Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies

The other day Truman, who is 7, was telling us about how early he has to get up in the morning. “I have to finish all my chores,” he said.

Want to save this recipe?

Just drop your email here and I’ll send it right away! Plus you’ll get new recipes from me every week. Yes please!

Email *

Save Recipe

I was very curious about this because the only “chores” this kid has before school include things like, you know, eating breakfast, getting dressed, brushing teeth. (Basic hygiene. WHAT A CHORE.)

But he clarified: “No, I’m talking about my Christmas chores. I have to get up early to plug in the Christmas tree lights, find Elfie (our Elf on the Shelf), change the Christmas countdown, open the new number on the advent calendar, and check to see if there are any newly wrapped presents under the tree.”

Quite the chore list indeed, right?? It’s a miracle this kid makes it to school on time with all the chores he has in the morning! What a slave driver I am.

Nostalgic Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies

I made these peppermint cookies a while back, and my brother Nate packaged them up and brought them on a first date he was going on. His date took one bite of these cookies and actually got teary eyed. “This is so nostalgic!” she said.

It’s true, I’d never had this cookie in my life before I made it up, but there is something very homey and Christmasy about them that may just bring a tear to your eye! Or at least cause you to reach for a second, third, or maybe even fourth one in a 30 minute period. (Guilty.)

Why you’ll love this Peppermint Cookies Recipe

This is a really simple sugar cookie dough recipe. The cookies turn out tender and soft every time. And they are super buttery. (The base recipe is from my friend Tammy, who is cataloguing all her family’s Italian recipes and memories on her Instagram account. Super fun account to follow! I love heritage cooking!)

Peppermint Cookie Recipe Ingredient

I love Andes mints, and this peppermint crunch version is so fun. I stock up whenever I see them at the store, because you can’t always find them. Target and Walmart are a good bet. If you can’t find them, see notes! You can sub white chocolate and bits of crushed candy cane.

Here’s a quick shopping list to help you gather your ingredients. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients and instructions!

Peppermint Cookie Recipe Variations

In place of the crushed candy canes on the tops of the partially baked cookies, you can use crushed peppermints (the round ones).  

If you can’t find  Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips, you can substitute about Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark evenly chopped in small pieces, and then add to that about 1/3 cup of crushed candy cane.  Instead of sprinkling crushed candy cane on the tops, you can do a glaze once the cookies are cooled.  Put about 1/2 cup white chocolate chips or about 3 1/2 ounces coarsely chopped white baking chocolate and 1 teaspoon of flavorless oil in a small glass bowl.  Microwave it at 50% for 15 second intervals until the chocolate is nearly melted, stirring gently between each interval.  Then you can use a small spoon to drip the glaze over the cookies (or flip them upside down and carefully dip the tops).

How to make Peppermint Cookies

These cookies could not be easier to make. First, you need to find yourself a bag of these:

We are going to roll them in sugar before baking. I love the sparkle it adds!

No need to chill the dough! I love cookies that can go straight in the oven. It means I can get them straight in my mouth faster. I mean right?

While they are in the oven, crush up some candy canes. About 2 minutes before the cookies are done baking, take them out of the oven. We’re going to manhandle them a bit. I am anti-flat-cookie, and this is a super simple hack to give your cookies some thickness while still keeping them chewy: right out of the oven, use two spoons to push them in toward the center. See this 30 Minute Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe for more details and photos! I do this with so many types of cookie these days.

Once you have very quickly spooned them, sprinkle with a little bit of crushed candy cane, then return them to the oven for 2 more minutes.

Want a quick overview of how to make these, step by step? Here you go (but remember to scroll down to the recipe card for complete instructions).

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line two baking sheets.
2. Beat butter.  Add sugar and beat again.
3. Beat in egg and vanilla. 
4. Measure flour into a bowl. Gently stir baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the flour.
5. Mix the dry ingredients into the dough. Mix in the entire bag of Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips.
6. Shape the dough into balls. Roll the dough balls in the sugar, place on the baking sheet, and bake.
7. While the cookies are baking, crush the candy canes.
8. Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle each cookie with crushed candy cane.  Use spoons to push each cookie toward its center.
9. Return the pan to the oven and continue baking until the edges are set.
10. Let the cookies set on the pan. Remove to a cooling rack to come to room temperature.

Tips for making Peppermint Cookies

• If you can’t find Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips, white chocolate chips and crushed candy canes work too! See the recipe notes for more details. 
• Fluff and scoop! When you’re measuring  the flour, fluff it up with a spoon, scoop it into the measuring cup, and level it off. Packing the flour into the cup will straight up ruin your cookies. When you mix the dry ingredients into the dough, make sure you can still see streaks of flour. Overmixing = tough cookies (sad).
• Before baking, roll each ball of dough in sugar to add that special sparkle. It’s the holidays, be festive!
• There is no need to chill the dough. You’re welcome. 
• Want cookies that look as amazing as they taste? When there are about 2 minutes left on the timer, take the cookies out of the oven.  Using two spoons, push the edges of each cookie towards the center so they maintain that slightly domed shape.  See this 30 Minute Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe to learn the technique!  Quickly sprinkle the tops with crushed candy cane and return them to the oven to continue baking for the remaining time.
• Check for doneness by looking at the centers of the cookies. If they appear shiny, each shiny part should be no bigger than the size of a quarter. That’s when you take the cookies out of the oven. They’ll keep baking a little on the hot pan, so leave them there for a few minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.

Storing Peppermint Cookies

You can leave these cookies on the counter or put them in the fridge. Either way, they’ll be good for about 5 days.  After that, throw them in a ziplock bag and freeze for up to three months.  When you’re ready to eat them, take them out of the freezer the night before serving and thaw on the counter. Alternatively, eat them straight from the freezer like I do. 

How to Freeze Peppermint Cookie Dough

I love freezing dough balls in advance so I can bake these cookies anytime. Don’t roll the balls in sugar before freezing!  Just put them in a zipper bag, label and date, and put them in the freezer for up to three months.

When you are ready to bake them, remove them from the freezer and let them set out for about 30 minutes.  Preheat the oven.  Put about 1/2 cup of granulated sugar in a bowl and roll the balls in the sugar.  Then you can bake them for the normal amount of time.  Remember to take them out 2 minutes before they’re done to add the crushed candy cane to the tops, and then continue baking.

More Christmas cookie ideas you’re going to love!

I might be a little obsessed with peppermint.

• Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies << these are a top recipe on my site! Some people call them Grinch cookies :)
• Dipped Chocolate Peppermint Cookies << These use the same method of half baking crushed candy canes on top!
• Soft and Chewy Andes Mint Cookies << who can resist those classic Andes mints?
• Ginger Molasses Sandwich Cookies with Buttercream Frosting << these really might be my favorite. Ever.
• Mexican Wedding Cookies (Russian Tea Cookies) << now these are a classic if there ever was one.
• The SOFTEST Sugar Cookies of Your Life! << these cookies hold their shape perfectly.
• Texas Cowboy Cookies << these are larger than life and worth every moment!
• 30 Minute Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies << they’re a classic for a reason.
• Prudy’s Thin and Crispy Sugar Cookies << these are insanely addictive.
• Christmas Magic Cookie Bars from In Katrina’s Kitchen
• Christmas Peanut Butter M&M Bars from Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
• DIY Peppermint Candy Spoons from Princess Pinky Girl