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Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Filed under Bakery, Cookie, Holiday

Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies

Holiday cookie season is in high gear with another one of guest author Garrett McCord's delicious cookies. We ate these right after the photo was taken, super chocolate-y! ~Elise

If this cookie doesn't capture the seasonal taste of Christmas, then I don't know what does. These cookies are chocolatey and oh so fudgy; studded with bright colorful chunks of peppermint bark, they provide a cool cocoa sensation. This cookie matches perfectly with a tall glass of milk next to a well tinseled tree.

These peppermint bark chocolate cookies will be the first to be eaten at any cookie swap, and are bound to become a holiday staple after you take your first bite. Perfect for in-laws, holiday parties, or leaving on a plate for Santa, it's a cookie made to impress.

You can buy peppermint bark at any candy store or specialty food store, or you can simply make the peppermint bark yourself. If you want to make life even easier just add some white chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies in lieu of peppermint bark.

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Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of butter
  • 3/4 cup of brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup of white granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup of peppermint bark, broken into little chip size pieces

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2 Cream the butter and sugars together for about two minutes at medium speed or until well incorporated and light in color.

3 Add the egg and the vanilla extract until well incorporated, about a minute. Be sure to scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl halfway through.

4 Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder. Add to the butter mixture slowly, and beating at medium speed, stopping once all of it is incorporated (do not overmix).

5 Fold in the peppermint bark chips.

6 Take small spoonfuls of the dough and roll into one inch sized balls and place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for -12 minutes. Let cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

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Posted by Garrett McCord on Dec 11, 2007 and indexed Chocolate, Christmas Cookie, Cookie, Holiday, Peppermint

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Comments

These cookies really are outrageously good. Garrett worked hard to perfect the recipe and we are all quite delighted with the results. If there is anything I might add it would be a half teaspoon of peppermint extract, if you wanted more peppermint flavor in the cookies. If not, just enjoy the chocolate-y-ness with the bursts of peppermint from the peppermint bark.

Posted by: Elise on December 11, 2007 12:43 AM

OMG, those look really good. I love candy canes (which I can't find here) but mixed with a chocolate cookie...I think even better than bark!! Yum.

Posted by: Sara, Ms. Adventures in Italy on December 11, 2007 3:40 AM

I feel like the emperor has no clothes...I don't see butter or sugars listed in the ingredients. I hope you'll correct and repost, because these look great!

Posted by: Anne on December 11, 2007 5:57 AM

I got everyone's comments about the missing butter and sugar in the recipe. Sorry about that! Just a little flub when this was posted very early in the morning.

Ahem, (that was my fault) sorry about that! ~Elise

Posted by: Garrett on December 11, 2007 8:03 AM

Peppermint bark?
Fudgy cookies??
Peppermint bark AND fudgy cookies??? Mixed together????
Madness! Sheer madness!!!
(and bliss)

Yum :)

Posted by: jonathan on December 11, 2007 10:56 AM

I am enjoying Garrett's posts, especially during this time of year. The photo of the cookies is to die for. But I guess I am the only one who dislikes the combination of chocolate and peppermint together. I must be crazy, I know!

Posted by: Rose on December 11, 2007 11:29 AM

Chocolately...fudgey...and pairs well with milk? Sign me up ;-).

Posted by: Dana on December 11, 2007 1:20 PM

As Garrett promised, these flew right off the plate. Really tasty ---- thanks!

Posted by: Stacy on December 13, 2007 3:32 AM

If you are taking the short cut and using white chocolate chips and candy pieces, how much of each would you recommend using? Thanks!

Maybe around a half cup of each, though I would lean more towards more white chocolate. Candy bits sometimes have a habit of getting melty as well, so it may hurt the appearance, but not the taste (I ate one where a large chunk of candy melted and browned a bit and it tasted just fine). You can follow Elise's idea and use peppermint extract with or in lieu of candy pieces as well. ~Garrett

Posted by: Kate on December 13, 2007 8:21 AM

Mmmm, these sound really tasty! Perfect for the holidays. I'm thinking of doubling the recipe. Do you think that the bake time will be different if I were to put the mix in a baking dish and bake them like brownies? I'm guessing about half an hour or so. Maybe mix some candy cane pieces into a chocolate frosting and spreading it over the top. Uh oh, my sweet tooth is on overload.

Honestly, this is a cookie recipe and to develop into brownies is something else entirely. I suggrest just using the brownie recipe on this site or some other you enjoy and adding the peppermint bark to it. If the recipe does work well as a brownie, give it a try and let us know how it goes! ~Garrett

Posted by: David Daniels on December 14, 2007 1:32 PM

These cookies are fantastic! I made a batch of the semi-sweet chocolate bark last night, and promptly used it to make cookies. Outrageous! They were so good that I got up this morning, and made a batch of white chocolate bark just so I could make more cookies! They are both amazingly good, and a hit with all my friends!

Posted by: Erin on December 15, 2007 1:26 PM

I made these for a cookie swap this weekend--they turned out beautifully! I used Trader Joe's peppermint bark (5 bars=~2 cups, enough for a double batch), and used 1/2 vanilla extract, and 1/2 peppermint extract. I nearly killed my Kitchenaid mixer trying to do 2 batches at once, but it was worth it. Thanks for the great recipe!

Posted by: Betsy on December 17, 2007 1:17 PM

These are my new favorite cookie! Thanks!

Posted by: stacy on December 17, 2007 2:56 PM

These are sooooo good! I absolutely love chocolate peppermint bark, and think the idea of a chocolate cookie with peppermint bark in it is sheer genius. I made a batch of the white peppermint bark and then the cookies...in fact the last sheet is baking right now...of course I've already sampled a couple! They really are great...I think next time I may take Elise's suggestion and add a bit more peppermint extract, if I feel like having extra minty cookies.

Posted by: Karly on December 17, 2007 9:44 PM

New favorite, they were a hit at the cookie exchange!

Posted by: janna on December 25, 2007 6:50 PM

These were a big hit! I used crushed candy canes & chocolate chips instead of peppermint bark. Use 1:1 ratio of them to get enough candy cane in each cookie--and be sure to break the canes really small--big chunks of candy cane oozed out and burned while baking.

Thanks for the recipe!

Posted by: Susan on December 27, 2007 12:37 PM

Good recipe, my kids loved them. We will be adding those cookies to our favorite cookie recipes. Here is a peppermint cookie recipe I think you will enjoy.

Posted by: logan on December 27, 2007 3:43 PM

Hey there, I have been making a very similar cookie for a few years, using Andes mints peppermint baking chips which work Fabulously; seasonally in grocery store; but I can usually find them year round at Walmart! Throw in some chocolate chips/chunks and volia! This recipe looks like it will make a fatter more plump cookie as mine spread into discs; so thank you for your recipe I have wanted to find one that was "rounder!'

Posted by: jd sprague on March 17, 2008 5:47 PM

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