# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
05 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
→ Optional Decoration
06 - Crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
07 - White chocolate, melted
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
02 - Add the egg and peppermint extract to the creamed mixture, mixing until fully combined.
03 - Gradually incorporate the flour into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or by hand until a smooth dough forms.
04 - Divide the dough into two equal portions. Shape each into a log roughly 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm.
05 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
06 - Remove chilled dough from refrigerator and slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Arrange cookies about 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.
07 - Sprinkle the cookie rounds with crushed peppermint candies, if desired.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, until edges begin to turn golden.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Once cooled, drizzle melted white chocolate over the cookies and add additional crushed peppermint for decoration, if desired.
