White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies Recipe
These White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring soft, buttery cookie dough infused with peppermint extract, studded with creamy white chocolate chips, and finished with a festive dip in melted white chocolate sprinkled with crushed candy canes for a perfect balance of sweetness and minty crunch.
- Author: Ella
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 30 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups white all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Add-Ins and Topping
- 3 cups white chocolate chips (divided: 1 cup for dough, 2 cups for melting)
- ½ cup crushed candy canes
- 1 Tablespoon shortening (optional, to thin melted chocolate)
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Set aside for later use.
- Cream Butter: In a large mixing bowl, add the softened unsalted butter. Cream it using a mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar: Gradually add the granulated sugar to the creamed butter. Beat on medium-low speed for 3-5 minutes until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, enhancing the cookie’s texture.
- Incorporate Egg and Peppermint: Add the room temperature egg and peppermint extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until fully combined for a consistent flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Slowly add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients at low speed. Mix just until there are no more flour streaks to avoid overmixing and ensure tender cookies.
- Add White Chocolate Chips: Use a spoon to fold in one cup of white chocolate chips gently but thoroughly into the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Measure about ½ tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball using your hands. Place cookie balls about two inches apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 9-10 minutes or until the bottom edges are just starting to turn golden brown.
- Cool Cookies: Remove cookies from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes to finish baking through residual heat. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Melt White Chocolate: Once cookies are fully cooled, place the remaining two cups of white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Avoid overheating.
- Thin Chocolate (Optional): If desired, add shortening a little at a time to the melted chocolate, stirring fully to achieve a thinner consistency ideal for dipping.
- Dip Cookies: Dip each cookie halfway into the melted white chocolate. Let excess chocolate drip off, then gently drag the edge of the cookie against the rim of the bowl to create a clean chocolate line.
- Decorate: Place the dipped cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle crushed candy canes over the dipped portion for a festive decoration and added crunch.
- Set Chocolate: Allow the chocolate to harden completely at room temperature before serving or storing.
Notes
- For best results, ensure all wet ingredients are at room temperature before mixing.
- Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep cookies tender.
- If you don’t have peppermint extract, you can substitute with a few drops of peppermint oil, but use sparingly as it is more concentrated.
- Make sure cookies are completely cooled before dipping to prevent melting the chocolate too much.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
Keywords: white chocolate peppermint cookies, holiday cookies, peppermint cookies, white chocolate chip cookies, festive cookies