#7 Peppermint Snowballs!

 In Southern California we are finally getting some winter weather. Last December at Christmas time, it felt a whole lot like spring with lots of sunshine and 80 degree weather. And now that we're into the middle of March it feels a whole lot like winter, cold and rainy.   There's finally even some snow on the mountains. All this chilly weather has inspired me to make Peppermint Snowballs.

They didn't start off looking like snowballs, they started off looking very red and velvety. Not until they got rolled in the powdery, sugary, yumminess did they start looking like snowballs. And the peppermint makes you feel like you're in the winter holiday months. But I think any season is a great time for peppermint!

Here's what you need to get started:

1 cup of butter softened

1 and 3/4 cup of powdered sugar separated in half

2 and 1/4 cups AP flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons Vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/3 cup crushed candy cane

2 drops red gel food coloring

Here's how to put it all together:

Start by heating your oven to 350 degrees. Then, crush the candy canes if you havent already, by placing them in a plastic ziplock bag and use a jar to crush them.  Sift the crushed candy to separate the small peppermint pieces from  the peppermint powder .  In a  bowl  place one cup of powdered sugar  and the peppermint powder and mix together . This is what will be used to roll the Snowballs in. Then in a mixing bowl, combine the butter, 3/4 cup of powdered sugar and the vanilla. Beat on medium speed until light and creamy. Next, add the flour and the salt to the mixture while beating on low speed. Add the red food coloring gel.  Keep mixing.   It will take some time for the dough to come together so just be patient. Finally, add the crushed pepper mint candy to the mix.  Scoop out small balls of dough and roll in your hands to form perfect snowballs. Set on ungreased baking sheets. There will be a little bit of spreading, so leave a couple of inches between snowballs while  baking. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or just until the snowballs start to brown a little on top and on the sides.  Let cool for two or three minutes. Then roll the Snowballs one time in the powdered sugar and set on wire racks to cool completely. Once the cookies have finished Cooling, roll them a second time in the powdered sugar. They will come out prettier after the second roll in sugar. Should make about 32-36 Snowballs.