For our Christmas getogethers, I wanted to bake a cookie that incorporated peppermint, since that’s one of the flavours that makes me think immediately of Christmas (eggnog and gingerbread being the other two). A friend recently shared a great orange mocha crinkle cookie recipe with me so I tinkered with it to turn it into a peppermint treat just in time for the holidays.
On their own, the cookies have a very subtle chocolate and peppermint taste, but when you add the chocolate drizzle, the peppermint taste gets a little more intense. If you want something light for a coffee break, then feel free to omit the chocolate topping.
ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted
- 1 tablespoon peppermint extract
- 1 tablespoon brewed espresso, cooled
- 4 eggs, room temperature
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- powdered sugar
- 6 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted
- 1 tablespoon peppermint extract
directions
- In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, combine granulated sugar, vegetable oil, melted chocolate and peppermint extract. Beat at medium speed until well blended.
- Add espresso to the sugar mixture and beat on medium until well blended.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
- Add flour, baking powder and salt to the sugar and egg mixture. Beat at low speed until soft dough forms. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place two cups of powdered sugar in shallow bowl (you can add more sugar to the bowl as you use it up) and set aside.
- Remove dough from refrigerator and shape into one-inch balls. Roll balls in powdered sugar to coat. (It's easiest if you roll all the dough balls first and then roll them all in the powdered sugar).
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper and place the balls two inches apart on the sheets.
- Bake each sheet for 12 to 15 minutes (do not overbake or the cookies will get hard).
- Remove cookies from baking sheets and cool on wire racks.
- Combine the melted chocolate and peppermint extract together.
- Drizzle peppermint chocolate over cooled cookies. Continue cooling the cookies on wire racks to let the chocolate drizzle set.