Preheat the oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.

Cream the butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 3-5 minutes. The texture of the mixture is important because it creates the base for your dough.

Add extracts: Once your butter and sugar are well-creamed, add the vanilla extract and peppermint extract. Mix until fully incorporated. The peppermint extract will give the cookies their signature refreshing taste.

Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the butter and sugar mixture. Stir until the dough comes together. It will be crumbly at first, but keep mixing until it forms a smooth dough.

Incorporate pecans and crushed peppermint: Once your dough is prepared, fold in the finely chopped pecans and crushed peppermint candies. The nuts add a delightful crunch, while the peppermint adds a burst of festive flavor.

Shape the dough: Using your hands, take small portions of the dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. Place each cookie ball on the prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart to allow for even baking.

Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 12-14 minutes. The cookies should not brown on top, but the bottoms should turn just lightly golden. This ensures that the cookies stay soft and melt-in-your-mouth.

Cool and dust with powdered sugar: Once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then, gently roll them in powdered sugar while they are still warm. Let the cookies cool completely, then roll them in powdered sugar once more for an extra snowy finish.