Peppermint Snowballs

Submitted by Pamela

"Great for Christmas Bake Exchanges! From Parents Magazine December 2003."

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 9
• Yields: 4 dozen

ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3⁄4 cup icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1⁄4 cup candy cane, crushed
• 12 -15 drops red food coloring
• icing sugar, for rolling

directions

1. Heat oven to 400°F
2. In large bowl, with mixer on high, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. Beat in vanilla and salt. Reduce mixer speed to low, and beat in flour (dough will be very dry). Beat in oats, crushed candy canes, and 12-15 drops of red food coloring. Shape heaping teaspoons of dough into balls, place on ungreased baking sheets 1/2 inch apart, and bake 15 to 18 minutes per batch.
4. Place icing sugar in large bowl. Roll hot cookies in sugar, let cool completely, and repeat.

Reviews

[sheepdoc]

I made these as written except at 350 for 12 minutes. 4 candy canes looked like about the right amount. Did not get to putting in sugar when really hot - maybe 10 minutes. Probably could roll in powdered sugar again now that they are cold. I thought they would need extra peppermint extract but I didn't have any and they turned out great. Made 60 cookies. Half a cookie scoop size.

 

[blairie]

Very festive and pretty! I added 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract as some reviewers suggested. Rolling hot cookies in the sugar does create a pretty glaze. I've also dusted the cooled cookies with extra powdere sugar.

 

[pies & cakes & cookies ohmy!]

This is very similar to my almond snowballs, so I set the oven to 350* and the timer for 15 and they came out just fine. I added 1/2 tsp. of peppermint extract at some others' suggestions and it made them just minty enough. I also added some red sanding sugar to my confectioners sugar for rolling and it gave them a very festive look. This is a fine recipe. Thanks for posting.

 

[Smiles3]

the icing sugar on the outside created the greatest glaze i have ever tasted definitley a great recipe to get rid of all those extra candy canses laying around after christmas although i used spearmint and vanilla mint candy canes

 

[boots]

Thanks for the recipie followed it to the tee and they were GREAT! thanks again.