Chocolate Peppermint Cookies: Creamy, dreamy, irresistible indulgence.

A Little Story to Start

My grandson calls these my “magic cookies.” I think it’s the peppermint. One bite takes me right back to being a kid. I remember the sound of candy canes clinking in a bowl.

It was such a happy sound. Making these cookies still makes me smile. It’s a simple way to make a sweet memory. What’s a food that brings back a happy memory for you?

Getting Your Dough Just Right

First, mix your butter and sugars. Beat them until they look light and fluffy. This puts tiny air bubbles in your dough. It makes the cookies soft later.

Then add your egg and those lovely extracts. Doesn’t that smell amazing? That peppermint smell just fills the kitchen. It’s like a holiday in a bowl.

The Secret to a Perfect Cookie

When you add the dry ingredients, just mix until combined. A little flour streak is okay! Over-mixing makes cookies tough. This matters more than you think.

I once mixed the dough for too long. The cookies came out flat and hard. I still laugh at that. They were like little chocolate rocks!

Baking Time and a Fun Tip

Use a cookie scoop if you have one. It makes all the cookies the same size. They will bake evenly. No one gets a tiny, burnt cookie!

Watch them closely in the oven. They are done when the tops look dry. Fun fact: The cookies keep baking on the hot pan after you take them out. This is why we let them rest. Do you like your cookies soft and chewy or crisp?

The Final Touch

Now for the best part! Sprinkle the crushed candy right away. The heat from the cookie makes it stick. It looks so pretty and tastes wonderful.

Sharing food you made yourself is a special kind of gift. It says “I care about you” without any words. That’s why this little act matters so much. Who will you share your first batch with?

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
all-purpose flour	1 cup
cocoa powder	½ cup
baking soda	½ teaspoon
baking powder	¼ teaspoon
salt	¼ teaspoon
unsalted butter	½ cup	softened
packed brown sugar	¼ cup
granulated sugar	½ cup
egg	1
vanilla extract	1 teaspoon
peppermint extract	½ teaspoon
semisweet or dark chocolate chips	½ cup
crushed peppermint candy	¼ cup	about 3 candy canes or 15 peppermints

My Favorite Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Hello, my dear! Come sit with me in the kitchen. I want to share my favorite cookie recipe. These cookies taste like a winter party in your mouth. They are chocolatey, minty, and so very soft. My grandson calls them Santa’s favorite. I still laugh at that. Making them fills the whole house with a wonderful smell. Doesn’t that smell amazing? Let’s get our bowls ready. I will walk you through it, step by little step.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• ¼ cup crushed peppermint candy

Instructions

Step 1: First, let’s wake up the oven. Turn it to 350°F. This gets it nice and hot for our cookies. Then, lay a piece of parchment paper on your baking sheet. This little trick stops the cookies from sticking. I learned this after a very sticky mess one Christmas! My hard-learned tip: No parchment? A light spray of oil works too.

Step 2: Now, grab a medium bowl. We will mix our dry things together. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder. Then add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Sifting makes everything light and lump-free. It feels like a soft, chocolatey snow. Give it a little whisk with a fork. Set this bowl aside for now.

Step 3: Time for the big bowl! Put the soft butter and both sugars in it. Use a mixer to beat them together. Let it go for two whole minutes. It will become pale and fluffy. This is the secret to a chewy cookie. I always set a timer so I don’t get distracted. Do you like chewy or crunchy cookies more? Share below!

Step 4: Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Now, add the egg, vanilla, and peppermint extract. Mix it for another minute. The smell of peppermint is just so happy. It reminds me of candy canes on the tree. Your mixture should look smooth and smell wonderful now.

Step 5: Slowly add your dry ingredients to the wet ones. Mix on a low speed until they just come together. Then, stir in the chocolate chips by hand. The dough will be quite thick. That’s perfectly normal! It means your cookies will be nice and fudgy.

Step 6: Use a cookie scoop to make dough balls. Make them about the size of a walnut. This helps all the cookies bake evenly. My first batch was all different sizes. It was a funny-looking plate of cookies! Place them on your prepared sheet, giving them room to grow.

Step 7: Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes. They are done when the tops look dry. Don’t wait for them to get dark. They will look a little soft in the middle, and that’s good. They firm up as they cool. This keeps them wonderfully soft inside.

Step 8: Take the cookies out of the oven. Now for the magic! Sprinkle the crushed peppermint candy on top right away. The heat from the cookie will make it stick. You can press in a few extra chocolate chips too. It makes them extra special.

Step 9: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. This is the hardest part, waiting! Then, move them to a rack to cool completely. Try to wait until they are cool to eat one. I know it’s a difficult test.

Cook Time: 9 minutes
Total Time: 24 minutes
Yield: 12 cookies
Category: Dessert, Cookies

Fun Twists to Try Sometime

Once you master the classic, you can have some fun. I love playing with this recipe. It’s like a little kitchen adventure. Here are a few of my favorite twists. They are all simple and delicious.

Mint Chocolate Chip: Use mint chocolate chips instead of semisweet. It doubles down on that cool, minty flavor.

Peppermint Patty: Press a chocolate mint candy into the center of each warm cookie. It gets all melty and gooey inside.

Orange Zest Surprise: Add a teaspoon of orange zest to the dough. Chocolate, mint, and orange are a holiday dream team.

Which one would you try first? Comment below!

The Perfect Way to Serve Them

A cookie is wonderful on its own. But sometimes, you want to make it an event. I love serving these with a cold glass of milk. It’s a classic for a reason. For a party, place them on a pretty plate. Add a few whole candy canes for decoration. It looks so festive.

For drinks, a hot cup of coffee is lovely with the chocolate. For the kids, and for me on cozy afternoons, a mug of rich hot chocolate is perfect. The mint in the cookie makes the chocolate drink taste even better. It is a perfect pairing.

Which would you choose tonight?

Keeping Your Cookies Fresh

Let’s talk about keeping these cookies yummy. First, let them cool completely. Then store them in a tight container. They will stay soft for about four days.

You can also freeze the dough. I scoop the balls and freeze them on a tray. Then I pop them into a freezer bag. This way, you can bake just one or two anytime.

I remember my first batch. I left them out overnight. They were hard as rocks the next morning. I learned my lesson that day.

This matters because a good cookie brings joy. Having dough ready means fresh cookies for surprise guests. It makes your life a little sweeter.

Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!

Cookie Troubleshooting

Sometimes cookies can be tricky. If your cookies spread too much, your butter was likely too soft. Chilling the dough for 30 minutes helps a lot.

If they taste too bitter, check your cocoa. Make sure you are using regular cocoa powder. I once used a dark cocoa by mistake. The cookies were not sweet at all.

If the candy melts off, your cookies were too hot. Let them cool for a minute first. This keeps the candy pieces pretty and crunchy.

Fixing small issues builds your confidence. You learn that mistakes are okay. It also makes the flavor just right for sharing.

Which of these problems have you run into before?

Your Cookie Questions Answered

Q: Can I make these gluten-free?

A: Yes! Use a one-to-one gluten-free flour blend. They work perfectly.

Q: Can I make the dough ahead?

A: Absolutely. Keep it in the fridge for up to two days. The flavor gets even better.

Q: What can I use instead of peppermint extract?

A: You can use vanilla extract alone. The cookies will be a classic chocolate chip.

Q: Can I double this recipe?

A: Of course! Just use a bigger bowl. It is great for holiday gifts.

Q: Any other fun add-ins?

A: Try adding white chocolate chips. They look so pretty with the red candy.

Fun fact: The first chocolate chip cookie was invented by accident!

Which tip will you try first?

Share the Sweetness

I hope you love baking these cookies. They always make my kitchen smell wonderful. It is a simple joy to share them.

I would love to see your creations. Your kitchen stories make me so happy. Please share a picture with me.

Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest!

Happy cooking!

—Anna Whitmore.