Description
Peppermint sandwich cookies blend festive winter magic with classic American holiday cheer. Sweet chocolate wafers and cool mint cream create an irresistible seasonal treat you’ll crave all season long.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (227 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 2 ½ cups (313 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (114 g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 tbsps heavy cream (as needed for consistency)
- Red gel food coloring
- Crushed peppermint candies (optional)
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Whip butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and extracts thoroughly. Sift dry ingredients and fold into wet mixture, creating a uniform dough.
- Color Transformation: Divide dough into two equal portions. Knead red gel coloring into one section until evenly distributed. Roll both color variants into thin, consistent rectangular sheets.
- Intricate Layering: Position plain and crimson dough layers carefully. Press gently with rolling pin to merge sections. Slice into thin strips and interweave strategically, creating a striking striped pattern.
- Chilling and Preheating: Refrigerate layered dough for 30 minutes to stabilize structure. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Baking and Cooling: Slice chilled dough into delicate rounds. Position on parchment-lined baking sheets with adequate spacing. Bake until edges turn golden and cookies become firm, approximately 10-12 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack.
- Filling Creation: Cream butter until silky smooth. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar and peppermint extract. Adjust consistency with cream to achieve perfect spreadable texture.
- Final Assembly: Spread peppermint cream generously between two cookie surfaces. Optionally, garnish edges with crushed peppermint candy for festive presentation.
Notes
- Manage Color Intensity: Experiment with gel food coloring to achieve vibrant red stripes without altering dough consistency. Start with small amounts and gradually increase for precise color control.
- Prevent Dough Cracking: Keep dough at consistent temperature when rolling and layering. If edges crack, gently press together with fingertips or use a smooth rolling technique to maintain seamless stripe pattern.
- Optimize Chilling Process: Wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap before refrigerating to prevent moisture loss and maintain structural integrity. Cold dough ensures crisp, defined stripes during baking.
- Master Texture Balance: Avoid overworking dough during color mixing and layering to prevent tough cookies. Handle gently and use light touches when combining and shaping to preserve delicate, tender texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg