Mint slice and bake Christmas Cookies

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I love mint cookies, especially at Christmas. These are always on my holiday baking list. Mint cookies show up every year in Christmas cookie boxes we hand out and people always comment on them.

These cookies are so easy to make, with just a few simple kitchen staples. Better yet, you can make the dough ahead of time. When you want to bake them, slice into cookies and bake! So simple.

Making Mint Christmas Cookies ahead of time

I often make batches of cookies, when I have time, during the holiday season. I will leave out some to snack on and the rest I will freeze for later. That way, I am ready to go when I need to make Christmas cookie tins, attend a holiday party, or have a friend stop by!

Freezing the dough

For these cookies, you can freeze the dough two different ways. Make the dough into a log shape. Wrap tightly in cling-film and place in a freezer bag (or air-tight container). Store in the freezer for 3-4 months.

Alternatively, you could slice the log into individual cookies, lay them out on a cookie sheet and freeze for 2-3 hours. Transfer the unbaked cookies into a freezer bag, or air-tight container, and store in the freezer for 3-4 months.

Freezing baked cookies

This is what I typically do to get a head start on my holiday baking. After the cookies are baked, cool them to room temperature. Freeze in a single layer, on a cookie sheet, for 2-3 hours. Then pop them into a freezer bag, or air-tight container. Keep them in the freezer for 3-4 months. The reason to freeze them separately first is so they do not stick together and freeze into a big clump.

Decorating Mint Christmas Cookies

Decorating cookies is a great way to make simple cookies look fun and festive for the holidays! Especially if you are giving them as gifts or taking to a holiday party.

Candy Melts

I love using candy melts for decorating Christmas cookies. They come in a huge assortment of colours and flavours, perfect for whatever cookies you want to decorate.

Melting candies allow you to melt the the chocolate wafers without all the finicky tempering of chocolate. I have seen a few different kinds at the grocery store, cake, and craft supply stores.

I made two designs for my mint Christmas cookies.

The first I used was Sweet tooth Fairy Meltables, in the peppermint flavour, from Michaels. Melt the wafers according to the package directions. Place them in a container that will be wide enough to fit your cookie but will be thin enough that you can easily dip the cookies. (I used a glass.) Dip one side of each cookie into the melted peppermint. Place the cookies onto a piece of cling-film spread out on the counter. Leave until the decoration has cooled and set.

The second I used was Cocoa Melting wafers from the grocery store. Place the wafers in a piping bag. Place the bag in a mug of hot tea water until the wafers have melted. Snip a small hole in the tip and drizzle the cocoa decoration on top of each cookie. Leave the cookies on a piece of cling-film until the decoration has cooled and set.

Tempering chocolate

Tempering chocolate allows you to decorate with melted chocolate. After decorating the chocolate will dry and set hard. It will have a nice snap and shine to it.

You can use tempered chocolate in place of the melting wafers in both decorating designs, or any design you choose!

There are a few different methods to temper chocolate. Different types of chocolate needs different temperatures, (such as dark chocolate and milk chocolate). Tempering chocolate needs a full detailed recipe on its own so I will not get into it here. But if you want to try this method, there are many amazing videos that go through the step-by-step process.

What type of cookie are Mint Christmas Cookies

These cookies are basically a flavoured shortbread cookie. They are quite delicate, buttery, and melt in your mouth. The addition of mint makes them a little more festive for the holiday season. I love the convenience of making them slice-and-bake especially in a busy season like Christmas!

Ingredients for Mint Slice-and-bake Christmas Cookies

2 cups of butter, softened

½ cup white sugar

½ cup icing sugar

1 Tablespoons mint extract

1½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

4 cups all-purpose flour

a few drops of green food colouring

4 cups mint melting chocolate

Method

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the two sugars until light and fluffy.
2. Mix in the mint extract.
3. Mix in the baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour and green food colouring. Mix until the dough just comes together. (Add a little green food colouring at the start. If you find you need more you can add it in as it is mixing.) Don’t over mix the dough or the cookies will become tough.
4. Place a piece of cling-film on the counter and form half of the dough into a log shape. Wrap the dough log in the cling-film and roll it a few times on the counter to smooth it into a cylinder. Repeat with the second half of the dough.
5. Place the two dough logs in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours, or overnight. Or place the dough in the freezer for 45 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
7. Slice the logs into ¼-in. thick cookies. Turn the log every few slices to keep it from becoming flat on one side.
8. Place the cookies onto a lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
9. Cool completely before decorating.

Decoration

1. Melt the chocolate mint melts according to the package directions.
2. Dip one side of the cookie into the melted chocolate. Place the cookie on a piece of cling-film, on the counter, to cool and set.
3. Or place the melting wafers in a piping bag. Place the bag in a mug of hot tea-water, until the wafers are melted.
4. Snip a small hole in the tip of the bag and drizzle a design overtop of the cookies. Place the cookies on a piece of cling-film to cool until set.

Keep the Christmas baking going! Try some of these recipes Christmas Cranberry Cheesecake Squares The best soft and chewy gingerbread cookies Simple layered chocolate mint candy No-bake Rich Chocolate mint bars