Mint Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies Recipe
These Mint Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies are soft, festive, and bursting with refreshing mint flavor and mini chocolate chips. Coated in powdered sugar, they offer a delightful melt-in-your-mouth experience, perfect for holiday gatherings or any time you crave a cool, sweet treat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 48 minutes
- Yield: 30 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar (sifted)
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon mint extract (or peppermint extract)
- Green food coloring (gel food color works best, use a few drops)
- ¾ cup mini chocolate chips
For Coating
- Additional powdered sugar for coating
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat the softened butter and sifted powdered sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the cookies.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Extract: Gently mix in the all-purpose flour, salt, and mint extract until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Color the Dough: Add green gel food coloring a few drops at a time, mixing to reach your desired shade of green for a festive look.
- Incorporate Chocolate Chips: Stir in the mini chocolate chips evenly throughout the dough for bursts of chocolate in every bite.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop out one tablespoon of dough at a time and roll into balls. Place the balls on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing them to prevent sticking.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the cookie sheet and refrigerate the dough balls for at least 30 minutes to firm up for better baking results.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 7 to 8 minutes until they are just barely lightly browned on the bottom, ensuring a soft texture.
- Cool Slightly: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set before handling.
- Prepare Coating: Line another large baking sheet with parchment paper and dust it liberally with powdered sugar.
- Coat Cookies: Place the slightly cooled cookies on the powdered sugar–dusted sheet and dust them again with powdered sugar for a snowball effect.
- Final Coating: Let cookies cool completely, then drop them one at a time into a small bowl filled halfway with powdered sugar, turning to coat thoroughly.
- Storage: Store leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to four days to keep them fresh.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for the best vibrant green color without altering the dough consistency.
- Do not overbake; cookies should be pale with only slight browning on the bottom for soft, tender results.
- Chilling the dough helps maintain cookie shape and enhances flavor melding.
- Powdered sugar coating adds to the classic snowball cookie appearance and a sweet finish.
- For a stronger mint flavor, adjust the amount of mint extract to taste, but avoid adding too much to prevent bitterness.
