Peppermint Bark Snowballs Recipe

Introduction

Experience holiday magic any time of year with Peppermint Bark Snowballs—a festive twist on the classic snowball cookie. Buttery and tender, these bite-sized confections are studded with decadent chocolate and crunchy peppermint, then finished with a snowy dusting of powdered sugar. Their melt-in-your-mouth texture and bold peppermint-chocolate flavor make them a standout at gatherings, cookie swaps, or cozy evenings with family.

What Makes Peppermint Bark Snowballs Irresistible?

What sets Peppermint Bark Snowballs apart is their combination of textures and flavors: the buttery shortbread base, the richness of chocolate chips, and the fresh, bright zing of peppermint candies. Topped off with a generous coating of powdered sugar, each ball is like a wintry wonderland for your taste buds—easy to make and always the first to disappear from the dessert table!

How to Add the Perfect Peppermint Crunch

For optimum crunch and flavor, use high-quality dark or semisweet chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies (such as candy canes). Crushing the candies into small bits allows them to seamlessly blend into the dough, ensuring a pop of peppermint in each bite. For a more intense flavor, add a couple of drops of pure peppermint extract to the dough before rolling.

Rolling and Finishing Tips

After baking, allow your snowballs to cool for just a minute or two, then gently roll them in powdered sugar while still warm. This technique makes the sugar coating adhere perfectly, creating the signature snowball look. For a festive touch, dust with a second coating after they’ve completely cooled.

Serving Suggestions for Stunning Peppermint Bark Snowballs

Serve these Peppermint Bark Snowballs on a beautiful white platter alongside mugs of hot cocoa or coffee. They’re perfect for gift tins or as edible favors at winter events. For a color contrast, scatter extra peppermint bits on top or mix them in with the powdered sugar before rolling the snowballs.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe makes about 24 Peppermint Bark Snowballs. Each snowball has roughly 110-130 calories, depending on chocolate and peppermint mix-ins used. Enjoy as an occasional treat that brings joy and artistry to your dessert spread.

Peppermint Bark Snowballs (Recap)

A delicious blend of chocolate, peppermint, and buttery cookie, these snowballs are simple to make, full of flavor, and guaranteed crowd pleasers—a must for anyone craving a festive homemade dessert.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and peppermint extracts; mix well.
3. Gradually stir in the flour and salt until just combined (the dough will be thick).
4. Fold in mini chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
5. Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing about an inch apart (they will not spread much).
6. Bake for 12–15 minutes, until the bottoms are just starting to turn golden—tops should remain pale.
7. Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. While still slightly warm, roll each snowball in additional powdered sugar and set aside. Once fully cooled, roll a second time for a snowy finish.

Weekly Meal Planning

These Peppermint Bark Snowballs are ideal for planning ahead—make them in batches to share, gift, or freeze for later. Save and schedule this recipe to your digital meal planner to seamlessly plan your dessert rotation and generate smart shopping lists that combine all your weekly ingredients.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities for the week
– Consolidates and organizes grocery lists by store section
– Prevents forgotten ingredients and eliminates overbuying
– Makes meal prep and dessert gifting streamlined and stress-free

Pro tip: When planning cookie platters for gatherings, schedule your recipes together to see ingredient overlap—so you’ll know exactly how much butter, flour, or chocolate to pick up for multiple treats!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Enjoy making (and sharing!) these festive, flavorful Peppermint Bark Snowballs—holiday spirit in every bite!