Crispy Chocolate Mint Christmas Cookies
Thin, crisp, and shatteringly delicate cookies with a festive blend of rich cocoa and cool peppermint. These easy-to-make treats are perfect for holiday gifting and potlucks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 teaspoons pure peppermint extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-processed preferred)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Optional: Crushed peppermint candies or white chocolate chips for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla and peppermint extract; mix until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Optional: Chill the dough for 30 minutes to help flavors meld and make handling easier.
- Scoop about 1.5 tablespoons of dough per cookie. Roll into balls and place on baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between each. Press down slightly with a glass for thinner cookies.
- If using toppings, press crushed peppermint candies or white chocolate chips gently into the top of each dough ball.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are set and slightly golden, but centers still look soft.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely until crisp.
Notes
Ensure butter is at room temperature, not melted, to control spreading. Measure flour by spooning it into the cup and leveling off to avoid dry cookies. Cookies continue to crisp as they cool on the wire rack. Store in an airtight container with a piece of bread to maintain crispness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 80
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
Keywords: christmas cookies, mint cookies, chocolate mint, holiday baking, crispy cookies, peppermint cookies, easy dessert, holiday treats