Why Make This Recipe
Peppermint Swirl Cookies are a fun and festive treat that capture the spirit of the holiday season. Their vibrant colors and refreshing peppermint flavor make them perfect for holiday gatherings or simply to enjoy at home. The soft, buttery base swirled with peppermint adds a delightful twist to traditional cookies. Plus, they’re visually impressive yet simple to make!
How to Make Peppermint Swirl Cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- Red gel food coloring
- 1/4 cup coarse sugar or crushed peppermint candies for coating
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, followed by the vanilla extract and peppermint extract, mixing well.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. A soft dough should form. Be careful not to overmix.
- Divide the dough in half. Keep one half plain. To the other half, add red gel food coloring and mix until the color is even.
- For sharp swirls, wrap each ball of dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This step firms up the dough and keeps colors from bleeding.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the plain dough into a rectangle about 10×12 inches and 1/4 inch thick. Do the same with the red dough.
- Carefully place the red dough rectangle on top of the plain dough rectangle and gently press them together.
- Starting from one long side, roll up the layered dough tightly into a log. Press gently to remove air pockets.
- Wrap the dough log tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until very firm. This keeps the swirls intact when you slice the cookies.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- After chilling, remove the dough log from the refrigerator. If you like, brush the log with water or a whisked egg white, then roll it in coarse sugar or crushed peppermint candies for a delightful coating.
- Using a sharp knife, slice the log into 1/4 inch thick rounds. Place the cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Do not overbake.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.
How to Serve Peppermint Swirl Cookies
Serve these cookies on a festive plate at holiday gatherings. They pair wonderfully with a warm cup of cocoa or a glass of milk. For an extra special touch, consider placing them in treat bags as holiday gifts.
How to Store Peppermint Swirl Cookies
Store your Peppermint Swirl Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for about a week. For longer storage, you can freeze the cookies in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to three months.
Tips to Make Peppermint Swirl Cookies
- Make sure your butter is softened, not melted, for the best texture.
- Chilling the dough is crucial for getting nice clean slices.
- If you want to enhance the peppermint flavor, feel free to add a little extra peppermint extract.
Variation
You can use different colors for the dough, such as green or blue, to suit different occasions or holidays. Also, consider adding chocolate chips for extra flavor!
FAQs
1. Can I use regular food coloring instead of gel food coloring?
Yes, but gel food coloring gives more vibrant colors and doesn’t add extra liquid to the dough.
2. What if I don’t have peppermint extract?
You can use more vanilla extract or try other flavors like almond for a different twist.
3. Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough up to three days in advance and keep it wrapped in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake.
Peppermint Swirl Cookies
- Total Time: 150 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Festive peppermint swirl cookies with a soft, buttery base and vibrant colors, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- Red gel food coloring
- 1/4 cup coarse sugar or crushed peppermint candies for coating
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, followed by the vanilla extract and peppermint extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined.
- Divide the dough in half. Keep one half plain and add red gel food coloring to the other half until evenly colored.
- Wrap each dough ball in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- On a floured surface, roll out the plain dough and the red dough into rectangles about 10×12 inches and 1/4 inch thick.
- Place the red rectangle on top of the plain dough and gently press them together.
- Roll up the layered dough tightly and wrap it in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove the dough log from the refrigerator, brush with water or whisked egg white, and roll in coarse sugar or crushed peppermint candies.
- Slice the log into 1/4 inch thick rounds and place them 1 inch apart on the baking sheets.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly golden. Cool on the baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week. Freeze for up to three months for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: cookie, peppermint, holiday, dessert, festive