Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Few things feel more festive than the mix of cool peppermint and rich chocolate. These peppermint chocolate chip cookies are soft, chewy, and filled with melty chocolate chips and bits of crushed candy cane that sparkle on top. They bring a little holiday cheer to every bite - simple, familiar, and so easy to make.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- About 6 candy canes crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla; mix until combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips and crushed candy canes.
- Scoop 1-inch balls of dough onto the baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.
- Chill for 30 minutes.
- Bake for 9–11 minutes or until edges are golden.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Enjoy!
Notes
Chill the Dough for the Right Texture: Letting your dough rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes helps control spreading and deepens the flavor. The butter firms up slightly, giving you soft, chewy centers with perfectly crisp edges once baked.
Measure the Flour Correctly: Always spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife. Packing it down adds too much flour, which makes cookies dense and dry instead of tender and light.
Mix Until Just Combined: Once the dry ingredients are added, stop mixing as soon as the flour disappears. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies and less of that soft, bakery-style bite.
Press a Few Toppings Before Baking: Save a small handful of chocolate chips and crushed candy canes to press onto the tops of the dough balls before baking. It makes your cookies look extra pretty and ensures every bite has those festive pops of flavor.
Bake Until Edges Are Just Golden: Keep an eye on your cookies - pull them out when the edges are lightly golden and the centers still look soft. They’ll continue to set as they cool, giving you that perfect chewy texture.