Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies

I'm baaaaack! I have taken a rather long hiatus from blogging. And I might take another hiatus after this post, but I'm feeling very Christmas-y at the moment. One thing that is an essential part of my holiday season is baking and treat making. I made these cookies today, and I couldn't wait to share the recipe!

If you know me at all, you know I enjoy choose-your-own-adventure type recipes; that is, recipes that are easily changed and adapted. As such, I will post a few alternatives to this recipe below. The dough is my favorite for chocolate cookies, and you can enjoy so many different versions depending on what you add: different flavored baking chips, candy, nuts...I love all the possibilities!

Chocolate and mint is kind of a hit-or-miss combination for me. I don't always love it, and in the past I haven't been a big fan of peppermint bark. It just wasn't my cup of tea. However, I find that this year I love those flavors together! I don't know what it is, but I can't get enough. And thus these cookies were born.

I used Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips, but you can use any peppermint bark you like for this recipe. Just chop it up and toss it in the bowl. One 10 ounce bag was just slightly less than 2 cups. You could also use Dove Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark Promises or Hershey's Candy Cane bars, for example. You could even chop up homemade peppermint bark! I have a couple more options at the bottom of the post. (See what I mean about the choose-your-own-adventure stuff?)

I garnished my cookies with some White Peppermint M&Ms, but that is optional.

The red and white M&Ms make these look like Santa Claus cookies to me, and I almost named them that. They are so cute and tasty! I happened to find this Santa Claus plate in my mom's Christmas box (thanks mom!):

It was too perfect for these cookies! I hope you enjoy them too :-)


Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies (Printable Recipe)
recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cups cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups coarsely chopped peppermint bark
1 bag White Peppermint M&Ms (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Start by creaming together the butter and sugar with a mixer. Add eggs and vanilla and mix thoroughly. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Pour dry ingredients into the creamed mixture and mix to combine. Add chopped peppermint bark and gently mix.

Scoop dough by large spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet (I used a cookie scoop). Press a few M&Ms onto each cookie if desired.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Enjoy!

Alternate versions

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies: Make dough as directed, but leave out the peppermint bark. Scoop cookies onto the cookie sheet and bake as directed (leaving off the M&Ms). While cookies are still warm after baking, press an unwrapped Hershey's Candy Cane Kiss into each one. You could also use Mint Truffle kisses for a slightly different chocolate/mint flavor. For that matter, you could use really any flavor kiss you like (double chocolate kiss cookies, anyone?).

Chocolate Peppermint Chip Cookies: Substitute 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips and 1/2 cup crushed candy canes for the peppermint bark. Omit M&Ms. Make cookies as directed.

Turtle Cookies: Omit peppermint bark and M&Ms. Add 1 cup chopped pecans to dough. Unwrap 3 dozen Rolo candies. Measure 2 Tbsp of cookie dough. Place a Rolo in the center and cover with dough. Bake as directed.

Chocolate Cherry Chip Cookies: Instead of peppermint bark, add 1 cup cherry baking chips (like these or similar) and 1 cup white chocolate chips. Omit M&Ms. Bake as directed.


You can certainly use this dough with any number of other combinations. Have fun with it, and maybe try something new!

Merry Christmas!