Peppermint Snowball Cookies
These Peppermint Snowball Cookies take everything you love about the classic butter ball cookie, but it swaps out the nuts for peppermint, making them an even more festive and adorable Christmas cookie that will be welcome on any cookie tray!
Welcome to cookie season! Our new Peppermint Snowball Cookies are little sugar-dusted butter-packed holiday treats that are perfect to add to your holiday baking list! These little peppermint cookies are just like our Classic Butter Balls, but without the nuts and packed with peppermint instead! You’ll love the festive colors almost as much as the taste of this sweet, crumbly, candy cane-coated snowball cookie recipe!
Ingredients Needed
- Butter – The base of these peppermint butter ball cookies. We use salted butter for this, but you can also use unsalted butter and just added a little pinch of salt.
- All Purpose Flour – Just enough to help create a dough.
- Confectioner’s Sugar – Some for the dough and some for the coating! You really want confectioner’s sugar and not granulated for this recipe because of its powdered texture.
- Peppermint Extract – We’re leaning full into the peppermint with these easy Christmas cookies! But you could also use vanilla extract, too.
- Candy Canes – The perfect way to add a little festive flair!
Easy to Make
Crush the Candy Canes
Add those candy canes to a bag and use a rolling pin or a large thick glassed bottle (like the wine bottle) to gently crush them.
Make the Dough
The dough for these Peppermint Snowball Cookies is ready in minutes! Just mix the butter and sugar, add the flour and peppermint, and then give a good mix until you have a nice soft dough.
Bake!
Roll out the dough into pretty little balls and then bake!
Coat in Sugar
The final step, add that “snow” to these snowball cookies! And then of course you can’t forget the final peppermint touch on top of these peppermint cookies, with a final bit of crushed candy canes on top!
Done! Peppermint Snowball Cookies! Buttery, sweet, peppermint-packed balls of holiday cheer.
Cookie Making Tips
While not totally necessary, a hand mixer will make mixing the butter and sugar much easier. Plus, it’s one of those kitchen tools that you won’t regret having! But, if you don’t have one, no problem. Just be sure your butter is super soft – but not melted.
If your dough seems like it’s dry, just keep mixing! The butter will continue to work into the dough and, I promise, if you don’t give up on it, it will create a nice soft pliable butter-packed dough.
For this snowball cookie recipe, you definitely want to use your hands to shape those little balls. Not only will your hands just be the best way to roll out the perfect little balls, but also the heat from your hands can help warm the dough a little and make it more shapable. So if you feel like the dough is a little too dry, just give it a little squeeze in your hand and it’ll soften and you’ll be able to roll out a nice little dough ball.
For these snowball cookies, you won’t get a nice coat after the first roll. It’s that second one that’s where you can get the full “snow” coverage. I’m often too impatient to give the full full coverage, but if after the first roll you’re discouraged, don’t be! Just give them a minute and roll again – then don’t forget that crushed candy cane topping!
These Peppermint Snowball Cookies are ready for any holiday gathering, cookie tray, cookie box, or just because you want a stinkin’ delicious snowball cookie recipe!
Other Holiday Treats
- Classic Butter Balls
- Pecan Sandies
- No Bake Christmas Wreath Cookies
- Easy Classic Christmas Popcorn Balls
- Homemade Andes Mints
- Danish Puff Pastry
- Sugared Cranberries
Enjoy! As always, if you make this recipe or any of my others, I love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below, email me, or you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
If you want to see more, be sure to sign up for my 5 Easy Ways to Start Cooking From Scratch!
Peppermint Snowball Cookies
Equipment
- Rolling Pin optional
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour 292 g
- 5-6 candy canes
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar divided, 110 g
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract or vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400° F.
- Add candy canes to a large plastic bag and use a rolling pin or a thick glass bottle and gently roll over bag to crush candy canes into small pieces. Add to a bowl and set aside.
- In a large bowl, use a hand mixer and mix soft butter, 1/2 cup of confectioner's sugar, and peppermint extract together.
- Add flour and mix well with a spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms. Add 1/4 cup of crushed candy cane pieces and continue to mix well until a well combined, pilable dough forms. This may take a few minutes, just keep mixing.
- Use your hands to roll out small dough balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet. You may need to use your hands to squeeze the dough a bit to make it more moldable. Repeat with all dough for about 24 cookies.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the remaining confectioners sugar to a wide shallow bowl or plate and the remaining peppermint pieces to another.
- Once the cookies are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool for 2-3 minutes (make sure that you can pick them up without them falling apart. If they do start to crumble, let them cool longer). Roll each cookie in the confectioner's sugar and add to a plate. At this point, the sugar may not fully coat the cookie. Let them cool more and then give them a second roll.
- After the second coat in sugar, roll top of the balls in candy cane pieces.
- Enjoy!
Wow! Such an amazing recipe and the finished product is so mesmerizing! Kids will definitely love these cookies! Another great treat for this Holiday season!
Such an easy and delicious treat to make for Christmas.
This is also perfect for gifting too!
Omg love these! Just finished making them and putting them into tins to store. I’m a mint freak so I added more mint. They are fluffy, buttery and delicious. Great way to use up candy canes after the holidays too! Definitely bookmarking this and sending to my cookie making friends. Thanks for posting!!
SO great to hear!! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review – happy cookie baking season! 😀