PEPPERMINT TWIST CANDY COOKIES

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



Peppermint Twist Candy Cookies image

Provided by Kelsey Nixon

Categories     dessert

Time 2h25m

Yield About 2 dozen cookies

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring work surface
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 large eggs
4 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons meringue powder
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
Red food coloring, for tinting icing
1/4 cup crushed peppermint candies

Steps:

  • For the cookies: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate large bowl using an electric mixer, beat together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar, mixing until pale yellow and fluffy, 3 minutes. Add in the peppermint extract and eggs and mix well. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix well.
  • Transfer the dough to a floured work surface, divide into two disks, wrap in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for about an hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Working with one disk at a time, roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out candy cane shapes with the cookie cutter and place the cookies about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Re-roll the scraps to get as many cookies as possible, returning the dough to the refrigerator to chill if necessary.
  • Bake just until the edges start to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. (Bake one sheet at a time for even cooking and browning). Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool.
  • For the royal icing: In the bowl of a stand mixer using a whisk attachment, combine the confectioners' sugar and meringue powder and mix for 30 seconds. Add 1/3 cup water and the peppermint extract and continue mixing on low until the icing forms peaks, 8 to 10 minutes. Adjust the consistency of the icing with additional water if necessary.
  • Set aside some of the icing in a small bowl and add enough food coloring until the desired shade of red is reached.
  • Ice the cookies with the white icing and let dry completely. Decorate with the red icing and crushed candies to make a candy cane pattern.

There are no comments yet!