Peppermint Gooey Butter Cookies (from scratch!)

INGREDIENTS

Egg plus, large organic

1/4 tsp

Peppermint oil, fine quality pure

2 1/2 cups

All-purpose flour, pure organic unbleached

2 tsp

Baking powder

1 1/2 cups

Cane sugar, organic granulated

1 1/2 cups

Confectioners' sugar, organic

1/2 tsp

Sea salt, fine-grain

2 1/2 tsp

Vanilla extract, pure

Loaded cookie scoop, Small spring

1 1/3

Regular inch Loaded cookie scoop, spring

(8-ounce/226-gram) package organic cream cheese, organic

1/2 cup

Butter, organic grass-fed unsalted

Peppermint candies or candy canes, red and white

Fine-mesh sieve, such as Norpro 2135 Stainless Strainer, 5-Inch, White, to sift crushed candies

Red, pink or even green gel-based (paste) food coloring, kosher, natural or conventional