Swirl Peppermint Cookies Delight (Print version)

Festive peppermint swirl cookies featuring a beautiful red-and-white design, perfect for sweet moments.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dough

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

→ Swirl Decoration

09 - Red gel food coloring

→ Optional

10 - 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes for garnish

# How To Make It:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
02 - Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
03 - Add the large egg, pure vanilla extract, and peppermint extract to the butter mixture and beat until fully combined.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
05 - Divide the dough in half. Add several drops of red gel food coloring to one half and mix until color is uniform.
06 - Roll each half between two sheets of parchment paper into approximately 9 by 7 inches rectangles, about 1/4 inch thick.
07 - Place the red dough rectangle carefully atop the plain dough rectangle, then remove the top parchment sheet.
08 - Starting from the long edge, roll the dough tightly into a log using the parchment paper to assist. Wrap tightly.
09 - Refrigerate the wrapped dough log for at least 1 hour until firm.
10 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
11 - Slice the chilled dough log into 1/4 inch thick rounds and arrange 2 inches apart on the prepared sheets.
12 - If desired, sprinkle crushed peppermint candies atop each cookie.
13 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until set but not browned. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The swirl is so visually stunning that people actually think you spent hours perfecting technique—but you didn't.
  • Peppermint extract paired with vanilla creates a flavor that's festive without screaming artificial or overpowering.
  • They look impressive enough to gift, but the process is forgiving enough to make with kids or while half-watching a holiday movie.
02 -
  • The red dough can be stubborn to color evenly—knead it longer than feels necessary, and don't be shy with the gel food coloring if you want a bold swirl.
  • Rolling the dough as tightly as possible into that log is non-negotiable; loose rolls collapse into messy slices and lose the visual magic.
  • Chilling time isn't optional—a room-temperature log will squish when you slice it and smear into blurry colors instead of clean spirals.
03 -
  • A sharp serrated knife or even dental floss makes cleaner slices through the chilled log than a regular knife, reducing smearing and deformation.
  • If your kitchen is warm, work quickly when rolling and layering the dough, or refrigerate each half for 15 minutes before assembly to keep everything manageable.

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