These indulgent chocolate peppermint cookies combine two festive flavors of cocoa and peppermint to create a simply irresistible treat that's perfect for taking to holiday parties or gifting to friends and family. They are the best cookies to make this Christmas that are chewy, easy to make, and extremely moorish!
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
Chocolate peppermint cookies are the perfect cookie recipe to whip up for the festive season! The cookie dough comes together quickly and easily, with just a few simple ingredients like gluten-free flour, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, eggs, peppermint extract, and dark chocolate chips.
After they’re chilled and baked, these cookies will be soft and chewy on the inside with a nice crunch on the outside. The pop of peppermint flavor keeps these cookies from being too sweet and makes them an ideal treat for the holidays.
When it comes to gifting, these cookies make a delicious present for friends and family. Package them in festive bags with a ribbon and decorate them with peppermint candies and chocolate chips. They’re sure to put a smile on anyone’s face!
With their flavor and texture, it’s no wonder why they’ve been a holiday classic for years! So, gather your ingredients, preheat the oven, and bake a batch today - you won’t regret it. Enjoy!
And if you're looking for more tasty festive cookies to prepare this holiday season, check out our recipes for Holiday blondies, pumpkin cookies, or no-bake haystack cookies. They're all sure to be a hit.
🍽 Key Ingredients
The key to these exceptionally tasty Christmas cookies is the peppermint extract that gives them the classic holiday flavor. The addition of cocoa powder elevates this recipe to a whole new level, making it truly irresistible!
Gluten-free flour - This recipe is made for gluten-free eaters, so it uses a special blend of gluten-free flour to bind the cookies together. Bob's Red Mill is my go-to gluten-free flour brand for quality.
Cocoa powder - The cocoa powder gives the cookies a rich chocolate flavor and helps to create a pleasant texture. Use Dutch process cocoa powder if you can get it as it has a milder flavor with a darker color.
Baking powder - The baking powder helps the cookies to rise and gives them a nice lift.
Coconut sugar - For sweetener, this recipe calls for coconut sugar. It's a great natural alternative to white granulated sugar and has a low glycemic index.
Peppermint extract - This is what sets these cookies apart and gives them that distinct peppermint flavor!
Salt - A little salt helps to balance out the sweetness and bring out all the flavors.
Olive oil - Olive oil makes for a healthier alternative to butter while also helping to keep the cookies moist.
Eggs - Eggs are essential for binding the other ingredients together and helping to form a dough.
Vanilla extract - Vanilla gives the cookies a delicious aroma and enhances all the other flavors.
Powdered sugar - The powdered sugar is optional, but it's a great way to dust the cookies off and add some extra sweetness.
Substitutions
Olive oil
You can use unsalted butter as a substitute for the olive oil in this recipe.
Coconut sugar
If you don't have coconut sugar, you can use white or light brown sugar instead.
Gluten-free flour
This recipe calls for gluten-free flour, but you can use all-purpose flour if that is what you have on hand.
Baking powder
Baking soda can be used as a replacement for baking powder at a ratio of 1:4. So, in this recipe, half a teaspoon of baking soda will be enough.
🔪 How to make
Making these chocolate peppermint cookies couldn't be easier! With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, this recipe is the perfect way to make a batch of warm and delicious treats for any occasion. Just follow the steps below, and you'll have freshly baked cookies in no time.
Preparations
Cooking instructions
- Whisk the coconut sugar and olive oil in a large bowl until blended, then beat in the cocoa powder, eggs, peppermint extract, and vanilla extract.
- Make the flour mixture by mixing the gluten-free flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until completely blended.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for 2 hours to chill.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, scoop the peppermint and chocolate cookie dough onto the baking sheet about 1-inch in size and spaced 1-2 inches apart.
- (Optional) sprinkle powdered sugar lightly over the cookies.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until they're puffed up and springy.
- Remove the tray from the oven and let the cookies cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
💭 Cooking tips
Make them perfectly round
Once the cookies are baked, you can shape them with a rounded cookie cutter while they're still warm.
Chilling the dough
The chilling process helps the cookie dough to become firm so that they do not spread too much during baking and become flat.
📖 Recipe Variations
You can customize your cookies with different types of chocolates or decorate them with chopped candy canes for a unique twist.
Double chocolate peppermint cookies
For pure chocolate indulgence, mix in ½ cup of mini chocolate chips to the cookie dough mixture. You can use dark, white, or semi-sweet chocolate chips for this recipe.
Chocolate peppermint cookies with crushed candy canes
Sprinkle ½ cup of crushed peppermint candies into the mixture, and use one crushed candy cane to decorate your cookies as soon as they are baked to give them a delicious crunchy texture.
Chocolate-dipped peppermint cookies
Melt ½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in the microwave - and when the cookies are cooled, dip half of each cookie in the melted chocolate and refrigerate until the chocolate sets.
🥗 What to serve with
These chocolate peppermint cookies are perfect to serve with a hot cup of coffee or tea and make for a great after-dinner treat with some eggnog.
You can also use them as a topping for ice cream or serve them with fresh fruit and yogurt for a healthy breakfast.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Can I make these cookies without peppermint extract?
Yes, you can definitely make them without the peppermint extract. Just replace it with an extra teaspoon of vanilla extract, and you're good to go.
Can I freeze the dough for later?
Yes, simply make the cookie dough balls and freeze them on the lined baking sheet until they're firm, then transfer them to an airtight container. You can bake the dough balls from frozen but be sure to add an extra 4 to 5 minutes on the timer.
🧊 Storing
These cookies are great for batch baking because they last for ages and can be stored at room temperature, in the fridge, or frozen.
Room temperature - Once the cookies have cooled, store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days in a cupboard.
Fridge - Any leftover cookies can also be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Freezer - You can also freeze them in a freezer bag or an airtight container for up to 2 months.
🍳 Related recipes
For more delicious recipes, check out our blog! We have a variety of festive recipes for you to try, from 30 easy Christmas cookie recipes with few ingredients to 25 easy apple dessert recipes with few ingredients to bake during the festive period.
And if you want some delicious side dishes to pair with that succulent ham, take a look at our 30 easy side dishes for ham!
👪 Serving size
This recipe makes approximately 24-30 small cookies. You could easily double or triple the recipe if you want to make larger batches.
These delicious cookies are a sure crowd-pleaser and can be customized to suit any taste. Whether you're looking for something sweet, minty, or chewy, these chocolate peppermint cookies have it all! With a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can have delicious festive chewy cookies that everyone will love. Enjoy!
📋 Recipe
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Ingredients
- 2-½ cups gluten-free flour - or all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups coconut sugar
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup olive oil
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- powdered sugar - optional
Instructions
- Combine sugar and oil in a large bowl until blended then beat in cocoa powder, eggs, peppermint and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, combine gluten-free flour, baking powder and salt.
- Slowly beat dry ingredients into wet ingredients until completely blended.
- Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drop spoonfuls of dough about 1-inch in size onto sheet. Spaced 1-2 inches apart.
- (Optional) sprinkle powdered sugar lightly over cookies.
- Bake 12-15 minutes until springy.
- Cool and enjoy.
Robin Rue (@massholemommy)
Those sound SO good. I need to try them 🙂
Terri Ramsey Beavers
These look and sound delicious. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe. It looks like I have everything except gluten free flour which I don't really need, to make these. I guess regular flour will work as well. We are not gluten free here :).
Margarita Ibbott
These cookies look delicious. I'll be giving them a try.
Donna L. Ward
Oh My Gosh - I can smell and even think I can taste these yummy looking chunks - and I may even be able to eat them sense gluten and mostly sugar free - I will try these out! thank you 🙂
local adventurer
we used some bob mill flours a while back when we were trying out the paleo diet for a month. 🙂 though i've never been a fan of gluten free desserts, these look amazing!
Rashell Abril
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookie? Oh no! I'm drooling. I will definitely try this at home.
Amy J
These look so yummy! Thank you for sharing! I have everything to make them, except coconut sugar...is there a substitute you would recommend?
Kimberly Grabinski
Cane sugar will work!
Amy J
Thanks! 🙂
Michelle F.
Those look really good and so chocolaty. I love that they are gluten free.
jak
Can you use cane sugar instead of coconut?
Kimberly Grabinski
Yes, absolutely!
Michelle Hwee
yummmy!! This looks so good! 🙂 I would love to try these out one day. I have never tried gluten free cookies before. The peppermint hot chocolate sounds amazing for a nice, cold day. Something about that combination just reminds me of the holidays and the great holiday cheer 🙂
Myrabev
oh good lord i just died and went to heavy these cookies look so delicious I want some like everyday. Thanks for sharing the recipe, hope mine looks half as good as this
Penny Struebig
I need to check out this flour product. I have a friend who is eating gluten-free and would like to start cooking more gluten-free for my husband and I.
Courtney
Omg these cookies sound pretty delicious!!! Could go for one right now 😉
Eileen
I remember always seeing Bob's Red Mill Flour in our cupboards growing up. Your cookies look delicious, I'll have to try this recipe out!
Rebecca Swenor
Interesting indeed. I will have to get the gluten free Red Mills flour and make these cookies for my son whom has went gluten free. Thanks for sharing.
Christie
I LOVE Bob's Red Mill products. They're so tasty and wholesome! And I love how chocolatey delicious these cookies look. I would love a stack with a glass of milk please? Thanks for linking up with #FoodieFridays this week. Pinning
Erin Kennedy
These look so yummy! And GF!??? So fantastic!
Fi Ní Neachtáin
These look so unbelievably delicious! I love how you've presented them too, your photography is great 🙂
Christie
I love Bob's Red Mill. They make amazing products. And these cookies? They look fabulous! I'm definitely going to try them. Thank you for sharing this with #FoodieFridays! Pinned!