Peppermint Sugar Cookies with Chocolate Buttercream

An ode to the creme de menthe candies that I loved growing up and still to this day! A peppermint sugar cookie that is soft and refreshing with some decadent chocolate buttercream on top make a delicious cookie.

Here's what You'll Need:

• Cookies:

  • 1 tsp Peppermint Extract (I used McCormick)

  • 1/2 cup of unsalted butter (1 stick), room temp or soft but not melted

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 1/2 tsp baking powder

  • 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

  • pinch of salt

• Chocolate Buttercream

  • 1 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar

  • 1/4 cup of really soft unsalted butter

  • 2-3 tbsp milk

  • 4-5 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hersheys)

• Candy canes crushed up

Here's what You need to do:

• Set oven to 350 F and line cookie sheet with parchment paper (if you don't have parchment paper, grease the cookie sheet)

• In a mixing bowl, combine the peppermint extract, sugar, and butter. Mix until creamy.

• Add in the egg and mix until it's fully incorporated.

• Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined.

• Using a cookie dough scoop that makes about 1-1/2" dough balls, scoop the dough onto the prepared cookie sheet(s).

• Bake at 350 F for 10-11 minutes.

• While the cookies are baking, make the buttercream by combining the confectioners sugar, cocoa powder, and butter in a bowl. Add in the milk slowly until you get the desired consistency. Mine was a little runnier than what I had wanted, so I had to add more powder sugar. Then I added too much powder sugar, so I had to add more milk.... and so it goes.

• In a ziplock bag on some sort of bag that can seal, put in 2-3 candy canes and smash them with a rolling pin. You choose the size you want. This is a fun part that your kids can easily do!

• Once the cookies are done, let them cool on the pan for 1-2 minutes before putting on a cooling rack.

• Let the cookies fully cool before adding buttercream or else you'll have buttercream soup! Still tasty, but way too runny.

• You can use a butter knife or a piping bag to pipe the frosting on. Use what you've got.

• Top with the smashed candy cane.

• Enjoy!

Peppermint Sugar Cookies fresh from the oven

Peppermint Sugar Cookies with Chocolate Buttercream