1-Getting started with peppermint meltaways is simple and fun, beginning with prepping your ingredients and workspace. First, cream the softened butter and confectioners’ sugar together until they become light and fluffy, which takes about 3-4 minutes using a hand mixer. This step builds the base that gives these cookies their wonderful texture.

2-Next, beat in the peppermint extract to add that refreshing flavor we all love. Then, whisk together the flour and cornstarch in a separate bowl before gradually mixing them into the creamed mixture. To keep things easy, refrigerate the dough for about 30 minutes until it’s firm, which helps with shaping.

3-Once the dough is ready, preheat your oven to 350°F and shape it into one-inch balls, placing them two inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes until the bottoms are lightly browned, then cool the cookies completely on wire racks. For the frosting, beat 2 tablespoons of softened butter until creamy, mix in 2 tablespoons of 2% milk, 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract, and optionally 2-3 drops of red food coloring. Gradually beat in 1 1/2 cups of confectioners’ sugar until smooth, spread it over the cooled cookies, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of crushed peppermint candies. To ensure soft cookies, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ones just until combined, and use a cookie scoop for uniform balls.