Description
These Chewy Chocolate Mint Cookies masterfully combine rich, velvety chocolate with refreshing mint in a perfectly soft and chewy cookie. Ideal as a delightful snack or charming dessert, these cookies offer a luxurious flavor balance, an irresistible chewy texture, and are quick and easy to prepare using simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
Add-ins
- 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
- Optional: ½ cup crushed peppermint candies
Instructions
- Prepare Your Dry Ingredients: Whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl to ensure even distribution of ingredients for consistent texture and flavor.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. This step incorporates air, creating the base for the chewy texture.
- Add Eggs and Peppermint Extract: Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the pure peppermint extract to bind the ingredients and infuse the dough with fresh mint aroma.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough and ensure tenderness.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips and, if using, the crushed peppermint candies to distribute them evenly throughout the dough for gooey, minty pockets.
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes to meld flavors and prevent excessive spreading, maintaining the chewy texture during baking.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Scoop dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft. Let cookies cool on the sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter to ensure proper creaming and better cookie texture.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough cookies due to gluten development.
- Chill the dough to enhance flavor and control cookie spread for perfect chewiness.
- Measure flour using the spoon-and-level method to avoid dry cookies caused by excess flour.
- Watch baking time carefully; remove cookies when edges are firm and centers look slightly soft for optimal chewiness.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days with a slice of bread to retain moisture.
- Freeze baked cookies or dough for up to 3 months; thaw before baking or serving.
- Warm cookies briefly before serving to restore soft, chewy texture.
- Adjust peppermint extract quantity to vary mint flavor intensity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: chocolate mint cookies, chewy cookies, mint chocolate, holiday cookies, easy cookie recipe, chocolate chip cookies, peppermint cookies