These Peppermint Sugar Cookies feature a crisp sugar coating, crushed candy canes, and a drizzle of melted chocolate, making them the perfect festive treat for the holidays.
1 ½cupsgranulated sugarplus 1 cup additional for rolling
2 ½cupsall-purpose flour
½teaspoonbaking powder
½teaspoonsalt
14tablespoonsunsalted buttersoftened to room temperature
2large eggs
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
2teaspoonspeppermint extract
½cupcrushed peppermint candies or candy canes
1cupsemi-sweet chocolate chips
Prevent your screen from going dark
Instructions
Prepare the Peppermint Candy
Place peppermint candies or candy canes into a freezer bag. Crush them with a rolling pin until finely broken, slightly coarser than powder. Set aside.
Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended.
Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and 1 ½ cups granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla and peppermint extracts. Mix until smooth.
Incorporate the Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the flour mixture into the butter mixture, blending until a smooth dough forms. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 60 minutes.
Shape the Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a small scoop or two spoons, portion dough into balls approximately 1 tablespoon each. Roll each ball in the reserved 1 cup of granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on the prepared sheets and lightly flatten. Top with crushed peppermint.
Bake
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are set but not browned. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks.
Add the Chocolate Drizzle
Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth. Once cookies have fully cooled, drizzle chocolate over the tops using a fork or spoon. Allow chocolate to set before serving.
Notes
To make these cookies gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum for proper structure. Ensure the peppermint candies and chocolate chips are certified gluten-free before use.