Frosted Peppermint Cookies are soft, pillowy cookies baked with peppermint candy and topped with peppermint vanilla buttercream and candy cane pieces.
To find recipes using peppermint candy canes is always fun because no matter what you know that it has to taste like Christmas when it’s done. These candy cane peppermint cookies taste so great when they’re done and they really deliver on that festive color and minty flavor!
The holidays are upon us and there’s nothing I love more than to bake Christmas cookies with my kids. This recipe for Frosted Peppermint Cookies is one of my favorites. The cookies are soft, have great flavor and the peppermint vanilla buttercream is amazing. My kids love to help every step of the way from mixing the dough, scooping onto cookie sheets, frosting, and of course, sprinkling with crushed peppermint pieces.
Time Saving Tips for Making these Frosted Peppermint Cookies
Mix the dough and frosting beforehand, then store in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator until ready to use. This is an easy way to speed up the process when making cookies with kids. I usually make the dough and frosting the night before, then, the next day, when the kids are ready to make Christmas cookies, it’s a faster process.
You can scoop dough balls out on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then freeze until ready to use! When baking, just add 1 to 2 minutes to compensate for frozen dough, unless you’re able to thaw them out prior to baking.
Did you know you can purchase candy cane pieces already in small bits?! Check the holiday baking aisle of your grocery store and see if they carry them. I love purchasing these because it not only saves me time making the cookies, but I have less dishes to wash as well!
Not really a time-saving tip per se, but you might want to double the recipe and make enough cookies to give out as gifts to friends and neighbors. It’s still a fun, family activity making the cookies and you’ll be crossing the gifts off your list as well!
How do you store these frosted peppermint cookies?
Due to the frosting on the cookies, you can imagine that incorrectly storing the cookies in a Ziploc bag or cookie jar would lead to a messy (but delicious) clump of frosted cookies. I recommend storing them in an airtight container such as a Tupperware container and then laying a piece of cut parchment paper between cookie layers to keep messes minimal.
How long do these peppermint frosted cookies last?
When properly stored you can expect these cookies to last up to a week at room temperature, but chances are high that they’ll be gone long before then!
Frosted Peppermint Cookies Ingredients
-1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick)
-1 cup granulated sugar
-1 egg
-3/4 cup Horizon Organic Milk
-1 tsp vanilla
-2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-1/2 tsp salt
-3/4 cup peppermint candy*
How to Make the Peppermint Cookies
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar for 1 minute. Add in the egg, milk, and vanilla and then mix again until smooth.
Combine the dry ingredients and add 1/2 of it into the mixing bowl with the wet ingredients. Mix it together and then add in the other half. Add in the peppermint candy and then mix to combine. The dough will be softer & stickier than normal cookie dough.
Scoop out the cookie dough in about 2 TBSP sized scoops, placing them onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes and then let them cool for an additional 2 minutes on the cookie sheet. Transfer to a cooling rack.
Once fully cool, frost the cookies with about 1 TBSP of the homemade peppermint vanilla buttercream per cookie. Then top with more crushed candy cane pieces. Store your cookies in an airtight container.
*For peppermint candy I used a combination of peppermint baking chips and crushed candy cane pieces.
Peppermint Vanilla Buttercream Ingredients
-1/2 cup room temperature butter (1 stick)
-1 tsp peppermint extract
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-2-3 TBSP milk
-3 rounded cups powdered sugar
-1/2 cup crushed candy cane pieces
How to Make the Peppermint Vanilla Buttercream
Mix your butter in a mixing bowl on medium power for about 3 minutes, until whipped and light in color.
Add in the vanilla, the peppermint extract, milk and then 1 cup of the powdered sugar.
Mix together for 1 minute. Add in the other 2 cups of powdered sugar and mix on medium for 3-4 minutes, adding additional milk if needed until the desired consistency is achieved.
Frosted Peppermint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup softened butter 1 stick
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup peppermint candy*
Peppermint Vanilla Buttercream
- 1/2 cup room temperature butter 1 stick
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 TBSP milk
- 3 rounded cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup crushed candy cane pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Cream together butter and sugars for 1 minute. Add in egg, milk and vanilla and mix again until smooth.
- Combine dry ingredients and add 1/2 to the mixing bowl, mix, then add the other half. Add in peppermint candy and mix to combine. Dough will be softer than normal cookie dough and stickier.
- Scoop out about 2 TBSP of cookie dough onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes and let cool for an additional 2 minutes on the cookie sheet. Transfer to a cooling rack.
- Once fully cool, frost with about 1 TBSP of peppermint vanilla buttercream per cookie. Top with crushed candy cane pieces. Store cookies in an airtight container.
To make the Peppermint Vanilla Buttercream
- Mix butter in a mixing bowl on medium power for about 3 minutes, until whipped and light in color.
- Add in vanilla, peppermint extract, milk and 1 cup of the powdered sugar.
- Mix for 1 minute. Add in the other 2 cups of powdered sugar and mix on medium for 3-4 minutes, adding additional milk if needed until desired consistency is achieved.
Video
Notes
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Can you freeze peppermint cookies?
With or without the frosting these cookies would do well if frozen for up to a few weeks. If you plan to freeze them you may want to omit the additional candy cane pieces sprinkled on top of the frosting because as they thaw they’ll become soft, chewy and possibly alow the red dye to run into the cookies making them look a little less appealing. They’ll still taste great though!
Where can I get the crushed peppermint?
You can buy crushed peppermint candies from the baking aisle at your grocery store (right near the chocolate chips). You can also crush up your own candy canes or those round peppermint breath mint candies. Pretty much any peppermint candy that resembles a candy cane can do great with this recipe.
Need more fun holiday recipes to use with Horizon Organic milk? Try these:
- Dutch Apple Bread
- Pumpkin Pudding Cake
- Cranberry Orange Bread
- White Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
- Holiday Ham & Cheese Breakfast Casserole
Frosted Peppermint Cookies are soft, pillowy cookies baked with peppermint candy and topped with peppermint vanilla buttercream and candy cane pieces. Perfect Christmas cookie recipe for holiday parties & cookie exchanges!
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