These chocolate peppermint cookies boast a fudgy interior with a deep chocolate flavor! They're perfect for holiday cookie trays and Christmas parties.
Peppermint in Cookies:
Peppermint isn't subtle. It's bold and refreshing, like a close friend who won't sugarcoat the truth.
I personally love peppermint. It adds a bit of holiday magic to any cookie/treat.
And these chocolate peppermint cookies check all my boxes. Uber-chocolatey. Soft yet chewy. A hint of peppermint. Check, check, and check.
Key Ingredients:
- Unsalted butter - I always bake with unsalted butter so I control the amount of salt.
- Dark chocolate - I used my favorite brand, Ghirardelli 60% bittersweet chocolate chips. Off-brand chocolate chips don't taste as good or melt as well.
- Cocoa powder - I used Hershey's dark cocoa powder. It's important to use dutched cocoa to achieve that dark, ultra-chocolatey flavor.
- All-purpose flour - If you avoid gluten, swap the flour with a gluten-free flour blend. I recommend Bob's Red Mill's 1 to 1 Gluten Free Baking Flour.
- Peppermint - A little goes a long way! Don't "wing" it with peppermint. If you accidentally add too much, it tastes awful!
- White chocolate chips - Normally I'm not a huge white chocolate fan, but the peppermint, dark chocolate, and white chocolate combo is SO good. If you're still not convinced, just swap them with semi-sweet chocolate chips.
How to Make Chocolate Peppermint Cookies:
These fudgy chocolate cookies are so easy!
- Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave. Don't burn it. Heat it in 15-second increments until it's three-fourths of the way melted, then stir in until it completely melts.
- Add the melted chocolate and beat it in.
- Add the egg and beat until incorporated.
- Add the dry ingredients and beat until a cookie dough forms. Stir in the white chocolate chips.
- Scoop and bake the cookies until the edges look baked. Don't overbake them! Cookies set up as they cool!
What kind of mint should I use?
There's two types of mint extracts at well-stocked grocery stores - mint and peppermint. Mint is a combination of peppermint and spearmint. Peppermint is just peppermint and smells like a candy cane. They smell and taste completely different!
These cookies are made with peppermint extract.
Expert Tips:
- Don't overbake the cookies! It's better to underbake a cookie than overbake one. Cookies should look slightly underbaked when you remove them from the oven. They set up as they cool.
- Don't go overboard with the peppermint. Less is more here. If you add too much, it doesn't taste good!
Storage Tips:
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing.
- Transfer the cookies to a zip-top bag or airtight container. Store the cookies at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Cookies are freezer-friendly! Just transfer the cookies to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw cookies at room temperature or microwave a cookie until thawed.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Swap the all-purpose flour with Bob's Red Mill's 1 to 1 Gluten Free Baking Flour. It has a gluten-like taste and texture! You can find it at Target, Walmart, or on Amazon.
Cookie Recipes:
- 19 Fun & Festive Christmas Cookies
- Chocolate Dipped Ritz Cookies
- Coconut Pecan Cookies
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Equipment
- Sheet pan
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips melted yet cool
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons dark cocoa powder see note 1
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, see note 2
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- ⅔ cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the melted chocolate and peppermint extract to the mixture and beat until combined.
- Add the egg to the mixture and beat until incorporated.
- Add the all-purpose flour, dark cocoa powder, kosher salt, and baking powder to the mixture. Beat on medium-low until incorporated and a cookie dough forms.
- Add the white chocolate chips and mix. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Use a small cookie scoop to scoop 8 cookies onto the sheet pan, giving them each some space.
- Bake for 11 minutes or until the edges look baked. Let the cookies set up and cool for at least 10 minutes. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
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