Five Delightful Peppermint Holiday Treat Recipes

Nothing says the holidays like peppermint. Ever since people started putting candy canes on their Christmas trees over 250 years ago, when people taste or smell peppermint, they automatically think of Christmas. If you are planning to have a holiday party at your home or if you are going to be serving Christmas dinner, there are a few peppermint based desserts that you should make and serve to your guests.

Peppermint Meltaways

Not only are these cookies delicious, they also are very festive looking. They are sure to please even the pickiest guest at your dinner or holiday party.

Ingredients for the Cookies:

• 1 ¼ cup flour
• ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 1 cup of softened butter
• ½ teaspoon peppermint extract

Ingredients for the Frosting:

• 2 tablespoons of softened butter
• 2 tablespoons of 2% milk
• 1 ½ cups confectioners sugar
• ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract
• ½ teaspoon of crushed peppermint candies
• 3 drops of red food coloring

Instructions:

Start by combining the confectioners sugar and the butter in a bowl. Mix until it is light and fluffy. Next, beat in the peppermint extract. In a second bowl, whisk the flour and cornstarch together and then beat into the cream mixture. Place the bowl in the refrigerate and let cool for 30 minutes or until the mixture if firm.

When the mixture is cool, shape the dough into 1 inch balls. Place them at least 2 inches apart on a baking sheet, ungreased. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes or until the bottoms are light brown. When you remove the cookies, place them on a wire rack to cool.

While the cookies are cooling, you can make the frosting. In a small bowl, beat the butter until it is creamy. Next, add the milk, the peppermint extract, and the food coloring and stir until the ingredients are fully incorporated. Next, slowly beat in the confectioners sugar. When the cookies are cool, frost each one of them and then sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies on top.

Peppermint Biscotti

This holiday version of biscotti is absolutely delicious. If you enjoy biscotti all year long, you will love this holiday recipe. The peppermint in the recipe is what give it a holdiay taste and feeling and it goes great with a nice cup of hot chocolate.

Ingredients for the Cake:

• 3 ¼ cups of flour
• ¾ cups of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• 3 eggs
• ¾ cups of softened butter
• 2 teaspoons of peppermint extract
• 1 cup of crushed peppermint candies

Ingredients for the Frosting:

• 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips
• ½ cups of crushed peppermint candies
• 2 tablespoons of shortening

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the butter and the sugar and whip until smooth. Next, add the eggs one at a time and beat well after adding each one and then beat in the extract. In a second bowl, combine the baking powder, salt, flour, and the peppermint candy. Stir the ingredients until fully incorporated. Gradually combine the flour mixture to the cream mixture. Knead until the dough is stiff.

Split the dough in half on an ungreased baking sheet. Sculpt each part of the dough into a rectangle that is 12 x 2 inches and ½ inch thick. Bake the rectangles at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until they are golden brown. Remove the pan from the dough and transfer the rectangles to a wire rack to cool down for 15 minutes. Next, transfer the rectangles to a cutting board and cut them diagonally into ½ inch slices. Place the slices, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake for an additional 12 to 15 minutes and move them to a wire rack to cool.

While the biscotti is cooling, you can start on the frosting. Start by putting the chocolate chips and the shortening in a bowl and microwave until melted. Stir the mixture until it is smooth. Dip one end of each biscotti into the melted chocolate and allow any excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. Sprinkle each one with the crushed candy. Place the biscotti on waxed paper and let it stand until the chocolate has set.

Chocolate Peppermint Bark

This is a recipe that is incredibly easy to make. Your guests will taste how delicious they are and it might appear that you spent all day in front of the oven. In reality, this recipe takes just 15 minutes to prepare and then it needs to chill.

Ingredients: 

• 6 ounces of white baking chocolate, chopped up
• 1 cup of crushed peppermint candies, divided
• 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

On 70% power, microwave the white chocolate until it is melted and then stir it until it is smooth. Next, stir in 1/3 cup of the crushed candies. Do the same with the chocolate chips and 1/3 cup of the candies. Alternate spoonfuls of dark and white chocolate and put them on a baking dish lined with waxed paper. Take a metal spatula and make a swirl in the candy. Finally, sprinkle the rest of the crushed candies on top.

Refrigerate your candy for an hour, or until they are firm. Break them into pieces ad store them between layers of wax paper in a covered container.

Peppermint Swirl Fudge

This is a delicious and festive fudge recipe that is great to serve at your holiday party or dinner. You can even make this recipe and give it as a gift to a friend or family member who has a sweet tooth. If it is wrapped up nicely, it can be the perfect gift.

Ingredients:

• 1-10 ounce package of white baking chips
• 1-16 ounce can of vanilla frosting
• 1 teaspoon of butter
• ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract
• 2 tablespoons of crushed peppermint candies
• 8 drops of red food coloring

Instructions:

Start by lining a 9 inch, square pan with aluminum foil. Next, grease the foil with butter and set the pan to the side.

Next, in a small saucepan, melt the chips in the pan until they are melted and then stir until smooth. Remove the pan from the heat, and add the peppermint extract and the frosting. Spread the contents of the saucepan into the prepared pan. Drip the food coloring in random spots of the fudge and cut through the fudge with a butter knife to make a swirl design. Finally, sprinkle with the crushed peppermint candies.

Place the fudge in the refrigerator and let it set for an hour.

Using the foil to life, take the fudge out of the pan and peel any additional stuck on foil, off. Cut the fudge into 1 inch squares and store the fudge in container with a cover.

Minty White Chocolate Eggnog

If you have your holiday treats planned for your party but you need a tasty drink to serve, this is an excellent recipe. Also, it is very easy to make.

Ingredients:

• 2 cartons of eggnog
• 1 package of white semi sweet morsels
• 1 ½ teaspoons of nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract
• 1 box of candy canes, unwrapped

Instructions:

Start by pouring the eggnog into a punch bowl. In a small saucepan, melt the semisweet morsels and stir them in with the eggnog. Next, sprinkle the nutmeg over the top and stir in the peppermint extract. Finally, hang the candy canes around the punch bowl so that guests can put them in their drinks.