Cookie discovery continues…I saw this peppermint cookie pic and I thought that looks so Xmassy! I have to try it! This baking season has been quite a journey as slowly I am able to rely on my instincts in terms of how much liquidity of the dough, how to substitute egg requirements, what to do better and yet somehow end up with a good result and mostly be successful at the first attempt of various permutation / combinations. The key to this process is simple. “Trusting your instincts and not be scared of experimenting.”
I am a big fan of mints, so tasting mint on a cookie, was quite an exciting concept! This was baked for a bake sale at school and the Eggless Peppermint Sugar Cookies were found quite attractive by the high school teenagers. When I shared this with younger kids, there were some who really liked the Peppermint Sugar Cookies and some said they found the mint flavour a bit too strong. So when making for younger children, you may want to go easy on the mint topping.
The flavour is minty on the top, and the inside reminds you of shortbread. This uses a lot of butter so when it is being baked in the oven, one can smell the sweet buttery sugar aroma in the house, reminding you of shortbreads. The cookie hold a nice shape, is colorful and definitely refreshing not just because of the sugar in it, but also the cool freshening mint flavour on the top. The trick over here is the beating of the flour and sugar for long enough to get it right.
Peppermints used are Hershey candies in red /white found in abundance during Xmas Holidays . So have fun making, baking and tasting this delicious, colorful Eggless Peppermint Sugar Cookies which will surely attract everyone’s attention.
Recipe makes 15 big size cookies or 30 medium size cookies
Prep time
Baking time
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla essence
For coating the cookies
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup crushed peppermint Hershey candies
Method
- Beat the sugar and butter in a bowl, on high power for 6 minutes.
- Add shortening and beat for further 3 min.
- Add vanilla essence and beat for 1 min.
- Lightly whisk flour, salt and baking powder
- Add flour to the butter shortening mix, and using a spatula, mix everything to make a dough(similar to Bhatura dough)
- Pre heat the oven to 375 degrees if using convection or 350 degrees if using normal oven.
- Line the baking tray with Parchment paper.
- Take about a quarter cup size dough, roll into a ball, flatten a bt evenly from all sides and coat into the balance half cup sugar.
- Lay each cookie dough about 2 inches apart on the baking tray.
- Sprinkle crushed peppermint on the top.
- Put to bake for 6 min on middle rack.
- Rotate and bake for another 6 min on the lower middle rack.
- Rotate and bakre for further 2 min on the middle rack and remove.
- When you remove the center should feel soft and edges firm.
- Using a flat spatula, remove from the tray on to the cooling rack.
- Let it cool completely before storing it in an airtight container or box it for a bake sale!
Tips
Crushing the mint needs to be done on a flat surface, with vertical breaking so as to have the red flakes separate out individually. If you crush in using a pestle, chances are, you will end having a pink powder and not the individual red flakes.
Instinct Factor
The oven light is a useful feature to use when baking as it gives you a good view of what is happening, so make sure you make full use of it. Also it is better to undercook just slightly to keep it soft. And if you like it crispy then bake 30 seconds more.
Feel Factor
Cool, cool, cool!! Eggless Peppermint Sugar Cookies are Cool in looks, Cool to taste and Cool find for sure!! The crunch of the sugar, the A- ha feel of the mint, the buttery aroma in the inside is quite tempting!! Only thing to watch out is the extra calories you are loading. But.then in the time of Holidays, who pays attention to the calorie damages!! I certainly will be baking this, every Xmas Holiday Season and will definitely bake another round of this for the holiday guests.
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