peppermint snowflake shortbread cookies
Peppermint studded shortbread and sparkling snowflakes – I’m totally smitten with these little bites of winter.
These Peppermint Shortbread Snowflakes are a new addition to our Holiday Cookie Boxes this year. I wanted a recipe similar to the sugar cookies that are usually included, but slightly different to keep things in the kitchen exciting. Shortbread came to mind and the addition of peppermint quickly followed.
These snowflakes are everything I was envisioning and more. The dough itself isn’t too sweet, the peppermint gives it a frosty crunch of flavor, and the sanding sugar finishes with a hint of sweet at the end. They were a fabulous addition to our Holiday Cookie Boxes, fitting right in alongside our Winter Wonderland Almond Spritz Cookies.
These crunchy little bites of winter are the perfect afternoon tea cookie. Serve alongside a pot of peppermint tea and I for one am in holiday heaven. Bake for gifting or bake for snacking, just promise me you’ll bake a batch of these Peppermint Shortbread Snowflakes!
- 1½ sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1¾ cups flour
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup peppermint crunch
- coarse sugar for sprinkling
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats and set aside.
- In the stand of an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until combined.
- Gradually mix in flour and salt until a dough is formed. Mix in peppermint crunch on low speed until evenly distributed.
- Shape dough into a round disk and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling.
- Break off manageable pieces of chilled dough and roll between two sheets of parchment paper until about ¼ inch thick. Peel off top layer of parchment paper and cut cookies to desired shapes.
- Carefully transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets, sprinkle generously with coarse sugar, and bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are crisp, but not darkened. (2-4 minutes longer for larger cookies)
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before packaging or storing in an airtight container.
RESOURCES
Joseph and Joseph Rolling Pin
King Arthur Flour Peppermint Crunch
