all-purpose flour and whisk together.
Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the butter mixture and mix just until combined.
Using a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out dough balls and place them onto a plate. Place the plate into the refrigerator to chill for a minimum of 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350* F.
Once the dough balls are chilled, place them on the parchment lined baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Pro-Tip: You are NOT looking for golden brown here. They should be pale but fully set in the center.
While your cookies are cooling you can make your frosting.
Pro-Tip: Remember not to frost your cookies until they are completely cooled
In a medium sized mixing bowl, beat the butter until fluffy. Add the peppermint extract, half & half and 1 cup of the sifted powdered sugar. Add the remaining powdered sugar one cup at a time until all the powdered sugar is fully incorporated and the frosting is smooth and creamy.
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.
Pro-Tip: Be very very careful when handling your cookies to frost them. They are extremely delicate
Garnish each cookie with a little sprinkle of crushed peppermint candies.

Tips:

If you want to make these cookies ahead of time you will freeze the uncooked, fully chilled, dough balls in a freezer safe zip top bag for up to 6 months. When you are ready to bake them you will place them on a prepared baking sheet and let them slightly thaw while your oven is preheating. You may need to add an extra 1-2 minutes to your bake time.
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 in place of the peppermint and these would make a delicious spring or summertime treat.
You can make your frosting ahead of time. You will need to store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. When you are ready to use it, make sure to let it some to room temperature and you may need to give it a quick whisk to make sure it is smooth and creamy for use.
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 candy canes into very fine pieces.

Storing Your Peppermint Meltaways

These peppermint meltaway cookies will keep on the counter, in a sealed container, for up to 3 days. I do not recommend stacking these cookies while storing them because of their delicate nature they will crumble very easily.

These irresistible little peppermint cookies are the perfect Christmas treat. The cookies themselves melt in your mouth, while the homemade frosting is sweet and delicious, with the added crunch of crushed candy canes. The flavor simply screams: Christmas! Your friends and family won’t be able to get enough of these.