Peppermint Stick Cookies

I’ve regularly said that I’m not super domestic, but a big exception to that is my love of baking. I love baking cookies and cakes and I tend to go all out once the holidays hit. A lot of my favorite Christmas cookies are ones I consider to be fairly American classic, but I’m occasionally surprised when someone hasn’t had one before. These peppermint stick cookies are something I make every year and I can’t remember not having them as a kid. A holiday treat like no other–these peppermint stick cookies are a colorful twist of vanilla and peppermint. They come out a crispy, buttery indulgence that no one can pass up!

Prep Time-15 minutes
Rest Time-30 minutes
Bake Time-12 minutes
Total Time- around 1 hour
Yield- About 24 sticks

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The peppermint stick cookies are made with pantry staples you probably already have.
They come out brightly colored and delicious.
They can be dressed up with chocolate sauce or sprinkle to maximize presentation.

Ingredients You Need:

1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon milk (if required)
Few drops of red gel food color
Few drops of green gel food color

Unsalted butter: let the butter sit on the counter for at least sixty minutes so that it’s soft enough to blend.

Powdered sugar: if possible, sift the sugar so that no clumps remain. This will help make the batter smooth and even.

Egg

Vanilla and peppermint extract: the higher quality your extracts the more flavor will come through in the cookies.

All purpose flour: again, sift, when possible, to get the best texture from the cookies.

The basics: ingredients like salt and baking soda you’ll need for the recipe.

Milk: depending on the batter you may not need this so keep it back unless necessary.

Food color: you’ll need a few drops of red gel and green gel for the cookies.

How To Make Them:

Follow the easy directions below and the peppermint stick cookies will come out perfect every time!

Preheat the oven to 350 F or 180 C and line your baking tray with parchment paper and set it aside.
Take the butter, egg, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer on medium-high until combined. You want it to turn fluffy.
Add in the flour, salt, and baking soda into the mixture and mix all together to form a dough (add a tablespoon of milk if your dough is too stiff and doesn’t come together).

Divide the dough into three equal parts, add a few drops of red gel food color in one part and green gel color in the second part mix until the color is evenly incorporated. Leave the third part plain.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator at least for 30 minutes.
Once it has chilled, pinch a small round piece from the white dough and roll it into a thick rope about 4-5 inches long. Do the same with the red dough (the length of the rope should be the same).

Place the ropes (red and white) next to each other and twist them carefully. Transfer the roll carefully to the baking tray.

Repeat with green dough to make green and white sticks.

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes.

Once done let the cookies cool for 5 minutes in the baking tray and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serve and enjoy!

Teaching Tips:

Adjust the intensity of the colors by adding in more food gel as per preference. Aim to use gel food coloring only though as otherwise you’d need far too much liquid or powder that it will affect the texture of the dough.

If possible, sift the powdered sugar and flour so that the batter blends evenly and without clumps.

Make sure to move slowly when twisting the rolls of dough so that they don’t break. You want to match the red and white and the green and white when rolling.

Let the cookies cool fully on the wire rack before moving them again, otherwise they’re likely to fall apart. It’s on cooling that they firm up a bit.

Keep in mind that while red and green gel are used, you can also vary these cookies by removing the peppermint extract and switching up the colors. Doing this make them a great addition to any baby or bridal shower too!

How To Decorate Them:

Get creative with these cookies and dress them up for any occasion! Some wonderful ways to bump up presentation are to:

Drizzle them with a chocolate ganache.
Sprinkle on crushed candy canes
Drizzle them in a sugar glaze or sprinkle on granulated sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions About Peppermint Stick Cookies:

How do your store peppermint stick cookies?

Place the peppermint twists into an airtight container and store on the countertop. They can stay this way for 1-2 weeks. Or place them in the fridge and they will last for two months.

Why do you sift icing sugar before making cookies?

Sifting the sugar seems like a small step you can skip but it can make a big difference to the texture of the cookies. By sifting the sugar, you eliminate any clumps in the batter. It also helps to get more air into the mixture which helps when baking so that the cookies come out deliciously light.

These cookies are a hit at any dessert table but the best part about them is that you can make them as simple or stunning as you wish. They are the perfect cookie for a holiday cookie exchange, too!