Chewy Peppermint Sugar Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (2024)

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These easy Peppermint Sugar Cookies are soft and chewy cookies with peppermint pieces and white chocolate chips. They’re festive, flavorful and hard not to get addicted to! The perfect homemade cookies for Christmas and just soaking up those holiday vibes.

Chewy Peppermint Sugar Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (1)

Table of Contents

  • Recipe Ingredients
  • How to Make This Easy Peppermint Sugar Cookie Recipe
  • Can I Make These Cookies Ahead?
  • How to Store Homemade Sugar Cookies
  • Can I Freeze These Cookies?
  • More Sugar Cookie Recipes
  • Get the Recipe

Soft & Chewy Peppermint Sugar Cookies

I can’t get enough of the white chocolate and peppermint combo in these cookies! This minty recipe is an adaptation of my tried and true homemade sugar cookies recipe. They have the same soft and chewy texture with an added coolness and sweetness from the peppermint pieces and white chocolate. These cookies are also made with peppermint extract, so they have plenty of flavor without being overpowering.

These easy Christmas cookies come together in just 20 minutes! They’ll look amazing on your holiday cookie plate, and they make the perfect treat for Santa Claus. And, even though these cookies are ideal for Christmas, they’re also good enough to make year round!

Chewy Peppermint Sugar Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (2)

Recipe Ingredients

These cookies are made with the same ingredients as my classic sugar cookies, plus peppermint extract, peppermint pieces, and white chocolate chips. Here’s your ingredient lineup (check out the recipe card below for exact amounts):

  • All-purpose flour – Be careful not to pack the flour in your measuring cups. Otherwise, you risk over-measuring your flour and making your cookies dry.
  • Baking soda
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Unsalted butter – Bring your butter to room temperature.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Light brown sugar
  • Egg
  • Vanilla extract
  • Peppermint extract
  • White chocolate chips – Feel free to use semisweet or dark chocolate chips instead, if preferred.
  • Crushed peppermint pieces

What Kind of Peppermint Candy Should I Use?

I recommend using either candy canes or Brach’s peppermint candies for this recipe. They both have great peppermint flavor, they’re inexpensive and they’re easy to crush. Simply place them in a plastic bag and pound them with a rolling pin! If you want bigger chunks of peppermint in your cookies, don’t crush your mints too finely. You can also often find pre-crushed peppermint pieces on the baking aisle in certain stores.

Chewy Peppermint Sugar Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (3)

How to Make This Easy Peppermint Sugar Cookie Recipe

These cookies are anything but complicated. All you have to do is make your dough, add in the peppermint pieces and chocolate chips, and bake!

  • Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set them aside.
  • Combine Dry Ingredients: Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
  • Cream Butter & Sugars: Cream the butter and sugars together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy. You should be able to see the change in color happen and know it’s ready.
  • Add Egg & Extracts: Add the egg and mix until well combined. Then, add the vanilla extract and peppermint extract and mix until well combined.
  • Combine Wet & Dry Ingredients: Add the dry ingredients and mix until the dough is well combined. It will be thick and shouldn’t be sticky. Do not over mix it.
  • Add Chocolate & Peppermint: Once it’s well combined, add the white chocolate chips and peppermint pieces and use a rubber spatula to help it come together to form a more cohesive ball.
  • Assemble Dough on Baking Sheet: Create 1 1/2 tablespoon sized balls of cookie dough. Gently roll into a ball, then set the balls on the baking sheet.
  • Bake: Bake your cookies for 7-9 minutes. The cookies will spread and the centers will look soft, but should look done. Remove just as the edges begin to turn golden. Don’t overbake them. The cookies may look a little puffy when you take them out of the oven, but they’ll fall a bit as they cool.
  • Let Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for 4-5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Chewy Peppermint Sugar Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (4)

Can I Make These Cookies Ahead?

Yes, it’s easy to make these peppermint sugar cookies months in advance! Simply pack the cooled cookies in a ziploc bag, squeeze all the extra air out, and store them in the freezer.

You can layer your cookies between parchment paper, if desired, to prevent them from sticking together. When you want to eat your cookies, just thaw them in the fridge and enjoy.

Cookie Decorating & Variation Ideas

Looking for a way to jazz up these cookies even more? Try out some of these fun ideas:

  • Drizzle With Chocolate: In addition to putting the white chocolate chips in your cookie batter, you can melt some of them and drizzle the chocolate over your cookies once they’ve cooled.
  • Add More Chocolate Chips: When your cookies come out of the oven, you can lightly press some white chocolate chips on top to make them stand out!
Chewy Peppermint Sugar Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (5)

How to Store Homemade Sugar Cookies

These cookies should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or a ziploc bag with all the air squeezed out. They’ll stay perfectly soft and chewy for 4-5 days! I recommend enjoying your sugar cookies within a week of making them.

Can I Freeze These Cookies?

If you want your cookies to last for longer than a week, you can pop them in the freezer. Keep them in an airtight plastic bag and thaw them out before eating them. Frozen cookies will last for about 3 months!

More Sugar Cookie Recipes

There are so many ways to make an irresistible sugar cookie! Check out some more recipes below:

  • Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies
  • Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
  • Chocolate Sugar Cookies
  • Lemon Sugar Cookies
  • Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Print

Chewy Peppermint Sugar Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (6)

Recipe

Peppermint Sugar Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 minutes
  • Total Time: 23 minutes
  • Yield: 40
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
Print

Description

These peppermint sugar cookies are packed with crushed peppermint and white chocolate chips. They’re a perfect pick for your holiday cookie tray!

Ingredients

  • 2 3/4 cups (358g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup + 2 tbsp (233g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (28g) light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 1/4 cups (211g) white chocolate chips
  • 6 tablespoons crushed peppermint pieces

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
  2. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
  3. Cream the butter and sugars together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy. You should be able to see the change in color happen and know it’s ready.
  4. Add the egg and mix until well combined.
  5. Add the vanilla extract and peppermint extract and mix until well combined.
  6. Add the dry ingredients and mix until the dough is well combined. It will be thick and shouldn’t be sticky. Do not over mix.
  7. Once it’s well combined, add the white chocolate chips and peppermint pieces and use a rubber spatula to help it come together to form a more cohesive ball.
  8. Create 1 1/2 tablespoon sized balls of cookie dough. Gently roll into a ball, then set the balls on the baking sheet.
  9. Bake cookies for 7-9 minutes. The cookies will spread and the centers will look soft, but should look done. Remove just as the edges begin to turn golden. Don’t overbake. The cookies may look a little puffy when you take them out of the oven but will fall a bit as they cool.
  10. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on baking sheets for 4-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • To store: These cookies should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or a ziploc bag with all the air squeezed out. They’ll stay perfectly soft and chewy for 4-5 days! I recommend enjoying your sugar cookies within a week of making them.
  • To freeze: If you want your cookies to last for longer than a week, you can pop them in the freezer. Keep them in an airtight plastic bag and thaw them out before eating them. Frozen cookies will last for about 3 months!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 124
  • Sugar: 8.6 g
  • Sodium: 68.2 mg
  • Fat: 6.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15.2 g
  • Protein: 1.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 18 mg

Categories

  • Christmas
  • Cookies
  • Fall and Holiday Favorites
  • Holidays
  • Recipes
  • Sweets and Treats
Chewy Peppermint Sugar Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my cookies chewy instead of crunchy? ›

How To Make Cookies Chewy Without Cornstarch
  1. Go heavy on brown sugar. It has more moisture than its granulated counterpart, which means the cookie comes out less crispy. ...
  2. Choose margarine or shortening instead of butter. ...
  3. Use baking powder instead of baking soda. ...
  4. Rest your dough. ...
  5. Shorten baking time.
May 14, 2023

Why are my sugar cookies chewy? ›

White Sugar + Brown Sugar

Naturally a sugar cookie is going to use white granulated sugar. It's just how it is. But part of what makes a cookie chewy is a high moisture content. Brown sugar has more moisture than white sugar, because it contains a little bit of molasses.

What ingredient makes cookies stick together? ›

Binding agents are the liquid in the recipe that hold the cookie together. Examples of binding agents are eggs, milk, honey, and fruit juice. Cookies with more eggs will rise more and spread less. If you want a crispier cookie, you can replace a whole egg with just an egg white.

Do you decorate Christmas cookies before or after baking? ›

My preferred way is to bake my cookies the day before I want to decorate. That way, on decorating day, I start with a fresh mind and a clean kitchen! If you're making a lot, say for gifts for neighbors and friends, you can freeze the cookies at any step along the way. (OK, don't freeze them when the icing is wet.)

What is the secret to chewy cookies? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

What are 3 factors that contribute to a chewy cookie? ›

The ingredients you use and how you shape your cookies both play an important role in whether your cookies turn out crispy or chewy. The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

What flour is best for chewy cookies? ›

Some people like thin and crispy, while others go for super soft and half-baked (me!). If you're looking for chewiness and bend, bread flour could be a handy addition to your cookie recipes.

Should you refrigerate sugar cookie dough before baking? ›

Chilling the dough is a key step in making sugar cookies, especially when you're making cut-outs. Even if you're tight on time, make sure to get the dough in the fridge, or even the freezer, even if it's only for a little while. Skip this step, and the dough will be sticky, and much harder to work with.

What happens if you don't chill cookie dough? ›

Chilling dough does several things: It provides ample time for the sugar to dissolve and the flour to hydrate, and some argue it helps deepen the flavor of the dough altogether. But the truth is, the primary reason bakers chill their dough is to prevent cookies from spreading too much.

What gives cookies more flavor? ›

Add more complex proteins, like malted milk powder and brown butter. Caramelizing the sugar beforehand brings bright notes to your cookies, but you can further expand your dessert's flavor profile by playing with proteins.

How early is too early to bake Christmas cookies? ›

You'll find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made anywhere from a month to six months before the 25th of December. (Consult this handy how-to guide to the matter.) Generally, most recipes will be best if baked and then frozen.

How many days before Christmas should you make cookies? ›

Aim to make them about two weeks in advance if you keep them at room temperature. Making them one week or a few days in advance is even better if you are going for the freshest possible cookies. Remember that you can always make a new batch if you accidentally keep your cookies out for too long and they become stale.

Do you bake Christmas cookies on parchment paper? ›

Absolutely. We recommend baking sugar cookies (or any cookies!) on parchment paper.

Why are my cookies hard instead of chewy? ›

According to The Kitchn, this occurs when you over-mix the dough. Mixing the dough naturally causes gluten to develop in the flour, and while you do need a good amount of gluten to give your cookies structure, too much of it will result in hard cookies.

Why are my cookies hard and not chewy? ›

Under-Bake Your Cookies

Ever accidentally bake a batch of cookies for too long, only to find that they were crunchy and hard instead of soft and chewy? The opposite goes for under-baking. Pull your cookies out of the oven a minute or two early (while the centers are still gooey).

Why do my cookies never turn out chewy? ›

Egg yolks add moisture to the dough, while egg whites can make cookies drier and crunchier. Add a bit of cornstarch to the dough. Cornstarch helps to absorb moisture and keep cookies soft and tender. Make sure you're using the right type of flour.

What ingredient contributes most to the texture of a crisp cookie? ›

Fat is a very important ingredient in cookies – it tenderizes, crisps and browns, adds color and a wonderful flavor that is impossible to duplicate. Butter, our fat of choice, ensures good baking results and adds the most desirable taste, texture and appearance.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Manual Maggio

Last Updated:

Views: 5617

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Manual Maggio

Birthday: 1998-01-20

Address: 359 Kelvin Stream, Lake Eldonview, MT 33517-1242

Phone: +577037762465

Job: Product Hospitality Supervisor

Hobby: Gardening, Web surfing, Video gaming, Amateur radio, Flag Football, Reading, Table tennis

Introduction: My name is Manual Maggio, I am a thankful, tender, adventurous, delightful, fantastic, proud, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.