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These Peppermint Meltaway cookies literally melt in your mouth. After one bite, you will see where they get their name!
Nothing says Christmas like peppermint flavored treats, and peppermint meltaways are the perfect holiday cookie. Topped off with creamy frosting and crunchy candy cane bits, these little treats are packed with big deliciousness.
A Classic Christmas Cookie 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 cookies! It’s truly impossible to hold back when it comes to these peppermint meltaways.
These bite-size, 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 / Shopping List
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup confectioners sugar
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
Homemade Frosting
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- ¼ cup crushed candy canes
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.
How to Make Peppermint Meltaways
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Line three baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Beat together butter, sugar, and peppermint extract.
- Separately, stir together flour and cornstarch until combined.
- Combine both mixtures and stir together.
- Scoop dough into 1 tablespoon size and place on the prepared cookie sheets.
- Place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Bake cookies 12-15 minutes.
- Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then place on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Beat together butter, peppermint extract, and sugar for frosting.
- Swirl icing on each cookie and sprinkle with candy canes.
Tips for the Perfect Cookies
Tip 1: If making your own frosting, be careful not to over melt the butter. It’s important that it’s just softened. If it’s too melted it will make the frosting way too watery and not creamy.
Tip 2: Make sure that your cookies are completely cooled before adding the icing. If they are still warm the icing will melt and run off the cookies, creating a big mess.
Tip 3: If you’d like the cookies to have a smoother top, after using the cookie scoop to make the 1 tablespoon-sized cookie, simply roll the ball in your hands until it’s a smooth ball. Leave the cookie in the shape of a ball when putting into the oven – don’t flatten them.
Storing Your Peppermint Meltaways
Store leftovers, at room temperature, in a sealed food storage container for 2-3 days. After 2 days you will want to refrigerate the cookies because of the unbaked butter in the icing. If you prefer, you can store them in the fridge right away. I like to eat these chilled.
These are also great to freeze for longer storage. Simply place them in a freezer bag and place cookies in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw before serving.
More Holiday Cookie Recipes
Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups | Chocolate Christmas Tree Pretzels | Christmas Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies | Chocolate Covered Oreo Reindeer Cookie | Christmas Truffles | Old Fashioned Christmas Sugar Cookies | Candy Cane Cookies | Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Peppermint Meltaways Cookies Recipe
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!
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ cup confectioners sugar
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
Frosting
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- ¼ cup crushed candy canes
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line three baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
-
Beat together butter, sugar and peppermint extract for about 2 minutes.
-
In a separate bowl, stir together flour and cornstarch until combined.
-
Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients and beat just until mixed (about 30 seconds).
-
Scoop dough into 1 tablespoon size cookies and drop onto prepared cookie sheets (2 inches apart).
-
Place trays into fridge to chill for 30 minutes before baking.
-
Bake cookies 12-15 minutes until edges have lightly browned.
-
Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to let cookies cool completely before icing.
-
For frosting, beat butter, peppermint extract and sugar until light & fluffy (2-3 minutes).
-
Swirl icing on each cookie then sprinkle crushed candy canes on top of each cookie.
Recipe Notes
Tips:
- Store leftovers (at room temperature) in a sealed food storage container for 2-3 days. After 2 days, you’ll want to refrigerate the cookies because of the unbaked butter in the icing.
- If you’d like the cookies to have a smoother top, after using the cookie scoop to make the 1 tablespoon-sized cookie, simply roll the ball in your hands until it’s a smooth ball. Leave the cookie in the shape of a ball when putting into the oven – don’t flatten them.
Nutrition per serving
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.
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