Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Recipe from Our Best Bites

Last night the Hubby and I had a date night.  We went shopping, out to dinner, got some dessert and drove around watching Christmas light displays while we listened to Christmas music.  There is just something about eating a Salted Carmel Brownie from your favorite bakery while Nat King Cole serenades you as you drive around watching amazing light displays that makes you really feel the Christmas spirit.

Something else that has helped me also get into that Christmas spirit is watching "White Christmas" (Bing Crosby, you have the voice of an angel) and making these Chocolate Peppermint Cookies.

I thought this would be a fun Christmas cookie to make because c'mon, look at 'em! Chewy chocolate cookies mashed around fluffy peppermint frosting and rolled in crushed candy canes.  If that isn't a Christmas cookie then I don't know what is folks.

Have fun making these cookies for Santa!

Cookies:

1 1/2 c. flour

3/4 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips

3/4 c. light brown sugar, packed

5 T. butter

1 T. water

1 egg, lightly beaten

Frosting:

1 stick butter, room temperature

2 c. powdered sugar

1 t. mint extract (taste as you go, you may want more)

milk as needed for consistency (barely any-just a splash or two)

2 drops red food coloring

To make cookies, preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt.  Mix well.

In medium saucepan combine 5 T. butter, chocolate chips, brown sugar and water.  Heat over medium until melted.  Transfer chocolate mixture to mixing bowl.

Beat in egg.  Add dry ingredients and mix until it just comes together (don't over mix).

Measure out scant tablespoons of dough, roll and place on cookie sheets (the dough will be soft, this is normal.  If it feels too soft stick in fridge for a few minutes).  You want 12 balls per cookie sheet spaced out fairly far apart (you will have a bit of dough left over to do another cookie sheet).  Bake each cookie sheet for 7-8 minutes (you want to slightly under bake them).  Take out, let cool for a few minutes and then transfer to cooling racks to let cool off completely.

While cookies are cooling, combine all of your frosting ingredients and mix together in stand mixer or with a hand mixer and whip until nice and fluffy.  You want a nice, stiff frosting.  

Once cookies have completely cooled, spread half of the cookies with the frosting, then top with other cookies to make sandwiches.  Roll in crushed candy canes.