Christmas cookie season is here and everyone is looking for an easy-to-make holiday cookie. These Peppermint Snowball Cookies are the perfect treat. Everyone loves these Christmas cookies because they are delicious AND festive!
Love peppermint treats? Be sure to check out our peppermint stick ice cream and these peppermint Oreo cookies.
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I have been making these peppermint snowball cookies for years. I don't even remember when or where I found this cookie recipe. But it isn't the holiday season until we make one or two batches of these snowballs.
Snowballs are traditionally rolled in powdered sugar while they are warm. This makes them white like a snowball. But I like to dip them in white chocolate and sprinkle crushed candy canes on them instead.
These are one of my all time favorite cookies to make for Christmas because they melt in your mouth. You can also make these year round by just changing out the extract to another flavor and topping them with sprinkles. Or you can make them chocolate and stuff them with a Hershey's kiss like these chocolate bon bon cookies.
Why Make Snowballs
Peppermint snowballs are the perfect Christmas cookies for any gathering or party. Candy cane sprinkles make them so festive looking which is always fun for the holidays.
They are easy to make and taste so good. Each one is soft, buttery, and melts in your mouth.
You can use different flavors or colors of candy canes to give the rolled shortbread cookies a different look. Sprinkles are another great option.
Ingredients Needed
The best part about these cute little peppermint snowballs? You do not need any fancy ingredients or equipment - just a few basic things from your fridge and pantry.
Decorate the tops with your favorite candy canes to add a sweet crunch and color.
- Butter - We use unsalted butter in our recipes and adjust with extra salt if needed. You can use salted butter if that's what you have in your fridge, just adjust the amount in the recipe.
- Powdered Sugar - Sweetens the cookie dough.
- Egg - Provides the moisture and binds the ingredients together.
- Flavorings - a mixture of vanilla and peppermint extracts and salt give these little candy cane cookies a great flavor.
- Flour - Thickens the dough. Make sure you are measuring the flour correctly.
- Toppings - White chocolate and candy canes add a delicious flair to each peppermint cookie. If candy canes are out of season, use crushed peppermint candies instead.
How to Make Peppermint Snowball Cookies
This peppermint snowball recipe is easy to make and tastes great. These Christmas cookies are the perfect treat to package and send across the miles.
- Mix the dough. Beat the softened butter and powdered sugar in a large bowl until creamy. Add egg and extracts and mix again. Slowly add flour and salt and continue mixing until a stiff dough forms.
- Refrigerate. Pat into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill the dough ball for one hour. This is optional. If you do not have time, you can bake the dough right away. Chilling just helps the balls stay a little more round as they bake.
- Roll into balls. Divide the cookie dough into 36 even dough balls and place on baking sheets.
- Bake and cool. Place the pan in the oven and bake until lightly brown on the bottoms. Remove and let the cookies cool completely.
- Decorate the snowballs. Once the cookies have cooled, dip the tops in melted white chocolate and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
Storage Recommendations
- Counter - Store the finished peppermint snowballs in a tightly sealed container on your counter for 4-5 days.
- Freezer - Place the undecorated cookies in a tightly sealed freezer bag or container and freezer for 1-2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then bring to room temperature before adding the toppings.
Recipe FAQS
There are two things that seem to affect these cookies. First, make sure your butter is room temperature, so it can mix in easily.
Second, be very careful when measuring your flour. The right way to do that is by fluffing the flour, then spooning it gently into a measuring cup. Use a flat edge to level it off.
I like to place broken candy canes into a freezer safe ziplock bag. Make sure it is closed, then place it inside a towel.
Use the edge of a wooden spoon or a meat hammer to crush the pieces into little pieces. Some of the pieces may puncture the bag, but they stay contained for the most part.
More Christmas Cookies
- Molasses Crackle Cookies
- Peppermint Meltaways
- Mint Chocolate Pudding Cookies
- Rolo Cookies with Cake Mix
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies
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Recipe
Peppermint Snowball Cookies
Christmas cookie season is here and everyone is looking for an easy-to-make holiday cookie. These Peppermint Snowball Cookies are the perfect treat. Everyone loves these Christmas cookies because they are delicious AND festive!
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup white chocolate melting wafers
- 8 whole candy canes, smashed
Instructions
- Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy. Beat in egg and extracts.
- On low speed, beat in the flour and salt. Dough will be crumbly, but you can press it into a dough ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Shape dough into 36 balls and bake on a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Move cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Melt the white chocolate wafers according to package directions. Dip the tops of the cookies into the melted chocolate and roll in crushed candy canes.
- Place the cookies on waxed paper to harden. Store in a sealed container.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 97Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 24mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 7gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Peppermint Snowball Cookies was first published December 2012. The post was updated December 2021.
Mariah
My dough is too crumbly and won't come together? Did this happen to anyone else?
Jocelyn Brubaker
It will seem dry, but when you press it into balls it stays. Are you sure you measured all the ingredients correctly?
Esther
These looks amazing!! I want to make them for Christmas this year. I am looking at the recipe and I don't see the temperature. Is it 325F like most snowball cookies I see? Thanks!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I'll have to update that...sorry. It should be 350 degrees.
Sarah @ Miss CandiQuik
love these!! Can't wait to try...