• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Fresh Flavorful

  • Recipes
  • Entertaining
  • Adventuring
  • About
  • Clients
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Entertaining
  • Adventuring
  • About
  • Clients
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Entertaining
  • Adventuring
  • About
  • Clients
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Desserts

Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Published: Dec 8, 2021 · Modified: Jan 10, 2024 by Tristin Rieken · 2 Comments

Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies a Christmas cookie recipe for fudgy, rich chocolate brownie cookies with just a hint of peppermint flavor. Crisp brownie-like crust with deep crackles and a rich fudgy interior topped with just enough crushed peppermint candy canes to make these crinkle cookies perfect for the holidays!

Stack of chewy Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies with candy canes
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
Jump to:
  • Christmas cookie recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Step by step instructions
  • What makes a cookie crinkle
  • How to decorate
  • How to store
  • 📖 Recipe

Christmas cookie recipe

These chewy, fudgy chocolate crinkle cookies with peppermint are a holiday-appropriate update to everyone’s favorite classic brownie crinkle cookie recipe that’s just perfect for Christmas!

chocolate crinkle cookies with peppermint candy canes on a santa's cookies plate

Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are soft, chewy and fudgy on the inside. And the outside is smooth and glossy with a thin crispy shell broken up by deep cracks.

Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are a Christmas cookie recipe that are fudgy and rich like brownie cookies with just a hint of peppermint flavor. Brownie cookies | peppermint cookies | chocolate peppermint recipes

Similar to the super easy boxed brownie cookies that are made by simply adding a stick of melted butter and an egg to a package of cake mix. But so much fudgier, and chewier with a much better crinkle on top.

The no-chill chocolate crinkle cookie recipe isn’t difficult to make. But you must follow the directions without deviation to whip the eggs well, lightly mix the batter and bake right away. Do so and the cookie dough will form a smooth crust on the surface creating deep cracks as they bake and expand.

Ingredients

  • All purpose flour
  • Dutch processed cocoa powder – or substitute regular cocoa powder or dark cocoa powder.
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Butter – salted or use unsalted and add a bit more salt to the dough.
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips – or other good quality chocolate of your choice – milk chocolate, dark chocolate or semi-sweet.
  • Brown sugar – light brown sugar or dark brown sugar can be substituted.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs
  • Peppermint candy cane – crushed slightly
Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookie ingredients

Step by step instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
  3. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  4. Then remove butter from heat and add chocolate. Let sit off heat without touching.
  5. Meanwhile, add eggs and sugars to a large mixing bowl and beat on medium high speed for 5 minutes.
  6. After at least 5 minutes whisk melted chocolate and butter mixture until smooth.
  7. Fold melted chocolate into whipped egg mixture until just combined.
  8. Then fold in dry ingredients being careful not to overmix. This is a very loose dough that dries up quickly which is what makes them crinkle so perfectly.
  9. Immediately, using a small 1 ½ tablespoon (39mm) cookie scoop or spoon, place dough 2″ apart on prepared baking sheets. For the most crinkle place the whole batch on a single full size baking sheet. If unable to fit on a single sheet scoop all cookies as soon as the dough is done on multiple sheets so that the exterior shell can begin forming while the first batch bakes.
  10. Sprinkle with half of the crushed candy cane.
  11. Bake 10-12 minutes in preheated oven. Resist the urge to bake multiple sheets of cookies at once or the cookies on the bottom sheet will not have adequate air flow to seal the surface and form crinkles. Instead bake in two batches if unable to fit the entire batch on a single full size baking sheet.
  12. When cookies are puffy and cracks are visible in the surface remove and immediately sprinkle remaining crushed candy canes over top.
  13. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets 15-20 minutes until completely set. The cookies will flatten slightly as the cool deepening the crinkles and giving them an amazing soft chewy texture with crispy brownie like exterior.
  14. Enjoy!
Peppermint chocolate cookie on a vintage santa mug

What makes a cookie crinkle

In order to get the smooth glossy top with the most crinkly cracks you must whip the eggs for as long as the directions call for and fold the chocolate and dry ingredients in with a light hand. Then immediately drop the soft dough onto baking sheets. Do this and the soft cookie dough will form a smooth exterior that will seal into a thin crust in the heat of the oven forming deep cracks as they continue to bake and expand.

If you follow directions and your crinkle cookies are flat or too smooth don’t worry! It’s possible all you need to do is bake them a little longer to get the crinkles to appear.

Stack of chocolate crinkle cookies

How to decorate

Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are decorated with a bit of crushed candy cane before being baked and quickly again once they come out of the oven. This method allows the candy canes to melt into the cracks and also be visible on the finished cookies. to add even more festive peppermint flavor and color. But there are many other ways to decorate crinkle cookies:

  • To make chocolate crinkle cookies without peppermint simply omit the crushed candy canes.
  • Or roll in powdered sugar like these Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies instead.
  • Or add extra peppermint flavor by stirring in ¼- ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract to the batter.
  • For even more festive peppermint flair dip in melted white chocolate and sprinkle with more crushed candy canes. You can even flavor the white chocolate with more peppermint extract if you’d like for even more peppermint flavor.
  • Instead of candy canes top finished crinkle cookies with an Andes mint, a Hershey kiss or peppermint kisses immediately after removing from oven. Or make hot chocolate crinkle cookies by piling up a few mini marshmallows on the still warm cookies. Or some sprinkles are always fun for birthday cookies or anyday!
  • They also make excellent ice cream sandwiches, especially with peppermint ice cream!

How to store

Stored covered at room temperature Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies will stay soft for up to 5 days.

Or you can freeze cookies after baking for up to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature then serve.

Freezing the cookie dough before baking is not recommended because of the cookie dough must be baked immediately for best results.

📖 Recipe

Stack of chewy Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies with candy canes

Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are a Christmas cookie recipe that are fudgy and rich like brownie cookies with just a hint of peppermint flavor.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Resting Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 148kcal
Author: Tristin Rieken

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup Dutch processed cocoa powder or other cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips heaping, or 7 ounces chocolate
  • ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick
  • ⅔ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large peppermint candy canes

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 and prepare a large full size baking sheet with parchment paper. Or two smaller half size baking sheets.
  • Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat then remove from heat and add chocolate but do not stir.
    ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Add eggs, brown sugar and granulated sugar to a large mixing bowl and whip on medium high speed for 5 minutes using a stand mixer, hand mixer or a whisk and vigorous, strong hand.
    ⅔ cup light brown sugar, 2 large eggs, ½ cup granulated sugar
  • Once melted whisk chocolate and butter until smooth.
  • Fold melted chocolate into whipped egg mixture until just combined.
  • Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl using a sieve if clumps remain. Then fold in dry ingredients being careful not to overmix. Dough will be very loose.
    1 cup all purpose flour, ¼ cup Dutch processed cocoa powder, ¼ teaspoon fine salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Immediately, using a small 1 ½ tablespoon (39mm) cookie scoop or spoon, place dough 2" apart on prepared baking sheet.
  • Sprinkle each cookie with a little of the crushed candy cane, saving half for later.
    2 large peppermint candy canes
  • Bake cookies in preheated oven until puffy and cracked, 10-12 minutes .
  • Immediately sprinkle hot cookies with remaining crushed candy cane to garnish.
  • Cool on baking sheets 15-20 minutes until completely set.
  • Store cooled cookies, covered, at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 144IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
Made this recipe? Please share!Mention @freshflavorful or tag #FreshFlavorfulLife
love, Tristin signature

Pin for later!

Fudgy and rich like brownie cookies with just a hint of peppermint flavor. brownie cookies | peppermint cookies | Christmas cookie ideas

More Desserts

  • Peanut butter rice krispie treats recipe made with peanut butter and butterscotch chips.
    Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
  • Rhubarb custard pie with single crust recipe
    Rhubarb Custard Pie
  • Chocolate Pot de Creme
  • Orange Creamsicle Pavlova Pie is a delicious orange dessert made with a meringue pie crust topped with fluffy vanilla whipped cream and bright citrusy orange curd.
    Orange Creamsicle Pavlova Pie
15 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

If you make this or any of Fresh Flavorful recipes be sure to share! Tag @freshflavorful on instagram or post a photo to the Fresh Flavorful Life Facebook page. Can't wait to see what you're making!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Lisa

    November 21, 2022 at 9:37 am

    5 stars
    Just made these Gluten free and they are simply fantastic.xo

    Reply
    • Tristin Rieken

      November 22, 2022 at 8:04 am

      Oh, yay! I’m so glad you liked them. Would you mind sharing the gluten free substitutions you used for others looking to make gluten free crinkle cookies?

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Tristin Rieken, Welcome to Fresh Flavorful where I hope to inspire you with simple seasonal recipes and ideas to eat deliciously, entertain easily and adventure often.

More about me →

Popular

  • Fresh bright purple cookies with white chocolate stacked on a tray with frozen blueberries scattered around in addition to the blueberry cookie tray.
    Chewy Blueberry Cookies

  • Cranberry cookies that are bright maroon red and covered with coarse sanding sugar to look like sparkling sugar plums are stacked high on a plate with fresh cranberries scattered around the foreground.
    Sparkling Sugarplum Cranberry Cookies

  • Banana Chiffon Cake a light, fluffy cake with tender bite and rich banana flavor. chiffon cake | chiffon cake recipe | chiffon cake with lemon glaze | ripe banana recipes
    Banana Chiffon Cake

  • Bright purple blackberry iced tea with cream garnished with lavender and fresh blackberries
    Blackberry Tea Iced Tea Latte

  • Stack of cool, creamy, chewy, crunchy rocky road chocolate macaron ice cream sandwiches.
    Rocky Road Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches

  • Overhead view of vintage cut glass punch bowl with citrus slices and citrus and cranberry ice cubes in the beautiful bright pink cranberry paloma punch.
    Cranberry Citrus Paloma Punch

Seasonal

  • Candied Rhubarb Ribbons are the perfect chewy, sweet rhubarb recipe to enjoy as a snack or as a garnish for desserts and cocktails. candied rhubarb | sugared rhubarb | rhubarb recipe | dried rhubarb
    How to make Candied Rhubarb Ribbons

  • A mason jar filled with pink grapefruit and rhubarb paloma cocktail garnished with a rhubarb ribbon.
    Rhubarb Paloma Cocktail

  • Rhubarb Crumble on a blue plate with a scoop of bright white vanilla ice cream.
    Quick Rhubarb Crumble

  • Light blush pink mimosa in a coup glass with a bottle of champagne in the background and garnished with a rhubarb ribbon.
    Rhubarb Mimosa

See more Rhubarb →

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Services
  • Media Kit

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Fresh Flavorful on the Feast Plugin

15 shares

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.