Peppermint Snowball Cookies

These Peppermint Snowball Cookies have candy cane pieces mixed through the dough and sprinkled on top for a fun candy cane snowball cookie twist.

As much as I love a traditional Snowball Cookie, I especially love these snowballs with a peppermint makeover.

Peppermint is one of my favorite flavors this time of year and I can’t resist using my peppermint wand on everything.

The crushed candy canes in this recipe provide terrific peppermint flavor. However, if you like a stronger peppermint flavor, you’ll want to be sure to add a bit of peppermint extract as well.

Peppermint Snowball Cookies

These are like the simple pecan snowball cookies with the addition of crushed candy canes. (Do you call them snowballs, Mexican Wedding Cookies or Russian Tea Cakes?)

To make snowball cookies, cream together the butter with the sugar. Mix in the vanilla and peppermint extract. Stir in the flour, pecans, and crushed candy canes.

Scoop and roll into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 15-16 minutes or until just lightly browned on the bottom. Take care not to overbake.

Remove from the oven and let cool for 2 minutes on the tray. If the cookies spread too much, try chilling the dough for an hour or two before baking.

Carefully remove from the cookie sheet and roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar. Let cool completely on a rack. Roll in powdered sugar once more and sprinkle candy cane pieces on top.

No chilling is required for this recipe. You have the choice to use butter or margarine. The butter definitely adds a better flavor, but the margarine helps the cookies hold their shape better without chilling.

If you use butter and find your cookies spread, try chilling the dough for an hour or two and then baking.

You’ll roll the cookies in powdered sugar while they are still warm and then again after they are completely cool. This gives the cookies a maximum coating of powdered sugar.

Candy Cane Recipes

Do you have leftover candy canes to use up? Here are a whole bunch of awesome peppermint recipes that use candy cane pieces!

Candy Cane Dip

No-Churn Peppermint Ice Cream

Chewy Peppermint White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peppermint Oreo Cookies from Dinner at the Zoo

Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Whoopie Pies from Your Cup of Cake

Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake

Candy Cane Crinkle Cookies from The Slow Roasted Italian

White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies from Two Peas and Their Pod

How to Crush Candy Canes

Are you wondering the best way to crush candy canes for cookies? There are several methods.

I usually place the candy canes in a sturdy freezer-safe zip-close bag and then lay the bag on a cutting board and smash them with a meat hammer or rolling pin. Some of the candy cane pieces may break through the bag, but they will remain mostly contained.

You can also give them a quick spin in a blender or food processor for finely broken pieces.

{originally published 12/14/18 – recipe notes and photos updated 11/1/21}

If you love peppermint during the holidays, check out a few more mint treats:

Classic Chocolate Mint Brownies

Peppermint Cheesecake

Mint Chip Truffles