Peppermint Swirl Sugar Cookies ❤️🤍🎄
Festive, buttery, and beautifully swirled, these Peppermint Swirl Sugar Cookies are a holiday showstopper. With their red-and-white spiral design, a touch of peppermint, and sparkling sugar finish, they bring Christmas magic to every cookie tray — fun to make, gorgeous to look at, and absolutely delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Red gel food coloring
- Sparkling or sanding sugar
Instructions
1. Make the Dough:
Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and peppermint extract, mixing until smooth. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Add dry ingredients gradually, mixing until a soft dough forms.
2. Separate and Color:
Divide the dough in half. Leave one half plain. Add red gel food coloring to the other half and knead until evenly colored.
3. Create the Swirl:
Roll each dough half into a rectangle of similar size. Place the red dough on top of the plain dough and gently press together. Roll into a log starting from the long edge to create a swirl. Wrap the log in plastic and chill for 1 hour.
4. Slice and Bake:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the chilled log in sparkling sugar, then slice into ¼-inch cookies. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges are just set and tops look dry. Cool on a rack.
Tips for Success
- Use gel coloring to get vibrant red without watering down the dough.
- Chill the log well — it keeps the swirls crisp and cookies perfectly round.
- Add extra peppermint extract for a stronger minty punch.
Serving Ideas
Serve with hot cocoa, peppermint mocha, or gift them in cookie tins — they stay fresh, stack beautifully, and look stunning on holiday platters.
Nutritional Information (per cookie)
Calories: ~130 kcal | Carbs: 16g | Fat: 6g | Protein: 1g
Conclusion
These Peppermint Swirl Sugar Cookies are as festive as it gets — colorful, minty, buttery, and irresistibly fun. Perfect for cookie exchanges, Christmas parties, or holiday baking with kids, they’re guaranteed to bring seasonal joy with every bite.