​Get ready to love these Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies. The peppermint flavor is perfect for the holiday season - you'll want to eat the whole batch! Put on the holiday movies and make this perfect treat. You're about to make the best cookies of the year!
These cookies are like eating a cup of hot chocolate but with a chewy texture. And those crushed candy canes on the top of each cookie, you're sure to crave more. I've made these for holiday treats and cookie swaps, and they're always a hit.
This cookie recipe is one of my favorites when it comes to baked cookies during the winter months. I can't explain it, but the flavor of the peppermint hot cocoa cookies fills my belly, heart, and taste buds with warmth and happiness!
Be sure to try my Black Cocoa Cookies and this Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie for more sweet treats! Or try a Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha Recipe!
Ingredients
- Sugar - Used to make the cookies sweet.
- Flour - The main dry ingredient used to make cookie dough.
- Cocoa powder - Adds flavor and coloring to the mixture.
- Brown sugar - For added sweetness.
- Baking soda - Gives the cookies their texture and chew.
- Salt - Just a pinch.
- Salted butter - Adds richness to the base. If you have unsalted butter add an extra pinch of salt.
- Egg - To bind the ingredients together.
- Peppermint Extract - For peppermint flavor.
- Vanilla - For vanilla flavor.
- Chocolate chips - These are used to make chocolate ganache.
- Heavy cream - Thins out the ganache.
- Candy canes - Crushed and added to the top of the chewy cookies.
- Dehydrated mini marshmallows - These are the type that come in packets of hot cocoa mix. You can find marshmallow bits in most grocery stores. They are perfect for a tasty topping.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add parchment paper to two cookie sheets.
Step One: Mix the flour, sugars, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
Step Two: Add the vanilla extract, egg, and butter. Mix until it is smooth.
Step Three: Use a cookie scoop to make 18 cookies.
Step Four: Place them on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. They will be firm around the edges but still soft in the middle. Press down gently to flatten the cookies. Cool completely.
Step Five: Make the ganache and add it to the center of the cookies.
Step Six: Top with marshmallows and crushed candy canes.
Top Tip
After baking and cooling for minute or two press down gently with your fingers to flatten the cookies. This helps the ganache stay on the top.
Substitutions
- Dark chocolate chips - Change out the semi-sweet chocolate chips and use dark chocolate for the ganache.Â
- Peppermint stick - You can use any type of peppermint candies to put on top of the cookie.
Variations
The great thing about making homemade cookies is adding what you want when you want! Have fun changing up the flavors! I've made this recipe several times and I like to vary the topping each time. It keeps them new and unique.
- Peppermint chips - Instead of using regular chocolate chips, use flavored ones.
- Marshmallows - If you don't have the tiny dehydrated marshmallows, Cut regular mini marshmallows in half and place them cut side down on the cookie instead.Â
- Sandwich cookies - Make these into sandwich cookies by putting the ganache and topping between two cookies instead of on top. You can also try adding marshmallow fluff between two cookies.
See this Hot Cocoa Mug Cake for more crazy good flavors!
Equipment
To make these perfect cookies, you'll need a medium bowl, mixer, baking sheet, wire rack or cooling rack, and a measuring cup.
Storage
Don't let these hot chocolate peppermint cookies get stale! Once they've cooled after baking, add the leftover cookies to an airtight container and store them that way. You can store them at room temperature without worry.
If you want to freeze them, it's simple to do! Simply add them to a freezer-safe bag or container and save them for later!
Common Questions
Absolutely! The peppermint combination with the chewy chocolate cookies texture makes this a great Christmas cookie candidate. I make them during the holidays every year!Â
They will. This is why it's important to pay attention to the recipe card and the directions below.
The cookies will be barely set when they are taken out of the oven, and will continue to firm up as they cool.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
📖 Recipe
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ cup flour
- â…“ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- â…“ cup salted butter very soft or melted
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Peppermint Ganache
- ½ cup chocolate chips semisweet, milk, or dark
- 2 oz heavy cream
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
Topping
- ¼ cup candy canes crushed
- ¼ cup dehydrated mini marshmallows (aka marshmallow bits)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugars, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the egg, vanilla, and butter. Mix until smooth.
- Scoop 18 cookies.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until barely set. Press down the cookies gently to flatten the tops.
Topping
- Combine the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a small microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat for additional 15 second increments until the chocolate is 75% melted. At that point stir until the rest of the chocolate melts. Stir in the peppermint extract. Let cool to room temperature.
- Top the cookies with the ganache. Sprinkle with the crushed candies and marshmallows.
Nutrition
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