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Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

  • Author: Audrey

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Cookies:

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 tbsp glucose or corn syrup
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp clear vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 2/3 cups milk powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt

For the Peppermint Frosting:

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3 to 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure peppermint extract
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Topping:

  • Crushed candy canes, or festive sprinkles

Instructions

Make the sugar cookies:

  1. Combine the butter, sugar and glucose in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and cream together on medium-high for 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides, add in the eggs and vanilla and beat for 7-8 minutes.
  2. Reduce mixer speed to low and add in the flour, cocoa powder, milk powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until the dough comes together – no longer than 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  3. Using a 2 3/4 oz. ice cream scoop (1/3 cup measure) portion out the dough onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet – you should get 15-20 large balls of dough. Pat the tops of the cookie balls flat – wrap the sheet pan tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 1 week. Do not bake the cookies from room temp – they will not bake properly!
  4. Heat the oven to 350°F. Arrange the chilled dough at least 4 inches apart on the baking sheet and bake for 18 minutes – the cookies will puff, crackle and spread. The cookies should look lightly browned on the edges (golden brown on the bottom) – the centers will show just the beginning signs of color. If they haven’t reached that color yet, leave them in a for an extra minute or two. Cool the cookies completely on the sheet pans before frosting.

Make the frosting:

  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until soft, about 1 minute.
  2. Add 2 cups of the confectioners’ sugar, the salt, and peppermint extract. Beat on low speed until the sugar is well incorporated.
  3. Add another 2 cups sugar and the cream. Add remaining 2 cups of sugar as needed to thicken the frosting. Beat on medium speed until the frosting is smooth and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
  4. Frost cookies generously. Fill a bowl with crushed candy canes or sprinkles. Place cookies frosting side down into bowl of sprinkles and press firmly to coat.