Making these Chocolate Peppermint Cookies is easy, and they come together in no time. Here’s how to do it:
- Preheat Your Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. This is an important step as it helps incorporate air into the dough, making the cookies soft and chewy.
- Add the Eggs and Extracts: Add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as that can result in tough cookies.
- Fold in the Chocolate Chips: Gently fold the semi-sweet chocolate chips into the dough. The dough will be thick, but that’s exactly what you want for fudgy cookies!
- Scoop and Shape the Dough: Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop out dough and roll it into balls. Place the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are set, but the centers are still soft. They’ll firm up as they cool, so don’t overbake!
- Garnish with Crushed Candy Cane (Optional): After removing the cookies from the oven, immediately sprinkle with crushed candy cane for an extra festive touch. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once the cookies have cooled, they’re ready to enjoy! Serve them with a cup of hot cocoa or a glass of milk for the ultimate holiday treat.
Serving and Storage
These Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are the perfect holiday treat, and here’s how to serve and store them:
- Serving: Serve the cookies as a sweet treat after a holiday meal or pack them up in gift boxes to share with friends and family. They also make a great addition to any cookie exchange!
- Storage: Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. They stay soft and delicious, thanks to the fudgy texture. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months. Just thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy them.
Tips
Here are a few tips to help ensure your Chocolate Peppermint Cookies turn out perfectly every time:
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure the butter and eggs are at room temperature before starting. This helps the ingredients combine more easily and ensures a smoother dough.
- Chill the Dough (Optional): If you have the time, chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes to 1 hour before baking. This will help the cookies hold their shape better and prevent them from spreading too much during baking.
- Don’t Overbake: For soft, fudgy cookies, keep an eye on the baking time. Pull them out when the edges are set but the centers are still soft. They will continue to firm up as they cool.
- Customize the Garnish: If you’re not a fan of candy canes, you can substitute them with chopped peppermint bark, mini marshmallows, or even a drizzle of white chocolate for a festive look!
Variations
If you want to mix things up, here are a few variations on the Chocolate Peppermint Cookie recipe:
- Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies: For extra chocolatey goodness, use a combination of semi-sweet and dark chocolate chips, or even add a few tablespoons of mini chocolate chips to the dough.
- Mint Chocolate Swirl: Swirl in some mint chocolate chips into the dough along with the semi-sweet chocolate chips for a mint-chocolate explosion!
- White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies: If you prefer a lighter touch, try using white chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet chocolate. The sweetness of white chocolate pairs wonderfully with the peppermint flavor.
- Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Cookies:</