Fudgy Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Fudgy Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are more than just cookies - they're a celebration of flavor, texture, and the joy of the holiday season. Think: a fudgy center that melts in your mouth, topped with the invigorating crunch of crushed candy canes. Embrace the magic of the holidays with every bite of these fudgy, chocolate mint delights!
Why should I make these chocolate peppermint cookies?
Apart from being ridiculously delicious, our Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are the perfect addition to your holiday repertoire for several reasons:
- Crowd-Pleaser: These rich, buttery cookies are guaranteed to steal the show at any holiday party or cookie platter. Imagine your favorite flourless chocolate cake in cookie form! Get ready to receive compliments and requests for the recipe!
- Giftable Goodness: Looking for a thoughtful, homemade gift? Package these cookies in festive boxes or jars, tie a ribbon around them, and voila - you've got a heartwarming gift that shows you care.
- Cozy Scents of the Season: The scent of chocolate and peppermint wafting through your kitchen as these cookies bake is a bonus holiday gift. It's like inviting the holiday spirit right into your home. Double up on the festive vibes by enjoying these cookies with a peppermint mocha.
What do I need to make these cookies?
These cookies are so incredibly easy to make. All you need is some simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry (except maybe the candy canes-those are pretty seasonal!):
- All-purpose flour
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cream Cheese
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Peppermint extract
- Candy canes
- Powdered sugar
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How do I make chocolate peppermint cookies?
- Whisk the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt) together in a mixing bowl.
- Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to cream the cream cheese and butter, then beat in the sugar.
- Add the eggs and peppermint extract to the cream cheese mixture.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients, ⅓ of the mixture at a time. Fold in ½ cup of crushed candy canes.
- Cover the bowl and chill for 30 minutes.
- Using a cookie scoop or your hands, make one-inch balls of dough, and roll each one in a shallow dish of powdered sugar. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Continue making cookie dough balls, spacing them 2" apart on the pan, until the sheet is full. Bake in a preheated oven for 7-8 minutes.
- Cool on the baking pan for 2-3 minutes, then press some candy cane pieces into the top of the warm cookies. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Why don't I need to grease the baking sheet?
There's no need to grease your baking sheet-the dough contains enough fat to keep the cookies from sticking, and greasing the pan will make the cookies spread more than intended. If you're concerned about the cookies sticking to the pan, line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Want more Christmas cookie recipes like this one?
Every year, I work hard to create nice tins and baskets of holiday goodies for my friends and family. We have two dozen of our favorite Christmas cookie recipes here, including edible cookie dough, salted caramel dark chocolate brownie cookies, and soft gingerbread cookies.
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Candy Cane Gooey Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 stick butter softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 6 candy canes crushed, divided
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the cream cheese and butter, scraping the sides as necessary. Add in the sugar, and beat until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs and peppermint extract.
- Mix in the dry ingredients in three additions, making sure to mix thoroughly after each addition. Fold in ½ cup of the crushed candy canes. Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
- Once dough is chilled, form into one-inch balls and roll in powdered sugar. Place on an ungreased baking sheet, about two-inches apart. Bake in preheated oven for 7-8 minutes, or until the cookies just begin to crack and crinkle on top. Let cool for 2-3 minutes on the cookie sheet, then press ¼ teaspoon of crushed candy canes on the top of each warm cookie. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Very tasty! I used a few more candy canes to make sure there was enough for the dough and on top. I'll use parchment paper or grease my baking sheet next time as the candy pieces melted and stuck to the sheet a little.
Can you freeze these for later?
Sure can! You can either freeze the dough, or freeze the baked cookie, no problem. 🙂
Just made these for the first time. They are seriously ooey-gooey. Very delish! I had chocolate cream cheese on hand that I needed to use up, so I substituted that instead of plain cream cheese. They look exactly as the picture shows, except I added a little green, red and white sugar sprinkles in with my candy cane for some extra sparkle 😉 I made a double batch, but I would maybe add a wee bit more peppermint extract next time to make it a little more minty. Will definitely make again! thanks for sharing 🙂
I wanted to make these but in your ingredients it lists 1 egg
Then in the instructions it says add in the eggS and peppermint extract
Seems like it should be more than one egg
Which thing is accurate?
One egg. 🙂
What yummy looking cookies! And your photos are gorgeous too! I am spreading some foodie love for you on Pinterest, Yummly, and SU! Now I just need to make these!
They look amazing. Can you give me the amount of butter in cup please.
A stick of butter is 1/2 cup. 🙂
One day I will be as organized of a blogger as you are and have Christmas recipes completed months and months before Christmas! My idol! These cookies are incredible and love that they don't use a cake mix!
Holy yum! No shame in excessive holiday baking..I think we all do it haha! And cookies are my favorite so I will definitely be stalking your blog the next 11 days! 🙂 and pinning this for sure!!
Do the crushed candy canes fall off if not pressed hard into the cookie?
You mean if you press them when the candy is cool? Then yes, I think they'd fall off. But they stay on nicely if you press them in when the cookie is still warm and soft. 🙂
I'm making these today! They look AMAZING!!!
I love this. I'm always looking for new cookie recipes to throw in with the tried and true family recipes!