Name: Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons cornstarch; 3 cups powdered sugar, divided (2 cups and 1 cup); 1 cup salted sweet cream butter, softened; 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract; ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1¼ cups mini semi sweet chocolate chips; 5-6 drops hot pink/rose food color gel; ¼ cup finely crushed peppermint candies

There’s something utterly magical about biting into a soft, snowy cookie with a cool peppermint kick—let me share with you my favorite **Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe** that does just that. It’s the perfect blend of sweet, buttery dough with a refreshing holiday twist that brightens any cozy moment.

A white plate is filled with round cookies dusted heavily with white powdered sugar, showing little pink spots through the powder. One cookie is cut in half and placed on top of the pile, revealing a bright pink inside packed with many dark brown chocolate chips scattered evenly throughout. The background shows blurred white bowls, one filled with more pink and white cookies and another with dark chocolate pieces, all set on a white marbled surface. The overall look is soft and powdery with a stark contrast between the pink cookie inside and the white powdered sugar outside. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, this Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe has become a staple in my kitchen every winter. Beyond their festive look, the taste and texture just nail that cozy holiday vibe—it’s like wrapping yourself in a peppermint-flavored hug.

Perfect Peppermint Punch: The pure peppermint extract delivers just the right refreshing bite without overpowering the cookie.
Delightfully Soft Yet Snowy: The butter and powdered sugar combo create a tender crumb, while the double sugar coating gives that classic snowball look.
Easy To Make & Personalize: You don’t need fancy equipment—plus, you can easily tweak the dough with colors or add-ins like mini chocolate chips.
Holiday Showstopper: These cookies instantly become a take-to-any-gathering favorite, bringing smiles and compliments every time.

A white plate filled with about two layers of round, soft cookies covered in a thick layer of white powdered sugar with small red peppermint bits showing through. Scattered on and around the plate are several red and white striped peppermint candies. In the background, there is a white bowl filled with small dark chocolate chips, sitting on a white marbled surface. The image is bright and clean, with soft lighting and a shallow focus that highlights the cookies in the center photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

What I love about the ingredients here is how each one plays a star role in creating the perfect texture and flavor. Plus, the way they blend makes the dough easy to handle and the cookies incredibly melt-in-your-mouth.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour beside a tiny pile of cornstarch, a half cup of softened salted sweet cream butter shaped gently into a square block, a mound of fine white powdered sugar, a few drops of vivid hot pink food color gel in a tiny white ceramic bowl, a few semi sweet mini chocolate chips scattered neatly, a small white ceramic bowl filled with finely crushed peppermint candies, and two small white ceramic bowls containing clear peppermint extract and pale vanilla extract placed symmetrically, all arranged with perfect balance on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: The base of any great cookie, providing structure without heaviness.
Cornstarch: Adds a delicate softness and helps give those cookies their tender crumb.
Salted sweet cream butter: Brings rich flavor and the right amount of fat for a luscious texture—softened, not melted!
Powdered sugar: Used both in the dough and for coating, it creates the signature smooth, snowy finish and adds sweetness without grittiness.
Pure peppermint extract: The real secret weapon for authentic peppermint flavor that doesn’t taste like toothpaste.
Pure vanilla extract: Balances the peppermint with warm undertones and depth.
Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips: My personal favorite twist—tiny bursts of chocolate tucked inside bring delightful surprise.
Hot pink/rose food color gel: For festive color! You can go subtle or bold depending on your mood.
Finely crushed peppermint candies: Adds crunch and that unmistakable candy cane crunch, especially in the sugar coating.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

What makes this Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe truly yours is how simple it is to customize. I love adding a splash of color or sneaking in mini chocolate chips, but you might prefer more peppermint candy or no color at all—totally up to you!

Chocolate Chip Variation: Adding mini semi-sweet chocolate chips gives such a lovely texture contrast, and I swear the peppermint and chocolate combo is irresistible.
Color Pop: The hot pink food color gel isn't just for show — it makes these cookies a hit for festive parties or cookie exchanges!
Extra Peppermint Kick: For a bolder flavor, feel free to add a tablespoon of crushed peppermint candies straight into the dough—it amps up the crunch and festive vibe.
Dairy-Free Swap: Substitute the butter with a dairy-free alternative, but be sure it's solid and softened, or the dough won’t bake up right.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients

Start by whisking together the all-purpose flour and cornstarch. I like to give them a good toss so the cornstarch is evenly distributed—it really helps with that tender bite later on. Set it aside while you work on the buttery base.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened butter for about 30 seconds to lighten it up. Then add 1 cup of powdered sugar and beat again for about 1 to 1½ minutes. This combination is what creates the silky texture of the cookies. Remember, softened butter—not melted—is key here to prevent spreading during baking.

Step 3: Add Extracts and Dry Ingredients

Lower your mixer to medium-low and mix in the peppermint and vanilla extracts. The peppermint extract is the star, so be sure to use pure peppermint extract for that perfect flavor (not mint extract—that tastes like toothpaste!). Next, still on low speed, add in your flour mixture just until combined. You don’t want to overmix here.

Step 4: Color and Chocolate Chips

Turn the mixer back up to medium and add the drops of hot pink or rose food color gel until the dough is evenly tinted. Then, gently fold in the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, mixing just enough to spread them around the dough.

Step 5: Chill Dough and Prep Oven

Cover the dough and chill it in the fridge for 10 minutes to make it easier to handle. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare two baking sheets lined with parchment paper — one for baking the cookie balls and the other for cooling the finished cookies.

Step 6: Bake and Sugar Coating

Scoop out the dough using a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop, roll into balls, and space them about an inch apart on your baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set but the cookies are still soft. While they bake, mix the remaining 2 cups powdered sugar with finely crushed peppermint candies in a bowl to create the snowy coating.

Step 7: Double Coat the Cookies

Once baked, let the cookies rest on the tray for 5 minutes—they’re too fragile to handle immediately! Then gently roll them in the peppermint powdered sugar mixture and transfer to the second baking sheet to cool completely. After they’re fully cool, roll them once more for that signature snowy look and delicious finish.

Top Tip

From baking dozens of batches, I’ve learned the small things make a big difference with this Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe. These tips helped me nail the perfect texture and flavor every time.

Butter Temperature: Always use butter that’s softened but not melted to keep the dough from spreading too much.
Double Sugar Coating: Rolling the cookies twice in the peppermint powdered sugar ensures that signature snowy appearance without crumbling.
Extract Choice: Stick to pure peppermint extract—you’ll avoid that unpleasant toothpaste taste and get a fresh, authentic peppermint flavor.
Crushing Peppermint Candies: Smash candies in a sealed bag with a rolling pin for easy, consistent crushing and no mess.

How to Serve Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe

peppermint snowball cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love to keep it simple with these cookies—sometimes just an extra sprinkle of crushed peppermint candies on top adds a lovely festive touch. A little drizzle of white chocolate also pairs beautifully if you want to get fancy.

Side Dishes

These peppermint snowballs are brilliant with a hot cup of cocoa, peppermint mocha, or even a frothy chai latte. They’re also a great addition to holiday cookie platters alongside classic gingerbread or sugar cookies.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I love arranging these cookies in little nests of shredded paper or clear cellophane bags tied with red and white twine to look like candy canes. They make perfect edible gifts or party favors!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. These cookies will stay fresh for up to 5 days, maintaining their soft texture and lovely peppermint flavor.

Freezing

I’ve frozen batches of these cookies with great success. After baking and fully cooling them, pop the cookies into a freezer-safe container with parchment layers in between. They freeze beautifully for up to 3 months—perfect if you want to prep ahead of time.

Reheating

To enjoy frozen cookies, take them out and let them thaw at room temperature. If you want a fresh-baked feel, warm them gently in the oven at 300°F for 5 minutes—just don’t overdo it, or they dry out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use mint extract instead of peppermint extract?

It’s best to stick with pure peppermint extract for this Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe. Mint extract often has a medicinal or toothpaste-like flavor that can overpower the delicate sweetness of the cookies.

Why is cornstarch used in this recipe?

Cornstarch helps give the cookies a tender and soft texture by reducing gluten formation in the flour. This keeps your snowball cookies delightfully melt-in-your-mouth and less dense.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! One of my favorite tips for this Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe is to make the dough a day ahead and chill it in the refrigerator. This helps the flavors meld and makes scooping and shaping easier.

How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?

Make sure your butter is softened, not melted, before creaming with sugar. Melted butter causes cookies to spread excessively during baking. Also, chilling the dough for at least 10 minutes before baking helps maintain their shape.

Final Thoughts

This Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe has become a holiday tradition I cherish sharing with friends and family. I love how approachable it is, yet the flavor and texture never fail to impress. Give it a try—you won’t just bake cookies, you’ll create little moments of joy that feel like winter magic in every bite.