PEPPERMINT BARK COOKIES

Jessica — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 22:25:28 +0000

Peppermint Bark Cookies are a delightful treat that perfectly combines the flavors of rich cocoa and refreshing peppermint. These Christmas peppermint cookies not only satisfy the holiday sweet tooth, but they also bring a festive touch to any dessert table.

This holiday cookie recipe has a simple ingredient list and straightforward preparation, anyone can whip up a batch to share with family and friends. To elevate these peppermint and chocolate cookies even further, a homemade buttercream frosting infused with peppermint and vanilla extracts is piped on top, creating an impressive finish!

What are peppermint bark cookies?

These chocolate peppermint bark cookies are a festive treat combining rich chocolate flavor with refreshing peppermint. They are perfect for enjoying during the holiday season!

The base of these cookies features a blend of ingredients that creates a soft and moist texture. Then the cookies are topped with a layer of buttercream frosting, enhancing their sweetness and aesthetic appeal. To finish them off, the cookies are then topped with chocolate and white chocolate to mimic the classic peppermint bark.

Our chocolate peppermint cookies are popular for holiday parties and cookie exchanges. They are easy to make and can be customized with various toppings. Enjoying these cookies evokes the spirit of the season!

Why you’ll love this amazing cookie recipe

Easy steps. With straightforward ingredients and easy steps, this recipe is user-friendly. It caters to both novice and experienced bakers, making it accessible for everyone.
Peppermint and chocolate are a perfect pairing. Winter is best for refreshing peppermint, and rich chocolate flavors, and combining the two has been one of the best flavor duos in history. From peppermint hot chocolate to baked goods and sweets this is a winter favorite that everyone can enjoy.
Simple ingredients. We use a lot of basic pantry staple ingredients for this recipe, so it should not be too much work to track down everything you will need.

Peppermint Bark Cookie Ingredients

Butter: You will need ½ cup of butter (one stick) to make the cookies rich and moist.

Sugars: Use ¾ cups of brown sugar and 2 TBSP of granulated white sugar to sweeten the cookies perfectly.

Egg: Help bind the ingredients with 1 large egg.

Vanilla extract: Adding 2 tsp of vanilla extract enhances all the incredible flavors well.

Flour: For the structural base of the cookie dough, you need 1 ¼ cup of all-purpose flour.

Cocoa powder: Add ½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder for incredibly rich tasting cookies. I use regular cocoa powder, but Dutch processed cocoa will work well too.

Baking soda: To get the cookies to puff up nicely as they bake, use ½ tsp of baking soda.

Salt: For flavor enhancement, you will need ¼ tsp of salt.

Cookie Toppings

Chocolate chips: ½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips gives these treats more chocolatey flavor in every bite.

White chocolate: Use ½ cup of white chocolate chips or almond bark, for the classic white chocolate of peppermint bark.

Peppermints: You only need 1 TBSP of crushed peppermints. You can crush peppermints, or you can find pre-crushed peppermints in the baking section around the holidays.

Buttercream frosting

Butter: You will want ½ cup of butter, softened, for a rich, flavorful frosting.

Powdered sugar: Use 4 cups of powdered sugar for a sweet and smooth base of this frosting.

Milk: Adding 3-4 TBSP of milk will help get the frosting to the perfect consistency.

Extracts: To make the frosting even more flavorful, add 1 TBSP of vanilla extract and ¾ tsp of peppermint extract.

How to Make Peppermint Bark Cookies

Cookie Dough

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and both sugars, with a whisk or electric handheld mixer, until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Then add in the egg and vanilla extract, mix until combined.

Next stir in the flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt until the mixture forms a dough.

Proceed to place the dough in the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes before proceeding with baking.

Prep

After about 20 minutes into the dough chilling process, start preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Then line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicon mat and set it aside.

Bake

After the dough is done chilling, separate the dough into 6 balls and place them onto your prepared baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Peppermint Bark

In a microwave safe bowl, melt the semisweet chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring until melted and smooth. Repeat the process with the white chocolate in a separate bowl.

Next, thinly spread the semisweet chocolate out onto a piece of parchment paper and then spread melted white chocolate over the top of that.

Sprinkle the top with crushed peppermint candies and set aside to set.

Buttercream frosting

Now in a large bowl, whip the butter with an electric mixer.

Then add in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Whip again until well combined.

Lastly, add the milk and beat again until the frosting is light and fluffy.

Assemble

Transfer the buttercream frosting to a ziplocked bag with the corner snipped off, or a piping bag with a round tip. Proceed to pipe the buttercream in a swirl pattern on top of each of the cookies.

Next, break the peppermint bark into pieces and place them on top of the cookies.

Serve and enjoy!

Peppermint Bark Cookies

Course Christmas, Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Peppermint Bark Cookies

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 12

Chill 30

Total Time 57

Servings cookies

Calories 1017kcal

Author Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

½ cup butter
¾ cup brown sugar
2 TBSP white sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 ¼ cup flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt

Peppermint Bark

½ cup semisweet chips
½ cup white chocolate chips (or almond bark)
1 TBSP crushed peppermint

Buttercream Frosting

½ cup butter (1 stick ) softened
4 cups powdered sugar
3-4 TBSP milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ tsp peppermint extract

Instructions

Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugars, with a whisk or electric handheld mixer, until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla extract, mix until combined.
Stir in the flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt until the mixture forms a dough. Place the dough in the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes before proceeding with the baking.
Prep: About 20 minutes into the dough chilling process, start preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicon mat and set it aside.
Bake: After the dough is done chilling, separate the dough into 6 balls and place them onto your prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Peppermint Bark: In a microwave safe bowl, melt your semisweet chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring until melted and smooth. Repeat the process with the white chocolate in a separate bowl.
Thinly spread the semisweet chocolate out onto a piece of parchment paper and then spread melted white chocolate over the top of that. Sprinkle the top with crushed peppermint candies and set aside to set.
Buttercream frosting: In a large bowl, whip the butter with an electric mixer. Add in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Whip again to combine. Add the milk and beat again until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Assemble: Transfer the buttercream frosting to a ziplocked bag with the corner snipped off or a piping bag with a round tip. Pipe the buttercream in a swirl pattern on top of each of the cookies. Break the peppermint bark into pieces and place them on top of the cookies. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

These jumbo chocolate peppermint cookies will stay fresh for up to 5 days if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They can also be stored in the fridge if you like chilled cookies.

Nutrition

How long are peppermint bark cookies good for?

You can keep these cookies stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or for a slightly longer storage solution, you can place them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Cookie Variations

For more chocolate, you can add in some chocolate chunks or white chocolate chips to the cookie dough. Stir them in just before chilling the dough.

If you would like smaller cookies, divide the dough into 12 equal sized balls of dough instead of 6. Note that the baking time may be lessened by a few minutes so make sure to keep an eye on them. You will know that the cookies are finished when the edges look set and the tops are no longer glossy. Cookies may appear puffy, but they will set as they rest on the baking sheet.

How can I achieve the perfect consistency for my frosting?

To achieve the ideal consistency for buttercream frosting, it’s essential to start with softened butter. Gradually mix in the powdered sugar to avoid lumps. Adjust the thickness by adding milk in small increments until the desired spreadable texture is reached. Ensure all ingredients are well combined.

Are there different cocoa powder options for chocolate cookies?

Cocoa powder comes in various forms, mainly regular and Dutch-processed. Regular cocoa powder provides a more intense chocolate flavor and a lighter color. Dutch-processed cocoa powder creates a milder taste and a darker hue. The choice can subtly affect both flavor and coloration in peppermint bark cookies.

Can you suggest any variations for chocolate chips?

There are several options for chocolate chips to customize the flavor of peppermint bark cookies. Milk chocolate chips offer a sweeter taste, while dark chocolate chips provide a richer, somewhat bitter flavor. For a unique twist, consider using white chocolate chips or even flavored chocolate like mint or orange.

Anyone with 2 pups has likely experienced this scenario below. Ha! Anyone else? It’s a common occurrence with us when we walk these two crazies. But really, who’s walking who?!

Check out these other great Holiday cookie favorites!

Peppermint Bark Cookies are a sensational Christmas cookie, they are a show stopper treat and great for the holidays. These Christmas peppermint cookies are a soft, rich chocolate cookies, with a smooth peppermint buttercream and homemade peppermint bark.

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Peppermint Bark Cookies Archives - Family Cookie Recipes

PEPPERMINT BARK COOKIES

What are peppermint bark cookies?

Why you’ll love this amazing cookie recipe

Peppermint Bark Cookie Ingredients

Cookie Toppings

Buttercream frosting

How to Make Peppermint Bark Cookies

Cookie Dough

Prep

Bake

Peppermint Bark

Buttercream frosting

Assemble

Peppermint Bark Cookies

Ingredients

Peppermint Bark

Buttercream Frosting

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition

How long are peppermint bark cookies good for?

Cookie Variations

How can I achieve the perfect consistency for my frosting?

Are there different cocoa powder options for chocolate cookies?

Can you suggest any variations for chocolate chips?

Check out these other great Holiday cookie favorites!