Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
As I’ve mentioned multiple times, chocolate and peppermint is one of my favorite flavor combinations. In fact, I love it year round. It seems that it’s only acceptable to show this love of chocolate and peppermint during the winter months when it’s chilly outside. So I take full advantage and try to make as many chocolate/peppermint things as I can in the months of December and January.
I’ve seen a variety of similar cookies popping up in blogs and cookie swaps all around me. I decided to take a chocolate chip cookie recipe that I know produces a thick and chewy cookie since the addition of the candy cane crunch (or crushed up candy canes) would likely thin out a cookie as they baked.
I remember this chocolate chip cookie recipe specifically because it was the first time my eyes were awaken to the amazing flavor of bittersweet chocolate. Now I use it almost exclusively in my baking when chocolate chips are called for. I just love the flavor.
I used the leftover peppermint crunch that I got from KAF in the recipe and they came out amazingly. The peppermint and chocolate both shine and don’t overpower one another at all. This might just be my new favorite holiday cookie.
One Year Ago: Gingerbread Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Two Years Ago: Butter Ball Cookies
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Yield: 4.5 dozen
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, at room temp
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 cups plus 2 Tbsp flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup crushed candy canes or peppermint crunch
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (or more semi-sweet if you don't have bittersweet)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, or lightly butter them, and set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, or stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, or a large bowl if mixing by hand, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well and scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.
Sift the flour, baking soda and salt together in a small bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture, and mix until just combined. Fold in the peppermint pieces and chocolate chips.
Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, scoop cookie dough onto prepared pans. Bake 12-15 for smaller cookies, 14-17 for larger ones or until the tops are a light golden brown (mine came out after 12 minutes).
Cool the cookies on the sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Recipe adapted from In The Sweet Kitchen
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Jen – these look phenomenal! I am pretty sure I could eat the entire batch of your cupcakes in one sitting. Thank you so much for helping Krystal and Eric celebrate Cupcake’s arrival!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:21 pm
These were definitely dangerous. People were fighting over the last one at the party I took them too.
They look delicious! Love that little cupcake stand.
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:22 pm
I got it at Home Goods. Isn’t it super cute?
Nutella frosting?! Yes please!
Awww Jen, these are so gorgeous and a great way for you to get back in your baking habit!! Did you know that I had a big nutella phase during cupcake’s pregnancy…I need this frosting in my life!! Thank you for participating in my virtual baby shower. XXOO
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:23 pm
You definitely need this frosting in your life. Even if you just make it to eat with a spoon. It’s SO good. Good luck with the upcoming arrival of your cupcake! (my sister is pregnant and refers to her little one as her nugget!)
These look wonderful and that nutella cloud frosting sounds phenomenal!!
I used the nutella cloud frosting on my birthday cake last year and I was blown away at how perfectly the name matched the texture! I love how perfectly smooth and fluffy it is. And yours looks absolutely perfect on top of that cupcake!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:23 pm
I know – isn’t it the perfect name for this frosting. It’s amazing.
I’d also fill these with Nutella, and use a chocolate stout cake… mmmm…
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:24 pm
YUM! That’s a great idea.
Gorgeous cupcakes! It’s hard not to want a nutella cloud frosting! I just made cupcakes for the first time in awhile too, I forget how relaxing and fun cupcakes can be!
You had me at ‘Nutella’, Jen! Beautiful cuppies!
So cute and absolutely perfect!
Oh man…nutella frosting? These sound so good!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:25 pm
It tastes much better than it sounds. Trust me. I’m debating going to get the leftovers out of the fridge to snack on some…
Oh goodness, these look dangerous 😉 loving the nutella frosting!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:25 pm
They’re definitely dangerous. I was glad I took them to a friend’s house.
Those cupcakes are perfect!!!
Do i have to have a paddle and stand mixer? I only have a regular hand mixer at the moment.
beantownbaker — November 24th, 2013 @ 6:02 pm
A hand mixer probably would work just fine.