Description
Minty Snowball Cookies are delightful, buttery treats infused with peppermint flavor and studded with mint chocolate. These soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are coated in powdered sugar to give them a snowy, festive appearance, perfect for holiday gatherings or any time you crave a refreshing, minty dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus extra for coating)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup finely chopped mint chocolate (or mint chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step creates a tender texture in the cookies.
- Add Extracts: Mix in the vanilla extract and peppermint extract thoroughly to infuse the dough with sweet and minty flavors.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt to the butter mixture, stirring until a smooth dough forms. Be careful not to overmix to keep the cookies tender.
- Fold in Mint Chocolate: Gently fold in the finely chopped mint chocolate or mint chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the dough for bursts of minty chocolate in each bite.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch diameter balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart to allow room for slight spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Look for edges to be set while the centers remain pale—this ensures a soft cookie texture.
- Coat with Powdered Sugar: Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then roll each warm cookie in additional powdered sugar for the first coating. Once fully cooled, roll them again in powdered sugar to achieve a classic snowy appearance and extra sweetness.
- Storage: Store the Minty Snowball Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Use finely chopped mint chocolate or mint chocolate chips to ensure even distribution and easy incorporation into the dough.
- Be sure not to overbake; cookies should remain pale to keep them tender and soft inside.
- Double rolling in powdered sugar creates a beautiful snowy look and enhances the sweetness.
- These cookies can be made ahead and stored for a week, making them great for holiday prepping.
- If you prefer a stronger peppermint flavor, you can increase the peppermint extract slightly, but avoid adding too much to prevent bitterness.
