Name: Easy Peppermint Snowball Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 36 cookies
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter (softened); ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar (also called powdered sugar); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ½ teaspoon peppermint extract; 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour; ⅛ teaspoon salt; ⅓ cup crushed candy canes (about 3–4 regular-size canes); 1 ¼ cups confectioner's sugar (for coating)

ThesePeppermint Snowball Cookiesfeature crushed candy canes, buttery dough, and a snowy powdered sugar coating. Perfect festive holiday cookies that melt in your mouth with every bite!

A white plate holds seven round peppermint snowball cookies covered in powdered sugar. In the background, a bowl of powdered sugar with more cookies and a baking sheet with uncoated cookies on parchment are visible, all on a red-striped cloth.

Quick Recipe Overview

A white plate holds seven round cookies covered in powdered sugar. In the background, a bowl of powdered sugar with more cookies and a baking sheet with uncoated cookies on parchment are visible, all on a red-striped cloth.

WHAT:Buttery shortbread cookies rolled in powdered sugar with crushed candy canes mixed throughout for festive peppermint flavor.

WHY:They have a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture, beautiful snowy appearance, and perfectly balanced peppermint flavor for holiday celebrations.

HOW:Cream butter and sugar, add peppermint and crushed candies, chill dough, bake until set, then double-coat in sugar.

Why I Love Making Peppermint Snowball Cookies

These tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are a fun cookie for the Christmas holiday season. The combination of buttery shortbread texture with peppermint flavor and little candy cane pieces creates a festive snow-themed cookie.

What makes these cookies irresistible is that powdered sugar coating – you roll them twice for that perfect snowy finish. The first coating melts slightly into the warm cookies, creating a sweet glaze, while the second coating gives them that classic winter wonderland appearance.

They’re surprisingly simple to make, too. The dough comes together quickly, and while it needs to chill, that makes them perfect for preparing ahead. Plus, that tender, crumbly texture paired with the festive peppermint crunch? Absolutely delightful every single time.

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These Peppermint Snowball Cookies are incredibly tender and buttery, with a delicate crumb that melts in your mouth.

The crushed peppermint adds a refreshing burst of flavor and a subtle crunch throughout each bite.

The 2-step rolling process makes the beautiful snowy appearance that’s perfect for holiday cookie trays and gift boxes!

Ingredient Notes

Peppermint Extract:Start with 1/2 teaspoon for a balanced flavor. If you’re a mint enthusiast and want a stronger peppermint punch, increase to 1 teaspoon.

Crushed Candy Canes:You’ll need about 3-4 regular-size candy canes to get 1/3 cup crushed. Pre-crushed peppermint candies work perfectly too – just measure and add. For best texture, aim for pieces that are small but not powdery.

Confectioners’ Sugar vs. Powdered Sugar:These terms are interchangeable – they’re the same product! You’ll use it in a couple different ways in this recipe: mixed into the dough and for coating the finished cookies.

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

A tray with labeled ingredients for baking: a bowl of flour, a bowl of powdered sugar, peppermint candies, two sticks of butter, vanilla and peppermint extract, and a small dish of salt.

How To Make Peppermint Snowball Cookies

Step 1:Beat your softened butter until it’s smooth and creamy – about a minute. Add the confectioners’ sugar and mix until light and fluffy, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix in the vanilla and peppermint extracts until everything’s well combined.

Step 2:Add the flour and salt, mixing on low speed. The dough will look dry and crumbly at first – don’t worry! Keep mixing, and once all the flour is incorporated, turn the mixer up to high. Once the dough comes together, fold in your crushed candy canes.

Step 3:Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 3 days if you’re planning ahead). If it’s been chilling for more than a few hours, let it sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before scooping.

Step 4:Heat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Put the powdered sugar for coating in a shallow bowl. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough for each cookie, roll into balls, and space them a couple inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 15 minutes.

Step 5:Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then gently roll each one in the powdered sugar. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. That first coating will melt a little and get sticky – this is totally normal and exactly what you want!

Step 6:Once your cookies are completely cool, roll them in powdered sugar one more time. This second coating gives you that beautiful, thick snowy finish that makes these cookies look so pretty.

A baking tray lined with parchment paper holds twelve evenly spaced cookie dough balls topped with crushed candy pieces, ready to be baked.

Substitutions &Variations For Peppermint Snowball Cookies

Chocolate Peppermint Snowballs

Dip half of each finished cookie in melted dark chocolate or white chocolate. Let them set on parchment paper for a fancy two-tone treat.

Almond Peppermint Version

Swap the vanilla extract for almond extract – the almond and peppermint combination is absolutely lovely together.

Colorful Holiday Coating

Mix a few drops of red or green food coloring into separate bowls of powdered sugar. Roll some cookies in pink sugar and others in pale green for a festive rainbow on your cookie tray.

Double Mint

If you want these really minty, increase the peppermint extract to 1 teaspoon and add an extra tablespoon of crushed candy canes.

With Nuts

Fold in 1/2 cup of finely chopped toasted pecans or walnuts along with the candy canes for a more traditional Mexican wedding cookie texture with a peppermint twist.

FAQs for Peppermint Snowball Cookies

Can I make these cookies without peppermint extract?

Yes! Simply increase the vanilla extract to 1 1/2 teaspoons and rely on the crushed candy canes for all the peppermint flavor. The cookies will still taste festive and delicious.

Why do I need to roll the cookies in powdered sugar twice?

The first coating melts into the warm cookies, creating a slightly sticky glaze. Rolling them again once completely cool gives you that beautiful, thick snowy coating that defines snowball cookies.

How long should I chill the dough?

At least 30 minutes is necessary, but you can chill the dough for up to 3 days. If chilling longer than a few hours, let it sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before scooping for easier handling.

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

You can, but reduce the added salt to just a pinch. Unsalted butter gives you better control over the final flavor balance in these delicate cookies.

A bowl filled with powdered sugar containing three dough balls, one partially coated. A spoon rests in the bowl. The bowl sits on a red-striped cloth next to a baking dish and peppermint candies.

My Best Tips for Making Peppermint Snowball Cookies

☞Don’t Skip The Chilling Step: Cold dough is crucial for maintaining the cookies’ shape and creating that tender, crumbly texture. Warm dough will spread too much during baking.

☞Use A Cookie Scoop For Uniform Size: Atablespoon-sized cookie scoopensures all your cookies are the same size, which means they’ll bake evenly and be done at the same time.

☞ Watch For The “Barely Set” Look: These cookies should NOT brown on top. The bottoms will be lightly golden, but the tops should still look slightly underdone. They’ll firm up as they cool.

☞Be Gentle When Rolling Warm Cookies: After the first 5-minute cooling period, handle the cookies carefully when coating them. They’re still delicate and can break if handled roughly.

☞Store With Parchment Between Layers: Once fully coated and cooled, layer the cookies with parchment paper in your storage container to prevent the sugar coating from getting sticky or rubbing off.

What to Serve With Peppermint Snowball Cookies

Hot Chocolate or Peppermint Mochas– The ultimate pairing! Therich chocolate beveragecomplements the minty cookies perfectly.
Vanilla Ice Cream– Crumble these cookies over vanilla ice cream for a festive peppermint sundae.
Holiday Cookie Platters– Arrange alongside gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, and chocolate crinkles for a beautiful variety.
Eggnog or Spiced Cider– Thesewarm holiday beveragesbalance the sweet, minty flavor of the cookies.
Coffee or Tea– The buttery, tender cookies are perfect for dunking inyour favorite hot beverageduring cold winter mornings.

Storage & Reheating Tips

Room Temperature Cookies

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place parchment paper between layers to protect the sugar coating.

Refrigerator Cookies

I don’t recommend keeping these cookies in the fridge. The powdered sugar coating can become sticky in the humid environment.

Freezing Cookies

Freeze cookies for up to 3 months. For best results, roll in powdered sugar once, let cool completely, then freeze in a ziplock bag. When ready to serve, thaw at room temperature for a few hours and roll in fresh powdered sugar before serving.

Make-Ahead Cookie Dough

The unbaked dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw frozen dough overnight in the refrigerator before shaping and baking.