Finally!! A post that is NOT a gift guide! If you’re not into buying something for your friends/family because you have a small budget (or if you just feel like being nice and making something,) I have just the thing for you: Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Boxes! I tested this recipe for you earlier this week and omg y’all…these cookies are SO good! I’ve always been a fan of chocolate + mint, but the addition of semi-sweet chocolate chips and a white chocolate coating takes these to the next level. PLUS they look kind of fancy, but are super easy to make and people will think you are the sweetest ever for giving them something homemade.
Other pluses: You can snag the brown boxes I used in these pictures on Amazon for less than $1/piece and you can find plaid/colored/polka dot ribbon almost anywhere (I got mine on Amazon, too!) Other than that, I just added some little sprigs of greenery that I plucked from our Christmas tree, and lined the boxes with festive parchment paper before putting the cookies in.
*CLICK HERE* for a FREE download of these fun gift tags I made! I love making little freebies like this for all of you sweet readers – hope you enjoy!
CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT COOKIES
WHAT YOU NEED:
- 1/2 cup butter, (I use I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Sticks)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract (NOT mint extract!)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Tollhouse Cocoa Powder)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mini or regular sized semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 8 ounces vanilla candy-quik coating, chopped
- 3 large candy canes, crushed
WHAT TO DO:
- In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla and peppermint extract on high speed. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt on low speed – mix until just combined. The cookie dough will be very thick! Beat in the chocolate chips. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill for at least 3 hours and up to 3 days. (I was crunched for time and popped mine in the freezer for about 45 mins – either way, just make sure your dough is chilled before you bake!)
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Set aside a large baking sheet.
- With a cookie scoop, form 1.5 inch balls and place on the baking sheets.
- Bake the cookies for 8 minutes. The baked cookies will look soft in the centers when you remove them from the oven – this is fine! Mine were still domed up a little bit when I took them out of the oven, so I tapped them lightly with a spatula to help them “deflate.” Allow to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a sheet of waxed paper.
- Melt the chopped vanilla candy-quik coating (carefully!) in the microwave in a heat-proof bowl. Melt in 15 second increments, stirring after each increment until completely melted and smooth. Dip each completely cooled cookie halfway into the coating and place back onto the sheet of waxed paper. Allow the coating to set for 30 seconds before sprinkling the crushed candy canes on top of the coating. Repeat with the rest of the cooled cookies. Once set, package in your boxes to give away as treats, or enjoy them yourself!
Recipe adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction
