Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Peppermint Cookies

The Spruce / Ali Redmond

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 12 servings

These peppermint cookies are bursting with chocolate and minty goodness. The dark chocolate treats are chewy and fudgy—like a brownie in cookie form. We add extract peppermint extract to the dough and top them with crushed peppermint sticks for a nice crunch.

Bake up these cookies for Santa Claus or bring them to your annual holiday cookie swap. They’re different from your average sugar cookie, but still embrace classic Christmas flavors. Pair them with a steaming cup of peppermint hot chocolate on a cold winter night. They're sure to please every mint chocolate fan in your life.

Ingredients

  •  2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1/4 cup peppermint candy canes (crushed)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Gather the ingredients
     The Spruce / Leah Maroney
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl.

    Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  3. Melt the chocolate chips and butter together in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in one-minute increments. Whisk after each increment until the mixture is totally smooth. Be careful not to overheat as the chocolate can scorch.

    Melt together the chocolate and butter in a bowl

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  4. Beat the eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and peppermint extracts together in a large bowl.

    eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and peppermint extracts in a bowl

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  5. Beat the chocolate mixture into the egg and brown sugar mixture and continue to mix until a smooth batter forms.

    Gradually add in the flour mixture until it is combined. Be careful not to overbeat.

    cookie batter in a bowl, mixer

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  6. Scoop the batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet with a cookie scoop. Leave a few inches in between each scoop.

    cookie dough balls on a baking sheet, ice cream scoop

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  7. Use a spatula to flatten the tops of the cookies. Keep the shape round and smooth the top as best as you can.

    Place the cookies on the center rack of the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookies have spread and the tops are cracked.

    raw cookies on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  8. Spray each cookie with cooking spray and sprinkle the crushed peppermint sticks over the top. Make sure to do this immediately while the cookies are still warm.

    cookies with crushed peppermint sticks over the top on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  9. Serve immediately with a glass of milk or store them in an airtight container for up to three days.

    Peppermint Cookie on a plate

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

Tips

  • You can freeze these cookies for up to three months.
  • If you’d prefer to keep the cookies puffy then don’t flatten them before cooking. You can also replace the small amount of baking soda with a 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder. This will make smaller and rounder cookies. They will still be chewy, but a little more on the cakey side. 

Recipe Variation

  • You can add in chopped walnuts to the dough or extra chocolate chips. The mini ones work especially well and keep the nice fudgy texture.