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Soft and buttery peppermint meltaways are a delicious holiday cookie topped with a peppermint glaze and crushed candy canes!
All Things Peppermint!
Christmas means a lot of different things to different people. To us, amongst many other things, it means PEPPERMINT everything.
Our peppermint meltaways are the perfect way to start this special time of year. They’re super soft and are full of peppermint flavor (similar to a shortbread-butter cookie). And true to its title, they magically melt away in your mouth – just like cotton candy!!
For more peppermint cookies to love, try our Peppermint Sugar Cookies and Double Peppermint Crunch Cookies.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Adorable! Bite-size and topped with pink frosting and crushed candy cane, these cookies are just so cute!
- A simple frosting. The pink glaze is the PERFECT addition (and it’s peppermint flavored too)!
- Peppermint. Add peppermint to any dessert recipe, and we promise, it’ll feel like Christmas time to you too!
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 20 minutes
CHILL TIME: 1 hour
BAKE TIME: 15 minutes
Dough
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter– How to Soften Butter Quickly
- 4 tablespoons cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar – sifted
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract – or other flavors such as vanilla or almond extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour – see How to Measure Flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch (4 tablespoons)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar – sifted
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract – or match the flavor used in the dough
- red food coloring, if desired
- crushed peppermint pieces – or hard peppermint candies, candy canes, or chopped Peppermint Andes
How To Make Peppermint Meltaways
- DOUGH. In a large mixing bowl, beat 14 tablespoons butter and 4 tablespoons cream cheese until creamy and smooth. Add ½ cup powdered sugar and ½ teaspoon peppermint extract and beat until fluffy.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix 1½ cups flour, ¼ cup cornstarch, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and blend until incorporated. Cover and chill for 1 hour.
- BAKE. Preheat oven to 350°F. Scoop dough with cookie scoop into 1-inch balls. Roll and place on a baking sheet. Use the bottom of a cup to flatten cookies, and bake for 10-12 minutes or lightly browned on the edges.
- DECORATE. Make frosting by mixing 2 tablespoons butter, 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar, 3-4 tablespoons milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and food coloring with a hand mixer in a medium bowl. Add more milk until it’s the desired consistency.
- Frost cookies and sprinkle with crushed peppermint pieces. Let set up before packaging or storing.
Pro Tip: Flatten or keep rounded
These cookies keep their shape well and don’t spread very much in the oven. If you don’t want such a rounded top, simply press down the dough balls a bit more before putting them in the oven.
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Peppermint Meltaways Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 tablespoons cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch, (4 tablespoons)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2¼ cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- food coloring
- crushed peppermint pieces
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat 14 tablespoons butter and 4 tablespoons cream cheese until creamy and smooth. Add ½ cup powdered sugar and peppermint extract and beat until fluffy.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and blend until incorporated. Cover and chill for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Scoop dough with cookie scoop into 1-inch balls. Roll and place on baking sheet. Use the bottom of a cup to flatten cookies, and bake for 10 – 12 minutes or lightly browned on edges.
- Make frosting by mixing butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and food coloring with a hand mixer in a medium bowl. Add more milk until it’s the desired consistency.
- Frost cookies and sprinkle with crushed peppermint pieces. Let set up before packaging or storing.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Wrap the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 days, or wrap again with foil and freeze for up to 3 months before baking. See How to Freeze Cookie Dough for tips.
Once the glaze has set, store it in an airtight container for 3-4 days or freeze it for 2-3 months.
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You had me at peppermint. Seriously my favorite recipe. We never have peppermint because well inhave never found one I like. I LOVE these. Thank you!
I made these for the treat tray i gave to teachers this year. Everybody loved them.
These cookies made my day my family really enjoyed this Christmas Thanks, Kristyn! Great work and keep it up!
Awe, thank you so much for sharing that!
I need to try these immediately!
We love mint and these are great! They melt in your mouth! Perfect dessert for feeding guests!
Loving all things peppermint!
So, do I!! Hope you give these a try!
Oh my favorite! Anything with peppermint;)
Me too!! Thank you so much!
I’ve never had meltaways before and I love peppermint! I’m gonna have to try these. I’m wondering if the soft puffed peppermint candies would be better (to my taste)for topping though but since I don’t know what the cookies taste like as is I’m hesistant to change anything first time baking.
Those will be ok. Since, they’re just on the glaze, they can be soft or hard. You’ll love these, since your a peppermint lover. Enjoy!
My first batch stayed in ball shape…by the looks of yours they shouldn’t do that! I flattened out the second batch but just wondering why they would stay in ball shape when baking? Very good cookies still 🙂
I love how festive these are, and my daughter would love them too!
Meltaways are one of my favorite cookies… and these peppermint ones look so amazing!!!
I can’t believe there are only 6 Sunday left, that is scary!! It feels like I have plenty of time, but I don’t! I am a sucker for peppermint this tiem of year, and these cookies look perfect!
I need to try these immediately!
These cookies are so pretty and perfect! I can’t believe we only have SIX Sundays left before Christmas…let the fun begin!
Only six Sundays until Christmas??!! I’m in trouble! I think I’m going to need these cookies to help me through!
I need to measure the days in church days instead of weeks, then my kids will realize how close it is!! Love your peppermint melt aways!! So festive and adding to our cookie list this year. 🙂
I agree these cookies look perfect just as is! I thikn Santa would love to have these waiting for him on Christmas Eve!
Girl I want these to melt in my mouth asap! LOVE me some peppermint this time of year… ok really all year! 🙂 Gimme gimme peppermint!
These look great. Thank you. I’m trying to decide on what cookies to bake this year. I might have to add these.
These cookies are gorgeous! And so perfect for the holidays! Pinned!