Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies (Printable)
Soft chocolate chip cookies lifted with peppermint and crushed candy for a festive, minty finish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
09 - 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
→ Mix-ins
10 - 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
11 - 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes, plus additional for garnish if desired
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Blend in the vanilla extract and peppermint extract.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until integrated.
06 - Fold in the chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies.
07 - Portion tablespoon-sized scoops of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving approximately 2 inches between each cookie.
08 - If desired, sprinkle extra crushed peppermint candies over the tops of the dough balls before baking.
09 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden while the centers remain soft.
10 - Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack until completely cooled.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You can sneak in leftover holiday candy and nobody will notice—they’ll be too distracted by the chocolatey, minty magic.
- The recipe is fast, so you get fresh cookies cooling in less than half an hour, even after a long day.
02 -
- If you overmix the dough, the cookies turn out tough instead of soft and chewy—I found out the hard way.
- Crushing the peppermint candies can send tiny shards flying across your kitchen, so use a thick bag and a heavy rolling pin.
03 -
- Bake one test cookie first to dial in the perfect timing for your oven.
- Sprinkling a touch of flaky sea salt on top before baking adds a grown-up twist that always starts a conversation.