Peppermint Shortbread Cookies: Easy Christmas Recipe

I made these peppermint shortbread cookies at 11 PM in my pajamas because I found a bag of candy canes and the idea of turning on the oven felt genuinely offensive. Then I remembered that shortbread is basically butter and sugar held together by hope, and I had a log of dough in the refrigerator from a previous baking disaster that I needed to use up. I twisted red and white dough together, sliced it, and hoped for the best.

The result became my go-to for cookie swaps, potlucks, and any moment when I need something that looks fancy but takes little effort. This buttery holiday shortbread recipe uses butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, flour, salt, peppermint oil, and red food coloring. You twist two dough logs together, chill the dough for at least 1 hour, slice it into rounds, and bake the cookies at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Looks impressive, acts humble: The swirl makes people think you spent hours, but it is just two doughs twisted together.
• Make-ahead friendly: The dough log sits in the fridge or freezer, so you can slice and bake whenever the craving hits.
• Kid-approved: My niece called them “candy cane shortbread cookies” and demanded I make them for her class party.
• Budget-friendly: Butter, sugar, flour, peppermint oil. That is it. No weird ingredients.

Tools You’ll Need

Nothing fancy, I promise.

• Stand mixer: Use a stand mixer, or use a hand mixer and some arm strength.
• Kitchen scale: Divide the dough evenly. Eyeballing works too.
• Cookie scoop: Portion the dough easily. A spoon works as well.
• Parchment paper: Line the baking sheets so nothing sticks or burns.

Ingredients

For the Dough

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened – Room temperature butter is key. If it is cold, you will be mixing forever.
• 1 cup powdered sugar – Not granulated. Powdered sugar gives that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – Use the good stuff if you have it.
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour – Spoon and level it, or your cookies will be dry.
• 1/2 teaspoon salt – Balances the sweet.
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil – Not extract. Oil is stronger and gives that cool minty kick. See peppermint for more on the flavor.
• Red food coloring – Gel or liquid. I used gel because I wanted a deep red.

How To Make Peppermint Shortbread Cookies

Set it, twist it, and pretend you did not just make something that looks like it came from a bakery.

1. Make the dough: In a stand mixer, beat the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla and mix. Gradually add flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix, or the dough gets tough. It should look like damp sand that holds together when squeezed.
2. Divide and flavor: Divide the dough in half. Leave one half plain. To the other half, add peppermint oil and red food coloring. Mix until the color is even. If you want a lighter red, use less coloring. I went for a bold stripe.
3. Shape the log: Roll each dough half into a log about 1.5 inches in diameter. Then twist the two logs together. I find it easiest to lay them side by side, press gently, and twist like a rope. Do not worry if it looks messy; the swirl will still be pretty.
4. Chill: Wrap the twisted log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 3 days. This firming step is crucial. If you skip it, your cookies will spread into sad puddles.
5. Slice and bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment. Slice the log into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Place on sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are just barely golden. Let cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

Perfect Pairings

These go perfectly with…

• A cold glass of milk balances the buttery shortbread.
• Hot cocoa with extra marshmallows makes dunking easy.
• A game day spread benefits from something sweet after wings.
• A holiday cookie platter gains a red-and-white swirl beside chocolate chip cookies.

Striped Peppermint Shortbread Cookies

These peppermint shortbread cookies combine butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, flour, salt, peppermint oil, and red food coloring into a red-and-white candy cane swirl. You chill the twisted dough log for at least 1 hour, slice it into 1/4-inch rounds, and bake the cookies at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes. Make these peppermint shortbread cookies for a cookie swap, potluck, or holiday cookie platter when you need an easy buttery holiday shortbread recipe.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 3 hours hrs

Servings: 36 servings

Course: Christmas

Cuisine: American

Calories: 80

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

  

• 12 tablespoons (170g) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup (99g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon table salt
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or King Arthur Pure Vanilla Extract
• 2 cups (240g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1 packet natural red food coloring
• 1/4 teaspoon water
• 1/8 teaspoon peppermint oil
• 1/4 cup (57g) coarse sparkling sugar

Equipment

• stand mixer
• Kitchen scale
• Cookie scoop
• Parchment paper

Method

 

1. Make the Cookie Dough

   In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the flat beater attachment, or in a large bowl using an electric hand mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2–5 minutes. The exact time will depend on the temperature of your butter.

   Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Beat until fully incorporated, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the flour and mix on low speed just until a crumbly dough forms.

   Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and gently bring it together into one mass. Using a kitchen scale, divide the dough into two portions: one weighing 355g and the other 175g. If you don't have a scale, divide the dough into thirds and combine two portions to make the larger piece. Shape the larger portion into a smooth ball. This will be the vanilla dough. Place the smaller portion back into the mixer bowl to prepare the peppermint dough.
2. Make the Peppermint Dough

   In a very small microwave-safe bowl, combine the red food coloring packet, water, and peppermint oil. Microwave in 2-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the food coloring dissolves and the mixture is smooth. Add the red mixture to the smaller portion of dough in the mixer bowl. Mix on low speed until the color is evenly distributed and the dough comes together.
3. Assemble the Dough Log

   Place a piece of parchment paper on your work surface, or lightly flour a clean surface. Divide the vanilla dough into four equal pieces, about 88g each. Roll each piece into a ball, then shape it into a log approximately 10 inches long. Divide the peppermint dough into three equal pieces, about 58g each. Roll each piece into a ball, then shape it into a log approximately 10 inches long.

   Using your hands, gently flatten one vanilla dough log until it is about 1½ inches wide. Place a peppermint dough log on top and flatten it slightly to match the width of the vanilla layer. Repeat with the remaining dough logs, alternating between vanilla and peppermint layers until all the logs are stacked.

   Gently roll the stacked dough between your hands to round the edges and form one large log about 10 inches long. Twist the two ends of the log in opposite directions to create a swirled pattern throughout the dough.
4. Shape a Smooth, Round Log

   For a neat, symmetrical cookie log, place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper and fold the parchment over it to encase the dough. Hold a straight object, such as a ruler or bench knife, between the dough and the work surface with your nondominant hand. With your dominant hand, gently pull the parchment away from you. This helps push the dough against the straight edge, smoothing the surface and creating a more evenly rounded log.
5. Coat with Sparkling Sugar

   Spread the sparkling sugar on a piece of parchment paper in a strip approximately 2 inches wide and 10 inches long. Roll the dough log in the sugar, gently pressing as needed so the outside is evenly coated.
6. Chill the Dough

   Wrap the sugar-coated log tightly in plastic wrap, or place it in a slice-and-bake cookie dough keeper. Refrigerate until very firm, at least 2 hours and up to 4 days. Chilling makes the dough easier to slice and helps the cookies maintain their shape during baking.
7. Slice and Bake

   When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F, positioning the racks in the upper and lower thirds. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough log from the refrigerator and unwrap it. Using a sharp knife, slice the log into rounds about ¼ inch thick.

   Rotate the log approximately 90 degrees after every three to four slices. This helps prevent the dough from flattening on one side and keeps the cookies as round as possible. Arrange the slices on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

   Bake for 15–20 minutes, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through baking. The cookies are ready when their edges turn golden brown. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.