Best 4 Peppermint Stars Recipes

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Indulge in the delightful world of Christmas baking with this collection of delectable Peppermint Stars recipes. These charming cookies, also known as Pfeffernüsse or Zimtsterne, are a traditional German treat that exudes the festive spirit of the holiday season. Featuring four diverse variations, these recipes cater to every taste preference, from classic to chocolatey, gluten-free to vegan. Embark on a culinary adventure as you explore the nuances of each recipe, creating a symphony of flavors that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your baking journey, these Peppermint Stars recipes will guide you towards creating a batch of unforgettable Christmas cookies that will steal the show at any gathering.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT STARS



Chocolate Peppermint Stars image

Provided by Elinor Klivans

Categories     Candy     Chocolate     Dessert     Bake     Freeze/Chill     Christmas     Kid-Friendly     Winter     Edible Gift     Bon Appétit     Kidney Friendly     Vegetarian     Pescatarian     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Kosher     Small Plates

Yield Makes about 32 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup (about 31/2 ounces) finely crushed red-and-white-striped hard peppermint candies

Steps:

  • Sift flour, cocoa, and salt into medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Add dry ingredients; beat until dough holds together. Divide dough in half. Shape each piece into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill until firm enough to roll, at least 45 minutes and up to 1 day.
  • Set rack in center of oven and preheat to 300°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Roll out 1 dough disk on floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Using 3-inch star-shaped cutter, cut out cookies. Transfer to sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Gather scraps into ball. Wrap; chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
  • Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until tops feel firm to touch, about 25 minutes. Cool on sheets 10 minutes. Transfer to racks and cool completely. Repeat rolling, cutting, and baking until all dough is used. Do ahead Can be made ahead. Store airtight at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.
  • Stir chocolate in small metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until smooth. Using small spoon, drizzle chocolate over cookies in zigzag lines. Sprinkle with crushed candies. Drizzle remaining chocolate over. Let stand until chocolate is set, at least 1 hour. Do ahead Can be made 3 days ahead. Store cookies between sheets of waxed paper in airtight container at room temperature.****

CHOCOLATE-AND-PEPPERMINT STARS



Chocolate-and-Peppermint Stars image

The peppermints can be crushed in a food processor or placed in a plastic bag, covered with a kitchen towel, and smashed using the flat side of a mallet or a skillet. They will melt when baked within the star cutouts, which vary in sizes. Look for shapes that have a smaller (about 1 inch) counterpart to use for removing the interior space.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Time 3h

Yield Makes 40

Number Of Ingredients 8

20 round hard peppermint candies
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
Salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Finely grind peppermint candies in a food processor.
  • Whisk together flour, cocoa, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a bowl.
  • Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until combined, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg, then vanilla, and beat for 1 minute. Reduce speed to low, and gradually beat in flour mixture until combined, about 2 minutes. Shape dough into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
  • Roll out dough to a 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a baking sheet, and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut out star shapes using 2 1/2-, 4 1/2-, and 5-inch cookie cutters. Cut a smaller star from the center of each cookie using cookie cutters that are about 1 inch smaller than the larger cutter used. Transfer cookies to parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing each 1 inch apart. Bake until slightly firm, 12 to 15 minutes.
  • Fill the center of each cookie with ground peppermints. Bake until candy melts, about 6 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheets set on wire racks for 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks, and let cool completely.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT STARS



Chocolate Peppermint Stars image

Provided by Gina Marie Miraglia Eriquez

Categories     Cookies     Chocolate     Dessert     Bake     Christmas     Kid-Friendly     Christmas Eve     Gourmet     Small Plates

Yield Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Number Of Ingredients 6

Buttery Sugar Cookie dough recipe with an addition and adjustments
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup coarsely crushed small red and white candy canes (see Cooks' Notes)
4 ounces good bittersweet (60% cacao) chocolate, melted (see Cooks' Notes)
Special Equipment
Wax paper; parchment paper; 2 large baking sheets; 2- to 3-inch star cookie cutters; small offset spatula (optional)

Steps:

  • Make Cookies:
  • Make Buttery Sugar Cookie dough as directed, but reduce the flour to 1 1/3 cups and add the cocoa. Whisk the flour and cocoa together.
  • Halve dough and wrap each half in wax paper, shaping each into a flattened rectangle, then store each half in a resealable plastic bag. Chill dough until firm, at least 2 hours.
  • Heat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • While oven heats, roll out 1 piece of dough (keep remaining dough chilled) between two large sheets of wax paper to slightly less than 1/4 inch thick. (If dough becomes too soft to roll out, quick-chill on a baking sheet in the freezer or chill in the refrigerator until firm.)
  • Peel back top sheet of wax paper and cut out as many cookies with cutter as possible. Transfer cookies, as cut, to a lined baking sheet, arranging them 1 inch apart. (If dough becomes too soft to remove the cookies, quick-chill on a baking sheet in the freezer or chill in the refrigerator until firm.)
  • Gather, reroll, and chill scraps to form more cookies.
  • Freeze or chill cut-out cookies on baking sheet until firm before baking.
  • Bake cookies, one sheet at time, until edges are a shade darker and centers are set, 9 to 12 minutes. For picture-perfect cookies, use cookie cutters while cookies are hot from the oven to trim edges. (Keep trimmings for snacks.) Transfer cookies with a metal spatula to racks to cool completely. Make more cookies with remaining dough. (Cool baking sheets and use fresh parchment between batches.)
  • Decorate Cookies:
  • Using the offset spatula or a small rubber spatula, spread cooled cookies with a thin layer of melted chocolate, then sprinkle with some crushed candy canes.
  • Let cookies stand at room temperature until the chocolate has set, about 1 hour.

PEPPERMINT STARS



Peppermint Stars image

I make these buttery mint cookies each Christmas because they're my daughter's favorite. Use whatever cookie cutter design you prefer. —Lois White, Brookfield, Missouri

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 50m

Yield 4-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 12

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup peppermint candies (about 25 pieces), finely crushed
GLAZE:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons 2% milk
1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
Red or green food coloring, optional

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture. Stir in crushed candies. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. , On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut into shapes with a floured 2-1/2-in. star cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 325° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool., For glaze, in a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, milk and extract; stir until smooth. Tint with food coloring if desired. Spread over cookies.

Nutrition Facts : Fat 6 g fat (3 g saturated fat), Cholesterol 30 mg cholesterol, Sodium 117 mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28 g carbohydrate, Fiber trace fiber, Protein 2 g protein.

Tips:

  • Use fresh peppermint leaves. Dried leaves will not provide the same flavor or aroma.
  • Chill the dough before baking. This will help the cookies hold their shape.
  • Roll the dough out evenly. This will help the cookies bake evenly.
  • Use a sharp knife to cut out the cookies. This will help prevent the dough from tearing.
  • Bake the cookies at a moderate temperature. This will help prevent the cookies from burning.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before frosting. This will help the frosting set properly.

Conclusion:

Peppermint stars are a delicious and festive Christmas cookie. They are easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you are looking for a fun and festive holiday treat, these peppermint stars are the perfect choice.

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