Turn a simple shortbread cookie into a holiday delight! This Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread recipe features a buttery cookie dipped in melted dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peppermints. Make a batch of these for Christmas and watch them disappear!
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time12 minutesmins
Additional Time30 minutesmins
Total Time57 minutesmins
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Keyword: christmas cookies, peppermint shortbread, shortbread cookie with chocolate
Cream butter and powdered sugar for 2-3 minutes until thoroughly combined. Add in flour, salt, and vanilla. Mixture will be crumbly. Use hand to combine crumbs into one large dough ball (may take a few minutes).
Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap. Drop dough onto plastic, roll plastic wrap over dough. Shape dough into a log (about 2 1/2 inches diameter...rolling it on your countertop with the palms of your hand). Place wrapped dough in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Slice into 1/4-inch cookies and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-13 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack.
Dip one end of cookie into melted chocolate, sprinkling immediately with peppermint pieces. Lay on parchment paper to set (about one hour).
Notes
Year round shortbread cookies. You can make these all year long by substituting other colored starlight peppermints for the red and white peppermints.
Use your hands. Using your hands to roll the dough into a ball, then shape it into a log helps the crumbly mixture hold together. Without the warmth of your hands, the dough will not hold together enough to chill and slice.
Don't over bake. The shortbread may still look a little soft in the center when you take the cookies out of the oven. This is okay--it'll continue baking as it cools on the cookie sheet. Shortbread burns quickly, so keep a close eye on these if you leave them in the oven longer then 10 or 12 minutes.
Store- store cookies in airtight container for up to one week at room temperature. If you choose to freeze the cookies, do not add chocolate or peppermint until ready to serve.