Description
Minty Snowball Cookies are buttery, melt-in-your-mouth delights with a festive peppermint twist. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these American-style cookies combine the rich flavors of butter, chopped nuts, and a refreshing hint of peppermint, making them a seasonal favorite that’s easy to bake and beautiful to serve.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus more for rolling)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Garnish
- Crushed peppermint candies (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating the perfect base for your cookies.
- Add Extracts: Mix in the vanilla and peppermint extracts to infuse the dough with a delightful minty aroma.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Gradually stir in the all-purpose flour and salt until the dough comes together smoothly without overmixing.
- Add Nuts and Chips: Fold in the finely chopped pecans or walnuts, and if desired, the mini chocolate chips for added texture and flavor.
- Shape Dough Balls: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and arrange them about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow for slight spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12–14 minutes, or until the bottoms are just lightly golden, indicating they are perfectly baked.
- First Sugar Roll: Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then while still warm, gently roll each cookie in powdered sugar to create a snowy coating.
- Cool and Final Sugar Coat: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, then roll them again in powdered sugar for the classic snowball appearance.
- Optional Garnish: Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top for an extra festive look and enhanced peppermint flavor.
Notes
- For an intensified mint flavor, increase the peppermint extract or mix finely crushed peppermint candies into the dough before baking.
- These cookies freeze exceptionally well; after thawing, re-roll them in the powdered sugar to refresh the snowy coating.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- If avoiding nuts, these cookies can be made without them, but the texture will change slightly.
