Delight in these festive Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies, combining rich chocolate chips with a refreshing peppermint twist and a crunchy candy cane topping. Perfect for holiday celebrations or any time you crave a sweet, minty treat.
Total Time:27 minutes
Yield:24 servings
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup crushed candy canes
Instructions
Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and easy cleanup.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps to create a tender cookie texture.
Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated. Stir in the vanilla extract and peppermint extract for flavor.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the butter and sugar mix, stirring until just combined to avoid overmixing.
Include Chocolate and Candy Canes: Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips and crushed candy canes evenly throughout the dough for that festive peppermint chocolate burst.
Form Cookies: Drop spoonfuls of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie to allow spreading.
Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown and the centers are set.
Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely, ensuring they set properly and maintain their shape.
Notes
For stronger peppermint flavor, increase peppermint extract to 3/4 teaspoon but be cautious as too much can be overpowering.
Crush candy canes finely for a more consistent texture or keep them chunkier for added crunch.
Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
For a festive touch, drizzle melted white chocolate over cooled cookies before serving.
