Description
Cool winter nights sparkle with this Minty Snowball Cookies recipe, delivering sweet peppermint comfort in delicate, powdered sugar-dusted bites. Crumbly, buttery cookies melt in your mouth, promising festive cheer with each delightful crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup mini chocolate chips or finely chopped dark chocolate
Sweeteners and Flavorings:
- ½ cup powdered sugar (plus extra for coating)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Additional Ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Green or red sanding sugar (optional, for a festive touch)
Instructions
- Assemble kitchen tools: mixing bowl, parchment-lined baking sheet, measuring utensils, and electric mixer.
- Thoroughly cream butter and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes pale and airy, creating a smooth base for the cookie dough.
- Incorporate vanilla and peppermint extracts, ensuring the aromatic flavors are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Gently fold in flour and salt, mixing until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing, which could make the cookies tough.
- Delicately blend mini chocolate chips into the dough, distributing them evenly for consistent flavor in each bite.
- Preheat the oven to 350F (175C), allowing it to reach full temperature before baking.
- Shape the dough into uniform 1-inch spheres, using gentle pressure to maintain a consistent size and smooth exterior.
- Arrange cookie balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them approximately 1 inch apart to prevent merging during baking.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching carefully to ensure cookies remain pale and set without browning.
- Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to rest for 5 minutes, which helps them firm up and become easier to handle.
- While still warm, carefully roll each cookie in powdered sugar, creating a delicate first coating.
- Optional: Mix green or red sanding sugar into the powdered sugar for a festive, colorful finish.
- Once completely cooled, roll the cookies in powdered sugar a second time for a more substantial, snow-like covering.
- Transfer cookies to an airtight container, where they will remain fresh at room temperature for up to one week.
Notes
- Swap butter with coconut oil for a dairy-free version that maintains a rich, creamy texture.
- Use gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Crush candy canes into fine powder and mix with powdered sugar for a more intense mint coating that adds festive crunch.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and create more uniform, perfectly round cookies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg