Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Peppermint Cookies

The name is long, friends. And so is the taste. It kind of swirls around in your mouth like hot cocoa that's been swizzled with a peppermint stick. However, my spell check is not a fan, of the name at least. In the world of computerized grammar, chocolate and chocolate are not meant to go together apparently. But in my world, and in my kitchen, they go together just fine. In fact, chocolate + chocolate = utter and total bliss. Am I right, ladies? Add in a splash of peppermint extract and a topping of crunchy candy canes, and we've got ourselves a cookie that would give any sweet Girl Scout a run for her money!

I found a jar of Peppermint Snow at my local Williams Sonoma store. You may think it's a bit silly to pay $10 for something you can make yourself for a fraction of that cost, but your kitchen table may thank you (I've dented mine by pounding candies on it), and the jar contains just pure, evenly crushed candies...no powdered stuff, like I get when I make it myself. The other thing you should know is that a little goes a long way. I'm pretty sure that one jar will get me through the whole season, depending on how much peppermint bark I end up making.

So back to the cookies, I had made a huge batch earlier in the month and froze the rest in a giant, well-wrapped log (which I took a photo of, but was fully inappropriate looking so I spared you). It's so easy to bake cookies when you have them ready to slice from the freezer. And it's nice also to bake off smaller batches at a time, that way nobody is tempted to just keep eating cookies all day. Ahem. These rich cookies are perfect for giving out to the neighbors or for your annual cookie exchange. Or for dipping into your seventh cup of coffee (that you've topped with whipped cream for good measure).

Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Peppermint Cookies
Printable Recipe

Chocolate, chocolate chips and peppermint? You can’t go wrong with these delectable cookies! Eat them straight out of the oven with a tall glass of milk. They’re exactly the kind of cookie that Santa would want on his plate, don't you think?

Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks (or chips)
Small handful of crushed peppermint candies, or peppermint snow

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Place butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer) and beat together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and peppermint extract.

3. In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to the butter mixture and beat until combined.

4. Stir in the chocolate chunks until evenly mixed.

5. Drop dough in 2 tablespoon portions (about 1/8 of a cup) 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Sprinkle crushed peppermint over the top of each cookie.

6. Bake for 6-9 minutes, or until cookies are set on the edges. Carefully remove from baking sheet using a wide spatula and cool on wire racks.