Bring some holiday cheer to neighbors and friends with these festive Peppermint Sugar Cookies! They’re absolutely delightful and are sure to make everyone smile! Plus, participate in this wonderful season of giving by donating to the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer charity! Details below!
I love this time of year. Everyone is happier, kinder and there seems to be a general feeling of optimism in the air. I really think that serving and giving to others is what brings the greatest joy and magic to this season. It’s not about what we receive, but how we can help others.
I’ve never beamed so much as I did, after having our first child, watching her experience Christmas morning. And now, that bliss is amplified a million times as I watch my four children sit on Santa’s lap, wrap a gift for someone with love, do a kind deed, or sit in awe under the light of the tree.
Many of our family Christmas traditions center around giving to others. We like to emphasize this sentiment with our children year round, but especially during the month of December. Something we’ve always done together is make goodies for neighbors and friends, package them up all pretty and deliver them by car while listening to Christmas carols. We typically put together 20-30 plates, filled with an assortment of delicious cookies, fudge, and Cinnamon Caramel Corn!
I usually like to switch things up a bit each year and add a little surprise gem to the plates. I’m thinking it will be these phenomenal Peppermint Sugar Cookies this time! They’re easy to make, as no dough chilling is required. They’re soft and infused with white chocolate peppermint chunks, then finished with a pretty drizzling of melted peppermint chunks. Your neighbors will appreciate you even more once you show up with a plateful of these beauties!
And speaking of giving, children’s charities always tug at my mama heart strings. I’m so pleased to be teaming up with a bunch of blogging friends to bring you an amazing opportunity to share some love. Did you know that cancer is the #1 cause of death of children by disease in the U.S.? Currently, 40,000 U.S. children are actively battling cancer. Less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s budget allotted for all forms of pediatric cancer. The statistics are shocking.
Please join me in visiting the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer fundraising page to contribute. I know the funds are very much needed and will be well utilized. Anything helps and every little bit counts!
Here’s how Cookies for Kids’ Cancer began: When 2-year-old Liam Witt was diagnosed with childhood cancer in 2007, his parents Larry and Gretchen were shocked to learn of the lack of effective treatments for pediatric cancers due to lack of funding. They pledged to support the funding of research for safer, more effective treatments for children battling cancer. With the help of 250 volunteers, his mom Gretchen baked and sold 96,000 cookies, raising more than $400,000 for research. Word spread, and people nationwide began asking, “How can I help?” From that giant cookie bake, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was born.
Peppermint Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 c. sugar
- 1 c. butter softened slightly
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 tsp. peppermint extract
- 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. cream of tartar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- White chocolate peppermint chunks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare baking sheets with nonstick liners or lightly grease them.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together sugar, butter, egg and peppermint extract. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix until incorporated. Stir in 1 c. chopped white chocolate peppermint chunks by hand.
- Scoop dough into 1 1/2" balls and place on cookie sheet. Be sure to only do 8 cookie balls per sheet-2 in each row-so they can have enough room to spread out.
- Use a fork to press each dough ball down in a criss-cross manner. Bake for exactly 8 minutes, then remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes before carefully removing to a cooling rack. After cookies are cooled, melt 3/4 cup white chocolate peppermint chunks (more if desired) and drizzle on top. You could also dip half of each cookie in the melted white chocolate peppermint for a different look. This would of course require more white chocolate peppermint chunks. Let chocolate set, then store in an airtight container.
These cookies are definitely top on my holiday baking list! I hope they become a favorite of yours too! Enjoy!
For all other cookie recipes go HERE.
And to see all the Sweetest Season Cookies contributions by my blogger friends, go here.
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