Monday, December 3, 2012

Peppermint-White Chocolate Chip Cookies


Chocolate and mint seem to be one the quintessential flavor combinations for Christmas goodies, and while I do love it, I love the combo of peppermint and white chocolate even more.  Oftentimes I feel like the chocolate and peppermint are both so strongly-flavored that they end up "competing" with each other.  But white chocolate is much milder, thereby in my opinion just enhancing the peppermint, and the peppermint enhancing the white chocolate.

These cookies are a spin on typical chocolate chip cookies.  I used my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe for the base, then mixed in white chocolate chips and Ande's peppermint crunch baking chips.  If you can't find these, I think that crushed candy canes or mints would work just as well.

I'm just now finalizing my holiday baking list, and these cookies will definitely be on the list - they are soft and chewy, with crispy edges and lots of delicious peppermint and white chocolate flavor.  Let the holiday baking begin!

Peppermint-White Chocolate Chip Cookies
cookie base adapted from Baking Illustrated
makes about 18 large cookies

  • 2 cups plus 2 Tbs (10.5 oz) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 12 Tbs (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter - melted and cooled until warm
  • 1 cup packed (7 oz) light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (3.5 oz) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • heaping 1/2 cup peppermint baking chips
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and adjust the racks to the upper and lower-middle positions.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, or spray with baking spray.  

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, use a hand-held mixer to beat the butter and sugars together until thoroughly blended (you can also do this in a stand mixer or by hand, using a wooden spoon).  

Beat in the egg, yolk, and vanilla and until combined.  Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed until just incorporated, then use a wooden spoon to stir in the white chocolate chips and peppermint chips.

Roll a scant 1/4 cup of the dough into a ball.  Hold the dough ball with your fingertips of both hands and pull into two equal halves.  With the jagged surfaces facing up, press the halves back together at their base, forming a single ball.  Place the formed dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, jagged surface-up, spacing them about 2 1/2 inches apart.

Bake until the cookies are light golden-brown and the outer edges start to harden, but the centers re still soft and puffy, 15 to 18 minutes.  Rotate the baking sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through baking.  

Cool the cookies completely on the baking sheet.



13 comments:

Shawnda said...

These look great! I've been on the lookout for a couple of fun, new recipes for next weekend's cookie exchange and I think I found one of them!

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar said...

I love the sound of these! What a great combination of flavours for the holidays.

Joanne said...

I'm an equal opportunist when it comes to peppermint and dark v. white chocolate. The more chocolates the merrier! These cookies sound great to me!

Spencer said...

Looks awesome! I love a good cookie and this one looks amazing!

Winnie said...

Yummy looking.

Lexy said...

Just pinned.....looks fabulous and delicious.

Lori Vreeke said...

These look perfect for what I want to give as gifts. Layer the dry ingredients in a canning jar, label the jar with dirctions and give out during the holidays!
Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Jessica@AKitchenAddiction said...

Mmm, I love the combination of peppermint and white chocolate!

Stephanie @ Macaroni and Cheesecake said...

Oh these cookies sound fabulous!!!

Stacey said...

hi josie! i love your blog although i don't usually comment, but when i saw this i just had to mention that M&Ms are out in a new flavor: white chocolate peppermint. they are AMAZING! i can't get enough, and was so excited to see this recipe!

Anonymous said...

Josie - are the Andes Peppermint baking chips crunchy like a candy cane???

Josie said...

Anonymous, yes, they have little bits of crushed candy canes, but they are also kind of creamy too. Kind of like a white chocolate chip with crushed peppermints mixed in if that makes sense?

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