Peppermint Shortbread Cookies

Name: Peppermint Shortbread Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened (two sticks); 1/2 cup powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cups crushed peppermint candies ((Sweet Stripes)); 4 ounces white chocolate chips (about 1 cup)

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Peppermint shortbread cookies are a refreshing tasting buttery shortbread cookie with crushed peppermint candies in every bite. Dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with more candy cane bits, these are perfect holiday cookies.

6 arranged peppermint shortbread cookies on a wooden surface

Shortbread cookies have a special place in my heart because of how simple and easy they are to make. No eggs, no leavening agents, just a few basic ingredients, and you're done.

Of course, there is a wait time for the candy cane shortbread cookie dough to chill, but it's worth it because it makes the dough firm and helps to enhance the peppermint flavor. Yum!

The end result is buttery soft cookies with a delicious peppermint crunch. Adding the white chocolate drizzle or dip to the cookies is optional but helps them to look as incredible as they taste.

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🥘 Ingredients
🍽 Equipment Needed
🍴 Recipe Tips
💭 FAQs
🔪 Instructions
📖 Recipe
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different;y decorated white chocolate covered peppermint shortbread cookies

🥘 Ingredients

Butter
Powdered sugar
Vanilla
All-Purpose Flour
Crushed Peppermint Candies
White Chocolate Chips

🍽 Equipment Needed

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a log of chilled dough sliced into rounds on a piece of parchment paper

🍴 Recipe Tips

Adding crushed peppermint candies into the batter gives every bite a chewy little burst of peppermint flavor to these white chocolate peppermint shortbread cookies. For less chew and more flavor. Grind the peppermint up in a blender or food processor.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND USING SWEET STRIPES instead of candy canes for these cookies. this is because candy canes will melt, but sweet stripes will not (or at least not to the same extent).

You can make the dough and chill it in the fridge up to 3 days in advance.

cooked peppermint shortbread cookies on a parchment paper lined baking sheet

💭 FAQs

Why do you put shortbread in the fridge before baking?

Chilling the dough is a good way to firm up the soft butter. A soft dough will spread during baking, but chilled shortbread will better retain shape.

Can I freeze peppermint shortbread?

While shortbread cookies can be frozen, peppermint shortbread shouldn't. The peppermint candies will become gooey and chewy and messy as they thaw.

How do you store shortbread after baking?

Store your cooled and set peppermint shortbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For best results, eat sooner rather than later so that the peppermint candies don't get too stale.

white chocoalte drizzled over peppermint shortbread cokies on a wire rack and topped with crushed candy canes

🔪 Instructions

Check out how to make peppermint shortbread cookies with these simple step-by-step instructions:

Cream together the butter and sugar until smooth in a large mixing bowl.
Add in the vanilla extract and mix well.
Add in the flour and the crushed peppermint candies and mix again.
Press the dough into a log on parchment paper and cover with plastic wrap.
Place in fridge and chill for at least 1 hour.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Remove the dough from the fridge.
Slice the dough ¼ inch thick. You should have about 12 cookies.
Arrange on the baking sheet leaving space between each.
Bake for 10-12 minutes and then allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
Melt your chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth.
Dip half of the cookies into the white chocolate and then sprinkle with additional crushed peppermint if desired.
Let set before eating.

a peppermint shortbread cookie broken in half to reveal inside texture

More great holiday recipes to try

📖 Recipe

an upclose view of white chocoalte covered peppermint shortbread cookies on a wooden surface

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5 from 9 votes