Description
Delightful peppermint cheesecake cookies blend creamy cheesecake notes with festive mint flavors. Holiday bakers can enjoy a simple yet elegant dessert that delights family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 package (8 oz / 227 g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups (320 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 1 cup (175 g) white chocolate chips
- ½ cup (75 g) crushed candy canes (plus extra for topping)
- 2 tsps baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- ⅓ tbsps milk
- 1 drop red food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare Mixture: Whip butter and cream cheese until silky, gradually blending granulated sugar to create a light, airy base. Incorporate eggs individually, then introduce vanilla and peppermint extracts for a dynamic flavor profile.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Gently fold into the creamy mixture, minimizing stirring to preserve delicate texture. Fold in white chocolate chips and crushed candy canes, ensuring even distribution throughout the dough.
- Chill Dough: Encase dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and firm up for easier handling and shaping.
- Bake Cookies: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop chilled dough into uniform mounds, spacing them to prevent merging. Bake until edges turn golden, approximately 10-12 minutes.
- Cool and Finish: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. For optional glaze, whisk melted butter with powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and red food coloring. Thin with milk to achieve a smooth drizzling consistency. Cascade glaze over cooled cookies and sprinkle with additional crushed candy canes for a festive touch.
Notes
- Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerate for exactly 30 minutes to enhance flavor development and prevent excessive spreading during baking, ensuring perfectly shaped cookies.
- Handle Mixing Gently: Minimize stirring when incorporating dry ingredients to maintain a tender, delicate cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
- Watch Baking Time Carefully: Monitor cookies closely between 10-12 minutes, removing when edges turn golden to prevent over-browning and preserve soft, creamy consistency.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Substitute butter with plant-based alternatives and use gluten-free flour for those with dietary restrictions, keeping the signature peppermint flavor intact.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 204
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 105 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg