Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies

Name: Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 145 min
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter; 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips; 1¼ cups packed light brown sugar; 3 eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste ((or vanilla extract)); 1½ cups all-purpose flour; ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; ¼ teaspoon salt; 24 dark chocolate wafers (, I used Ghirardelli dark chocolate wafers (can also use chocolate chips)); ¼ cup crushed candy canes

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These Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies bake up soft, thick and taste just like hot chocolate. The tops are frosted with dark chocolate and then topped with crushed candy canes. These cookies are perfect to enjoy all season long!

“Hey, Santa Claus, hey Santa Clause…hey Santa Claus, Santa Clause, Santa Clause…”

So I’m sure that’s a vague song, but I just watched the movie “Christmas Vacation” a few days ago (for the millionth time) and have that song stuck in my head when Clark and Rusty are going Christmas shopping.

This is one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. Yet every time I watch it, I’m become more aware of how old that movie is!

I was still fairly young when it came out, but now, it’s so obvious that it’s dated. And not to slam the movie, because I love it! But there are just so many little things, like the cash registers in Marshall Field’s (which no longer exists in Chicago, it’s now Macy’s) are super outdated, and the cars, and the clothes…man I feel old!

But anyways, I think you get my point. It’s a classic Christmas movie and one of the best, at least in my opinion. I also love the movie “Home Alone.” The house used in the movie is actually in a northern suburb of Chicago, so the hubster and I are going to take a drive and see it this year. I get excited over the little things, can you tell?

Now that I’ve rambled off onto Christmas movie wonderland (I could really talk about this all day, though), I think I need to start talking about how delicious these Peppermint Hot Chocolate cookies are!

These Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies bake up soft, thick and taste just like hot chocolate. The tops are frosted with dark chocolate and then topped with crushed candy canes. These cookies are perfect to enjoy all season long!

If you love hot chocolate as much as I do, then you’ll flip over these Peppermint Cookies. No joke. I think I did a happy dance and forced the hubster to try one (or five) of these cookies before giving it the official seal of approval.

And the recipe couldn’t be easier. But you knew that was coming, right? The hardest part is waiting for the dough to chill, which is mandatory with these cookies.

So the next time you want to bake a delicious Christmas cookie, serve the perfect treat alongside that steaming mug of hot chocolate, or just feeling like indulging your chocolate sweet tooth, these chewy Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies were made for you!

Ingredients in Hot Chocolate Cookies

One bite and your taste buds will be amazed. This recipes calls for double the chocolate, which equals double the yum in my book. And the candy cane topping is suitable to peppermint lovers everywhere!

Unsalted butter
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Brown sugar
Eggs
Vanilla bean paste (or extract)
All-purpose flour
Cocoa powder
Salt
Chocolate wafers
Candy canes

How to Make Hot Chocolate Cookies

In a saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate chips. Set aside to cool.
In a bowl, cream together the brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla bean paste.
Gently pour in the cooled chocolate mixture and beat on low speed.
Stir in the remaining ingredients.
Cover bowl and refrigerate for about 2 hours, or until dough is firm.
When dough is chilled, drop onto a baking sheet.
Bake the cookies until the edges start to crack and the middle is slightly firm.
Remove from the oven and place one chocolate wafer on top of each cookie. Let set for 2-3 minutes, and then gently swirl with a knife to frost.
Top each cookie with crushed candy canes.

Do I Have to Chill the Cookie Dough?

Yes! The first time I attempted these, I skipped that step, and I ended up with thin, blobs of cookies. They tasted delicious, but were not suitable for photographing. So, please, learn from my mistake and chill the dough. It’ll result in these puffy, thick, gorgeous cookies.

How to Store These Cookies

Once cooled, the cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. The cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To thaw, place on your counter.

Tips for Making Hot Chocolate Cookies

Once you add the flour to the cookie dough, mix until just combined and no further. You don’t want to over work the dough!
You’re welcome to omit the crushed peppermint candies, if desired. I know not everyone likes minty desserts.
I used semi-sweet chocolate chips in this recipe since I didn’t want the cookies to be too rich, but you’re welcome to use milk or dark chocolate chips if that’s all you have on hand.

Looking for more easy Christmas cookie recipes? I’ve got you covered!

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