Description
Delight in the rich, fudgy texture of these Peppermint Brownie Cookies—a perfect holiday treat combining intense chocolate flavor with refreshing peppermint notes. These cookies feature a soft, chewy center reminiscent of brownies with a festive crunch from crushed candy canes and melty chocolate chips on top. Ideal for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or anytime you crave a comforting chocolate-peppermint dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Add-ins & Toppings
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup crushed candy canes or peppermint candies
Instructions
- Prep — heat the oven and get set: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and arrange a rack in the center position. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cookie removal and cleanup.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Whisk thoroughly until fully blended and free of streaks. For smoother batter, sift the cocoa powder beforehand to eliminate lumps.
- Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, pour in the melted unsalted butter, allowing it to cool for 1–2 minutes so your eggs don’t scramble. Stir in granulated sugar and brown sugar, mixing for about 60 seconds until the mixture looks glossy and most sugar granules have dissolved. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each to ensure a smooth batter. Stir in vanilla and peppermint extracts, tasting carefully as peppermint is potent.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: Add the dry ingredients to the wet in two batches. Fold gently with a spatula just until no flour streaks remain, avoiding overmixing to keep the cookies fudgy rather than cakey. Fold in semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly.
- Optional chilling: For thicker, fudgier cookies, cover the dough bowl and chill for 20–30 minutes to firm the butter and reduce spreading. If you’re short on time, you can skip this step—the cookies will be a bit thinner but still delicious.
- Portion and decorate: Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop or a rounded tablespoon to portion dough onto the prepared sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart. Press a few extra chocolate chips onto each dough ball and sprinkle crushed candy canes over the top to adhere during baking.
- Bake for texture preference: Bake in the preheated oven on the center rack for 10–12 minutes. For a soft, fudgy center, bake 10 minutes; for a slightly more set and cakey texture, bake 12 minutes. Look for cracked tops and set edges with centers just barely underbaked.
- Cool and store: Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, layering with parchment paper to prevent sticking. For longer storage, flash-freeze baked cookies before bagging and freeze up to 3 months, or freeze raw scooped dough for baking later—add 1-2 minutes to bake time if baking from frozen.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is optional but recommended for thicker cookies with less spreading.
- Do not overmix the dough once dry ingredients are added to avoid cakey texture; gentle folding preserves fudginess.
- Taste the batter cautiously after adding peppermint extract—it is very strong, so start with ½ teaspoon and adjust accordingly.
- The cookie centers should look slightly underbaked when removed from the oven to ensure they remain soft and chewy.
- Flash freezing raw dough balls allows for convenient baking fresh cookies anytime.
- Layer cooled cookies with parchment paper when storing to keep them from sticking together.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: peppermint brownie cookies, chocolate peppermint cookies, holiday cookies, fudgy cookies, holiday dessert, chocolate chip peppermint, Christmas cookies
