I share many treats and desserts on my blog, but it's the family recipes that I look forward to sharing the most. Growing up, I lived in the same town for many years as my extended family, so we all became very close. Holiday gatherings have always featured trays of desserts. As me and my siblings and cousins got older, the responsibility to bring the treats to family holidays shifted to us. Often, I bring my own creations, but occasionally I love baking a childhood recipe!
These peppermint puff cookies are one of the delicious cookies that always made their way onto the holiday cookie platter, thanks to my maternal grandma, who I am so fortunate to still have in my life. They’re so deceivingly delicious!
The crunchy sugar coating (that gets an extra crunch from whipped egg whites) makes you *think* you will be biting into a crunchy cookie. Then you get to the centerthe soft, buttery peppermint center! Oh my word.
The single chocolate chip gives just the right amount of sweetness to these cookies, without overtaking the peppermint flavor! I love that I was able to find these red and green chocolate chip morsels, and I sure hope grandma will approve of my deviant nature. I'm pretty sure when she sees these cookies on this year’s holiday cookie platter, she will be delighted, especially since she didn't have to make them!
I am so thankful that my children are blessed to have their great-grandma in their lives as well. I tell them stories of all the great treats she made through my childhood years! They are so fortunate to have this time to learn about another generation, and to someday be able to pass these stories on to their own children.
Hopefully they will pass on these great recipes as well!
Grandma's Peppermint Puff Cookies
Yield: 3-4 dozen cookies
Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 egg, divided
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy canes
3-4 dozen semi-sweet chocolate morsels
Instructions:
In a mixing bowl, cream butter until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Beat until creamy. Add in egg YOLK. Slowly add flour and crushed candy canes. Mixture will be very crumbly at this point.
Taking about 2 TBSP of crumbs, press in palm of hand to shape into a 1" ball. Repeat for remaining dough.
In a small bowl, whip egg whites for about 30 seconds until foamy. Put remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a separate bowl.
Dip each ball into egg whites, completely coating the ball, then letting the excess drip off. Then roll in sugar, careful not to rub off egg whites. Place cookies on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Press a chocolate chip onto the top, gently (it will adhere during the cooking process).
Bake cookies in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
Remove and cool 10 minutes on pan before transferring to a wire rack. The bottoms will have extra egg white crisps that you can break off when you transfer the cookies. Cool completely. Store cookies in an air tight container for up to one week. ENJOY!
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