Slightly chewy cookies with a peppermint cream cheese frosting AND topped with peppermint candies? Seriously, the best way to ring in the holiday season!
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup regular (unflavored) shortening
- 2/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups white sugar, separated
- 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup peppermint crunch sprinkles
For the Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter, softened not melted
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened but not melted
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 - 2 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- Peppermint crunch sprinkles, to top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375.
- Beat together the shortening, butter, and 1 and 1/2 cups white sugar until light and creamy. (Do not melt or soften your butter.)Beat in the egg, egg yolk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract. Beat in the peppermint extract to taste. (I like less extract and more actual peppermint so I only add 1/4 tsp. Add 1/2 tsp for a stronger flavor)
- Add in the flour, baking powder, salt and peppermint crunch. Mix until just combined.
- Shape into thick, flat discs (see picture).
- In a small bowl toss together the remaining 1/2 cup white sugar with the coarse sparkling sugar (or just use the white sugar).
- Roll the cookie balls in the sugar to coat.
- Bake 2 inches apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Bake 9-12 minutes.
- The key to soft sugar cookies is slightly under-baking the cookies, letting them cool most of the way, and then spacing them in a bag (sealing the bag) when they are still a little warm. This keeps your cookies ultra soft!
For the Frosting:
- Beat together the softened butter, softened cream cheese, vanilla, and peppermint extract.
- Beat in the powdered sugar by slowly adding about 1/2 a cup at a time until a smooth frosting is formed. Add a little milk if needed to thin your frosting to desired consistency.
- Again, feel free to increase the peppermint extract amount if desired in the frosting.
- Frost the cookies and add peppermint crunch sprinkles to the top.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Notes For even softer and more flavorful cookies, chill the dough overnight (or a few hours) and bake the next day.
Have you made this recipe?I'd love to know! Leave a comment or recipe rating and tag me @amenuforyou on social media!
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