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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Peppermint Shortbread Cookies

    Published: December 20, 2016 · Last Updated: April 19, 2022 by Heather · This post may contain affiliate links · 16 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These peppermint shortbread cookies are made with cornstarch for an extra tender melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for a cookie exchange! The added crunch and sweetness from the candy canes make this recipe a crowd-pleaser during the holidays.

    close-up of peppermint shortbread cookies

    I made these peppermint shortbread cookies for a holiday party that Matthew and I had at our apartment. They were the perfect bite-sized addition to our cookie platter. This recipe is an adaption of a traditional shortbread recipe. The cookies are much more tender, and I absolutely love them!

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love these cookies
    • Key ingredients and why we use them
    • Serving suggestions
    • Try these other cookie recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Why you'll love these cookies

    Taste and Texture: The addition of cornstarch makes for an incredibly delicate and flaky cookie. They genuinely do melt in your mouth! The addition of peppermint in both the dough and frosting makes these little morsels a true delight. I like to create pretty small cookies with the dough so you can just pop one into your mouth!

    Level of Difficulty: These cookies are simple to make. The frosting adds an extra step, but you could easily make them without the frosting and they'd be just as delicious. This recipe is safe for a beginner baker!

    peppermint shortbread cookies sitting on a platter

    Key ingredients and why we use them

    Cornstarch: This recipe includes cornstarch which gives the shortbread a melt-in-your-mouth feel. This is not a traditional shortbread recipe. It's an adapted recipe which—I think—is much tastier!

    Peppermint Extract: Make sure that you use peppermint extract and not mint extract. While they are somewhat similar, mint is simply not the same and will not give you the same holiday peppermint flavor.

    Confectioners' Sugar: This recipe only calls for one-half cup of confectioners' sugar, which isn't a lot. The cookies are not overly sweet and this really highlights the buttercream frosting.

    overhead shot of these peppermint shortbread cookies

    Serving suggestions

    These cookies are perfect for your holiday party or cookie exchange. If you'd like to make the dough in advance of your party, read our tips on how long cookie dough lasts in the fridge.

    I love serving these cookies with peppermint tea. The warm tea literally makes these cookies melt away in your mouth—it's divine!

    Try these other cookie recipes

    Try some more delicious cookie recipes below! Prepare for your holiday baking competition with our article on how to create award-winning cookies.

    • Chocolate and Espresso Mocha Snowball Cookies
    • Chewy Meringue Cookies with Blackberry Jam
    • Peanut Butter Heart Cookies
    • Irish Soda Bread Cookies

    Recipe

    cookies sitting on a platter

    Peppermint Shortbread Cookies

    These peppermint shortbread cookies are made with cornstarch for an extra tender melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for a cookie exchange! The added crunch and sweetness from the candy canes make this recipe a crowd-pleaser during the holidays.
    Print Pin Comment
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Chilling Dough: 30 minutes
    Yield: 24

    Ingredients

    Cookie Ingredients

    • 1 cup butter softened
    • ½ cup confectioners' sugar
    • ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
    • 1-¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup cornstarch

    Frosting Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons butter softened
    • 2 tablespoons milk
    • ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
    • 2 drops red food coloring optional
    • 1½ cups confectioners' sugar
    • ½ cup crushed peppermint candies

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. In another bowl, whisk flour and cornstarch; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes or until firm enough to handle.
    • Preheat oven to 350°. Shape dough into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
    • In a small bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in milk, extract and, if desired, food coloring. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread or pipe over cookies; sprinkle with crushed candies. Store in an airtight container.

    Notes and Tips

    Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before shaping the cookies into balls. This will help them retain their shape and prevent spreading in the oven. Add the milk to your frosting last and incorporate one teaspoon at a time. This way you can determine how “stiff” you want your frosting. I like mine to be a little less runny, which helps when piping onto the cookies.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 69mg | Potassium: 12mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 268IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe?!Mention @mysweetprecision on Instagram and hashtag it #mysweetprecision!

    Did you make this recipe?! First, let me say THANK YOU for giving it a try!

    Please leave us a rating and any feedback in the comments section at the bottom of this post. I always love to hear your thoughts and ideas on what went well — and didn't — with a recipe!

    Happy Baking!
    Heather

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    Blueberry Hand Pies »

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. NoPlateLikeHome.com

      February 03, 2017 at 6:54 pm

      Your sweets look so good! Nice job!

      Reply
      • Heather @ Sweet Precision

        February 04, 2017 at 8:35 am

        Thank you! After the bustle of the holidays I'm just now making my way back into the kitchen to do some baking!

        Reply
    2. Antonia

      January 12, 2017 at 10:35 am

      These are beautiful Heather! I hate that I missed this in December :-( I have to try these soon! Happy 2017 my friend!

      Reply
      • Heather @ Sweet Precision

        January 12, 2017 at 4:23 pm

        Happy 2017 to you as well Antonia! I've been trying to get myself back into the kitchen to do some baking, but I've been enjoying a rest after the bustle of the holidays :)

        Reply
        • Antonia

          January 12, 2017 at 10:59 pm

          Thank you :D Me too! It always takes me a couple of weeks after Christmas. Have a wonderful weekend!

          Reply
    3. Just Add Attitude

      December 22, 2016 at 4:49 pm

      Hello Heather, thank you for your holiday wishes and I am retuning the same wish across the ocean to yourself and Matt. These cookies are so pretty, your guests are lucky to have a hostess who put so much thought into what she was making for her party. Best wishes for a happy 2017. ;)

      Reply
      • Heather @ Sweet Precision

        December 23, 2016 at 9:48 am

        Thank you B! This was the first time that Matt and I hosted a larger gathering in our apartment and we were both pretty excited with all the planning and preparations! Hope that you enjoy your holidays my friend and Happy New Year to you to!!

        Reply
    4. Sherri

      December 21, 2016 at 10:42 am

      Oh Heather, what could be more perfect than these peppermint delights for a Christmas party? They look gorgeous! The perfect size too! I hear you for more time...how I wish for that extra week now, with only two days before the boys are home and I've got so much left to do! Wishing you and Matt and wonderful and Merry Christmas and very best wishes for a Happy New Year my friend...here's to us both getting everything ready in time, and raising a glass of cheer to you... much love and a big Christmas hug! :-) <3 xoxo

      Reply
      • Heather @ Sweet Precision

        December 23, 2016 at 9:45 am

        How wonderful to have everyone together for the holidays Sherri! I hope that your boys made it safely back home and that you are all enjoying time together. I am back in MN with my family and Matt is joining me tomorrow. I always come back a couple of days early so that I can catch up with some of my girlfriends. The holidays are always a little stressful but I do love time spent with family. Sending you Christmas cheer my friend and wishes for a Happy New Year as well! ❤❤❤

        Reply
        • Sherri

          January 01, 2017 at 4:54 pm

          Hi Heather! We did have a wonderful Christmas, thank you, everything went to plan and we spent a lovely few days together. I miss my boys though...all that hard work and it's over in a flash! I hope you had a wonderful time in MN with your family and friends and found plenty of time to relax and unwind...that pre-Christmas time is exhausting, but worth it in the end! Happy New Year to you my dear friend, I hope it brings you every good thing and abundant blessings! :-) <3 <3 <3

          Reply
          • Heather @ Sweet Precision

            January 01, 2017 at 6:40 pm

            Oh Sherri, i know exactly what you mean! Matthew and I had such a wonderful time back in Minnesota with my parents. And then just like that... it's over in a flash! I always go through a little post-holiday withdrawal in January once everything is over. I'm so glad that you were able to get some quality time with your boys. I think time together with family is what makes the holiday season truly special. Here's to a 2017 that finds you and loved ones happy and healthy!

            Reply
            • Sherri

              January 03, 2017 at 11:47 am

              Thanks so much Heather, and I'm so glad you had such a wonderful Christmas with your parents! I know what you mean about that withdrawal in January, a strange time, hard to get going again. But we'll get there :-) Big hugs to you from me for this cold, dark month in the meantime! <3

              Reply
    5. chef mimi

      December 21, 2016 at 8:12 am

      Gorgeous. I've always said that we should move Christmas to February 25th. That would give more time in between Thanksgiving and Christmas and it would still be winter. Two more months of shopping and baking, planning, decorating, maybe a little dieting here and there...

      Reply
      • Heather @ Sweet Precision

        December 23, 2016 at 9:39 am

        Christmas in February is something I could definitely get on board with! A little extra time for dieting ???? I just love it! Hope that you are getting all your cooking and shopping done and happy holidays to you!

        Reply
    6. CakePants

      December 20, 2016 at 8:00 pm

      These look delightful! I've never baked cookies with cornstarch, so I'm intrigued to see how it affects the texture. Happy holidays to you and yours :)

      Reply
      • Heather @ Sweet Precision

        December 23, 2016 at 9:37 am

        The cornstarch makes the cookies a little more delicate. I had a couple that crumbled as I was taking them off the cookie sheet! Happy holidays to you as well!

        Reply

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