Sunday, December 11, 2011

pink peppermint snowballs


makes about 40 cookies
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 drop red food coloring gel
1 1/4 teaspoons peppermint extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup rice flour
1/4 teaspoon salt 
2 tablespoons crushed peppermint candies
1 tablespoon very coarse red sugar*
1 cup powdered sugar mixed with finely crushed candy canes for rolling in.

Preheat your oven to 350°F and arrange the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Line two pans with parchment or silicone baking liners. 

Cube up your butter and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften. You don't want it too soft for this recipe, just warm enough that you can work with it. 
In your mixer equipped with the paddle, combine the butter and sugar and beat on medium high speed for three-four minutes until smooth and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and add the drop of red food coloring and peppermint extract, beat again until well mixed, scraping down the bowl as needed. 
In the meantime, combine the flours, salt, crushed candy and red sugar together. 
Add the flour mixture to your mixing bowl of what is essentially pink peppermint butter cream frosting and mix on low speed to combine. Scrape down the sides as needed. 
Once the dough has is evenly mixed and has just come together, stop beating. 
Roll the dough into balls just under 1". Place the balls on a tray and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Once chilled, arrange the balls on your baking sheet, leaving 2" of space between each. 
Bake cookies for 12-15 minutes, rotating once half way through baking until the cookies have a golden blush and the bottoms are brown. 
Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire wrack before coating with powdered sugar. To coat: mix the cup of powdered sugar with crushed candy cane in a bowl, add the cookies, a few at a time. Toss gently  to coat and then repeat with the remaining cookies. 
enjoy!

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