Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.

Allow the butter to soften at room temperature until it is pliable but still cool. It should be easy to press with a finger without looking oily or melted.

Measure all the ingredients before beginning. If you are using green food coloring, have it ready so you can adjust the color gradually.

Preparing everything in advance makes the process easier and helps prevent overmixing once the flour is added.

Step 2: Cream the butter and powdered sugar

Place the softened butter in a large mixing bowl. Beat it with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.

Add the powdered sugar gradually and continue beating until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure the ingredients are evenly combined.

Creaming the butter and sugar helps create a tender cookie texture. However, snowball cookies are naturally denser and more delicate than many traditional drop cookies, so there is no need to beat the mixture excessively.

Once the mixture looks smooth and evenly blended, proceed to the flavoring.

Step 3: Add the vanilla and peppermint extracts

Add the vanilla extract and peppermint extract to the butter mixture. Mix until evenly distributed.

Start with the recommended amount of peppermint extract. Mint flavoring varies in strength by brand, and too much can overpower the buttery dough.

If you want a festive green color, add one or two drops of green food coloring and mix thoroughly. Add more only if needed to achieve your preferred shade.

The green coloring is optional. Without it, the cookies will have a classic pale buttery appearance beneath the powdered sugar coating.

Step 4: Incorporate the dry ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed. Stop as soon as the flour is incorporated and a soft dough forms.

Avoid overmixing because excessive mixing can develop gluten and make the cookies tougher than intended.

The dough should be soft but firm enough to shape into small balls. If it feels unusually sticky, cover the bowl and refrigerate it for approximately 20–30 minutes.

If the dough appears crumbly, give it a few moments to warm slightly and gently press it together with your hands. Avoid adding extra liquid unless absolutely necessary, because the delicate texture depends on the correct balance of ingredients.

Step 5: Fold in the chocolate chips

Add the mini semisweet chocolate chips to the dough.

Use a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon to fold them in gently until they are evenly distributed. Try to spread the chips throughout the dough rather than leaving large clusters in a single area.

Mini chocolate chips are particularly useful in snowball cookies because the dough balls are small. They also make the cookies easier to roll and help maintain the classic round shape.

If you prefer a more intense chocolate flavor, you can substitute part of the semisweet chocolate chips with finely chopped dark chocolate.

Once the chips are evenly distributed, the dough is ready to shape.

Step 6: Shape the snowball cookies

Scoop approximately 1 tablespoon of dough for each cookie. Roll each portion gently between your palms to form a smooth ball.

Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving approximately 1–2 inches between them. These cookies generally spread very little, but adequate space allows heat to circulate evenly.

Try to make the dough balls similar in size so they bake at the same rate. If some cookies are much larger than others, the smaller ones may become dry before the larger ones finish baking.

If the dough becomes too soft while shaping, place it in the refrigerator for another 10–15 minutes.

For a particularly smooth finish, gently roll each ball a second time just before placing it on the baking sheet.

Step 7: Bake until set

Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 12–15 minutes.

The cookies should look set and slightly firm around the edges, but they should not become deeply browned. Their color may remain relatively pale, particularly if you are using green food coloring.

Check the bottoms of one or two cookies if you are unsure. They should be lightly colored rather than dark brown.

Avoid overbaking. Snowball cookies are supposed to have a delicate, tender texture, and excessive baking can make them dry or crumbly.

Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies rest for approximately 5 minutes. They will be fragile while hot, so allow them to firm up before moving them.

Step 8: Coat the cookies in powdered sugar

Place the first portion of powdered sugar in a shallow bowl.

While the cookies are still slightly warm, gently roll each one in powdered sugar until coated. Use a spoon if necessary to avoid breaking the delicate cookies.

The first coating adheres well to the slightly warm surface and creates the classic snowy appearance.

Transfer the coated cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.

For an extra-white finish, roll them in powdered sugar a second time after they have cooled. The second coating helps cover any areas where the first layer has absorbed moisture or become less visible.

Handle the cookies gently during this step because their tender texture makes them more delicate than many other cookies.

Step 9: Cool, serve, and enjoy

Allow the cookies to cool completely before placing them in a storage container or arranging them on a serving platter.

Once cooled, the buttery dough will have a delicate, crumbly texture, while the chocolate chips provide little pockets of rich chocolate flavor. The peppermint adds a refreshing finish that balances the sweetness.

Arrange the Mint Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies on a white plate or holiday serving tray to highlight their snowy appearance.

Serve them with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or a glass of cold milk. They are especially enjoyable during the winter months, but their refreshing mint flavor makes them delicious throughout the year.