Peppermint Sugar Cookies Recipe

If you’ve been searching for that perfect festive treat that’s bursting with cool mint flavor and classic sweetness, you’re going to fall head over heels for this Peppermint Sugar Cookies Recipe. I absolutely love how these cookies come out tender with just the right crumb, and the peppermint royal icing is a game changer — bright, fresh, and gorgeous. When I first tried this recipe, it quickly became my family’s holiday staple, and I’m confident you’ll find it just as delightful!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Every ingredient here plays a key role: from the cold butter that gives your cookies a tender crumb to the peppermint extract that adds that unmistakable cooling touch. When shopping, I prefer unbleached all-purpose flour for the best texture and meringue powder for that reliable royal icing structure.

• All-purpose flour: Use unbleached for a slightly better flavor and texture.
• Baking powder: Helps these cookies rise just enough without being cakey.
• Salted butter: I like my butter cold and cubed to ensure the dough gains perfect crumbly consistency.
• Sugar: Regular granulated sugar works great to add sweetness and texture.
• Egg: Adds richness and binds the cookie dough.
• Vanilla extract: Use pure for the best depth of flavor.
• Almond extract: Just a touch—it brings a lovely subtle nuttiness.
• Meringue powder: Essential for making royal icing that stiffens properly.
• Powdered sugar: The soft base for a perfectly smooth royal icing.
• Light corn syrup: Keeps the icing shiny and flexible.
• Peppermint extract: Adds that refreshing peppermint flavor—feel free to make it stronger or milder!
• Gel icing colors: White for a clean base, and pink/red/green to get in the holiday spirit.
• Additional tools: Small squeeze bottles and toothpicks make decorating so much easier.

Variations

I love how versatile this Peppermint Sugar Cookies Recipe is—it’s like a blank canvas. I’ve played around with the peppermint intensity and colors, and you can definitely swap extracts or nix the almond if it’s not your thing. Plus, this recipe is forgiving enough that you can tweak it for different occasions easily.

• Extra Minty: Once, I doubled the peppermint extract to really punch up that cool flavor — perfect if you’re a peppermint fanatic!
• Seasonal Colors: For Christmas, I love red and green icing; for Valentine’s, pink and white look so pretty and sweet.
• Almond-Free: If nuts aren’t your favorite, simply skip the almond extract without sacrificing much flavor.
• Gluten-Free Option: Though I haven’t tried this myself yet, swapping in a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour could work with a bit of experimentation.

How to Make Peppermint Sugar Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prep and Mix the Dough

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper—that’s going to save you a world of cleanup. Whisk together the flour and baking powder in a bowl and set it aside. Now cream your cold cubed butter with sugar until fluffy—that light and airy texture is key to tender cookies. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extracts until everything comes together. Add your flour mixture gradually, mixing on low; by the end, your dough will be thick and a little crumbly. This is perfectly normal and exactly what you want.

Step 2: Rolling and Cutting

Here’s the trick I discovered: line your rolling surface with wax paper and dust it well with flour, including your rolling pin. Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick, and dip your cutter in flour each time—this keeps your cookies from sticking and looking messy. Cut out as many rounds as you can, re-kneading scraps gently and rolling again. I like to roll the dough directly onto parchment paper on the baking sheet sometimes—it really simplifies transferring delicate cookies.

Step 3: Chilling and Baking

Pop your cookie sheets in the freezer for about 10 minutes before baking. This step helps the cookies hold their shape so beautifully while baking. Then bake for 9-12 minutes until the edges just start to turn golden—watch closely because you don’t want them to overbake. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before trimming with the cutter again if you want perfectly round edges. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.

Step 4: Making the Peppermint Royal Icing

Once your cookies are fully cooled, it’s time for the magic: the peppermint royal icing. Beat the meringue powder with peppermint extract and water until foamy, then sift in powdered sugar and add corn syrup. Mix on low to incorporate, scraping the bowl, then beat on medium-low for 5 minutes before increasing speed until glossy peaks form. Trust me, that beat time makes all the difference! Tint a portion pink and leave some bright white for classic peppermint contrast.

Step 5: Decorating Like a Pro

Use squeeze bottles to pipe an outline of white icing around your cookie edges first. Next, thin some white icing with a few drops of water until it flows like thick syrup for flooding inside the borders. Fill the centers with white flood icing, then pipe little pink dots around the perimeter. Here’s the fun part: use a toothpick to drag those pink dots inward to create that classic peppermint swirl pattern. Let your creativity flow and repeat with remaining cookies. Letting the icing dry fully—around 24 hours—is key to getting that perfect finish.

How to Serve Peppermint Sugar Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple to highlight the peppermint swirl—sometimes adding a few crushed candy canes on top right before the icing sets for extra texture and sparkle. For casual gatherings, sprinkles in matching colors also add festive flair without overpowering the classic look.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair effortlessly with warm drinks like hot cocoa or peppermint-spiked coffee. I’ve also served them alongside simple fruit platters or cheese boards during holiday parties—they add a sweet contrast that’s just irresistible.

Creative Ways to Present

For gifting, I love packaging these cookies in 3×4 treat bags tied with twine or festive ribbon—you can even layer different colored cookies for a whimsical touch. For parties, displaying them on tiered trays or in holiday-themed tins really amps up the seasonal vibe and makes grabbing a cookie feel extra special.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After the icing is completely dry, I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and chewy for up to a week, though in my house that rarely happens because everyone sneaks in for a nibble!

Freezing

I’ve had great success freezing these cookies without icing—just flash-freeze them on a baking sheet and then transfer to a sealed container. When you want to decorate, thaw fully and then apply the royal icing fresh for the best look and taste. This trick really helps when you want to bake ahead of time.

Reheating

Since these cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature, I usually skip reheating altogether. But if you do want them warm, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave works wonders without melting the icing—just watch them carefully!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Peppermint Sugar Cookies Recipe is truly one I hold dear, especially during the holiday season. It brings together wonderful flavors, fun decorating, and memories with family and friends all in one bite. I encourage you to try making these yourself—you’ll love how much joy it brings to your kitchen and your gatherings. Whether you’re baking for the holidays or just because, these cookies are sure to become a treasured favorite.

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