Peppermint Swirl Cookies
These visually stunning Peppermint Swirl Cookies are soft, chewy, and perfect for holiday gatherings with their delightful minty flavor and beautiful red and white swirls.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened Use 2 sticks.
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Coloring and Coating
- as needed red gel food coloring For coloring half the dough.
- ¼ cup coarse sugar or crushed peppermint candies For coating the cookies.
Instructions
Preparation
- Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar for about 3 to 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract, mixing until just combined.
- Slowly add the flour mixture in thirds while the mixer is on low, mixing just until combined.
Dough Preparation
- Divide the dough into two equal parts. Add red gel food coloring to one half and mix until uniform.
- Shape each half into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Roll out each disc into a rectangle about 12x10 inches and ¼ inch thick.
- Layer the two rolled doughs, pressing together slightly before rolling them into a tight cylindrical log.
- Wrap the log in plastic wrap and chill again for 2 hours or overnight.
Baking
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) about 20 minutes before baking.
- Slice the chilled log into rounds approximately ¼ inch thick.
- Place cookie slices on lined baking sheets 1 inch apart and bake for 8 to 11 minutes.
- Let cookies cool for about 5 minutes on the sheets before transferring to a cooling rack.
Decoration
- Optionally, roll the cooled cookies in coarse sugar or crushed peppermint candies for a festive touch.
Notes
To keep cookies fresh, store in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze wrapped cookies. Experiment with colors and flavors for variety.