Peppermint Bark Cookies Recipe
Peppermint Bark Cookies are a delightful holiday treat that perfectly combine rich chocolate and the festive crunch of peppermint candies. These cookies feature a buttery dough studded with chocolate chips and crushed peppermint, creating a deliciously sweet and minty flavor that’s perfect for the holiday season. Easy to make and guaranteed to impress, these cookies are a wonderful addition to any festive cookie platter.
- Author: Jeannette
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 25-30 minutes
- Yield: About 30 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and packed brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, which creates a light texture for the cookies.
- Mix in Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, ensuring everything is well incorporated for consistent flavor and binding.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt, evenly distributing the leavening agent and seasoning in the flour.
- Mix Dry into Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet butter mixture, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough, which can toughen the cookies.
- Add Chocolate Chips and Peppermint: Fold in the chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies evenly throughout the dough to ensure every bite has the signature chocolate and peppermint flavors.
- Form Cookies on Sheet: Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spaced apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the cookie edges turn golden brown, indicating they are perfectly baked.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your peppermint bark cookies once fully cooled!
Notes
- You can substitute crushed candy canes or other peppermint candies depending on what you have available.
- Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for better creaming and texture.
- Do not overmix the dough after adding flour to keep cookies tender.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Freezing the dough is possible; shape into logs and freeze to slice and bake later.
Keywords: peppermint bark cookies, holiday cookies, chocolate peppermint cookies, festive cookies, peppermint candy cookies, chocolate chip cookies