These tricolor peppermint sugar cookies taste as good as they look. The sweet dough compliments the bold peppermint flavor to make the perfect bite.
Tricolor Peppermint Sugar Cookies
These tricolor peppermint sugar cookies were born after seeing the tricolor cookies from Sarah Keifer's Neopolitan cookies from her cookbook, 100 Cookies. The cookies have three different colors and flavors. They also look fantastic and are very eye-catching. I wanted to do something just like that but with a holiday twist.
To make these cookies seasonal, I first thought about the flavors. Peppermint is a staple of the holiday season, so it was easy to go in that direction. Next were the colors. Since it was a holiday theme, I went with red and green for the additional colors. You could easily make this blue and white, too, for Hanukkah.
The cookies are a basic sugar cookie recipe with peppermint flavoring. The trick is getting the colors just right. Gel food coloring is much better when it comes to baking. The colors don't fade and stay very bright even after a trip into the oven. To create the tricolor effect, I took about a teaspoon of each color and combined them into a loose ball. I wanted the colors to stick together but didn't want them to mix and create a blending look. The whole idea was to have distinct sections, so that's where the loose ball comes into play.
Looking for more holiday cookies? Try my jam thumbprint cookies or peppermint brownie cookies.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Festive - The red and green colors make this the perfect holiday for the holiday season.
- Flavor - The peppermint flavor is balanced thanks to the sweetness of the sugar cookie.
- Fun To Make - This cookie is basically like a giant art project in the kitchen.
Ingreidents Needed To Make Tricolor Peppermint Sugar Cookies
- Butter - Allow the butter to soften to room temperature.
- Peppermint Extract - A few tablespoons provide the peppermint flavor.
- Vanilla Extract - Helps to balance out the flavors.
- Baking Soda - Helps the cookies rise in the oven.
- Gel Food Coloring - Gives the cookies vibrant colors.
Directions For How To Make Tricolor Peppermint Sugar Cookies
- Prepare.
Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set to the side.
- Mix dry ingredients.
Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar.
Cream the butter until smooth and creamy, then add the sugar and beat until light, fluffy, and pale in color, for about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg, yolk, vanilla, and peppermint extract and beat until combined.
- Combine.
Add in the flour mixture at a low speed. Mix everything together until thoroughly combined.
- Add the color.
Split the dough into three equal parts. Keep one part plain and add red and green gel food coloring to the remaining two sections. Use about 2-3 drops of the food coloring per section.
- Form the cookie dough.
Take about one teaspoon of dough from each section and loosely roll them into a ball. Allow them to combine but not blend together. Do this with gentle hands so they stay separate but come together nicely.
- Bake the cookies.
Bake 6-7 cookies at a time on a sheet pan in the middle rack of the oven. Bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes until the edges are soft. Rotate the cookie sheet halfway through the bake.
- Cool the cookies.
Let the cookies cool slightly on the cookie rack before moving to a cooling rack.
Serving Suggestions
These tricolor peppermint cookies are great for the holidays. Bring them to your cookie swap or send them to friends and family in your holiday cookie box.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead: The cookies can be made ahead and kept in an airtight container to stay fresh. Make the cookies 2-3 days ahead of time.
- To Store: Store extra cookies in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for about a week.
- To Freeze: Any extra cookies can be frozen for 2-3 months in the freezer. The dough can also be frozen before baking for 2-3 months.
Tips and Variations
- More Is Less - This goes for both the peppermint flavor and the gel food coloring. Adding too much will make the colors bleed, and too much extract will taste like toothpaste.
- Peppermint Extract - If you don't like peppermint flavor but like the looks of these cookies, skip the peppermint extract in the recipe and let them be plain sugar cookies.
- Wear Gloves - The gel food coloring can easily stain your hands. It is best to wear disposable gloves when handling the food coloring so it doesn't get all over the place.
Tricolor Peppermint Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a sheet pan with parchment. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Then, add in the sugar and beat until light and fluffy and pale in color, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the egg, yolk, vanilla, and peppermint extract and beat until combined.
- Add in the flour mixture on a low speed. Mix everything together until fully combined.
- Split the dough into three equal parts. Keep one part plain and add red and green gel food coloring to the remaining two sections. I used about 2-3 drops of the food coloring per each section.
- Take about one teaspoon (small cookie scoops worth) of dough from each section and loosely roll them into a ball. You want them to combine, but not bleed together in color. Do this with gentle hands so they stay separate, but come together nicely.
- Bake 6 or 7 cookies at a time on a sheet pan in the middle rack of the oven. Bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes, until the edges are soft. Rotate the cookie sheet halfway through the bake.
- Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. Store the cookies in an airtight container. They should last about a week. They can be frozen as well and will last in the freezer for 3 months.
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