Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

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Say hello to your new favorite holiday cookie: chocolate peppermint crinkle cookies! So rich, so decadent, and so dreamy, these snowy cookies remind me of a winter wonderland.

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

Crackled tops give way to soft and fudgy centers, flecked with crushed peppermint candy canes that melt ever so slightly into the dough while baking. Finished with a generous roll in powdered sugar (because the more, the merrier!), these crinkle cookies are Christmas bliss!

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

Melt Chocolate – Combine unsweetened chocolate and butter in a bowl and microwave in bursts, stirring until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.

Make Dough – Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, brown sugar, and eggs. Add cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until smooth. Fold in dry ingredients just until incorporated, then fold in crushed candy canes – the mixture will resemble brownie batter. Let dough stand at room temperature for 10 minutes to cool slightly.

Scoop Dough – Spray a medium (1 1/2-inch) cookie scoop with nonstick spray and scoop balls of dough. Roll first in granulated sugar, then in powdered sugar to coat. Place two inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.

Bake – Bake at 325°F, rotating pans halfway through, for 14 to 15 minutes, until cookies are puffed and cracked, with edges set. Cool cookies for 15 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Perfect Crinkle Cookies

Rolling the cookie dough in granulated sugar before coating in powdered sugar helps the cookies crackle as they bake, and keeps the powdered sugar coating in place, for perfect crinkles with every batch!

Make Ahead Crinkle Cookies

Make the dough in advance, roll into balls and freeze on a baking sheet for 1 hour, then transfer to an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Just before baking, roll the cookie dough in granulated sugar, coat in powered sugar, and bake as directed, adding 1-2 minutes to baking time.

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

More holiday cookie recipes you’ll love:

Did you try this Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookie Recipe? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

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Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

  • Author: Laura Kasavan
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 28 cookies
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Say hello to your new favorite holiday cookie: chocolate peppermint crinkle cookies! So rich, so decadent, and so dreamy, these cookies are Christmas bliss.


Ingredients

Cookies

  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 tsp pure peppermint extract
  • 4 peppermint candy canes, crushed

For rolling

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Place chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove and stir. Continue microwaving and stirring in 15 second intervals until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and peppermint extract in a large bowl until combined; add cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until smooth. Fold in flour mixture just until incorporated, then fold in crushed candy canes. Let dough stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  4. Place granulated sugar and powdered sugar in separate shallow bowls. Use a cookie scoop coated with nonstick spray to scoop 1 1/2-inch balls of dough. Roll in granulated sugar to coat, then coat generously in powdered sugar. Place two inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
  5. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, for 14 to 15 minutes, until cookies are puffed and cracked, with edges set. Let cookies cool for 15 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

Rolling the cookies in granulated sugar first before rolling in powdered sugar helps the cookies crackle and keeps the powered sugar coating in place.

Keywords: Chocolate, Peppermint, Crinkle Cookies, Holiday Cookies

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41 Comments

  1. Hi, I just finished baking these cookies – for a friend who is attending a “friendsmas” tomorrow. My friend loves chocolate and peppermint and I offered to bake something for her to bring to the gathering.

    The recipe process was spot-on. While I was crushing the peppermint candy, I ended up with a good amount of peppermint candy “powder”, so I added it to the 1/2 cup of powdered sugar to use for the final rolling. The dough got rather stiff before I added the crushed peppermint candy (it’s winter, the house is 60 degrees, and the chocolate cooled rather quickly). I used a sturdier spatula to fold in the peppermint candy and all was good.

    The cookies baked within the recommended time, I allowed to cool on the baking pan before transferring to the cooling rack.

    Yes, I just had to try one and may I say – OUTSTANDING!!! Chocolatey and minty, fudgy center, crunchy peppermint candy and the sugary (and minty, in my case) coating. A perfect combination of flavors and texture.

    Thank you for this recipe – will part of my baking “repertoire” in the future.

    I have also baked your Red Velvet Crinkle recipe many times – everyone loves them.

    1. Thank you so much, Lan! I really appreciate your feedback and adding some peppermint to the coating is brilliant. Can’t wait to try that next time myself! 🙂 Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!