Decadent Double Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies: Your Ultimate Holiday Treat

For me, these peppermint bark cookies aren’t just a recipe; they embody the very essence of the holidays in every bite! Imagine rich, intensely chocolatey cookies, generously studded with extra chocolate chips, then elegantly dipped in a smooth, creamy white chocolate coating, and finally adorned with a festive sprinkle of vibrant crushed candy canes. They’re a symphony of flavors and textures – a perfect blend of deep cocoa, sweet white chocolate, and refreshing peppermint crunch. Best of all, they’re surprisingly quick to prepare, taking only about 12 minutes of active prep time before they hit the oven, making them an ideal choice for even the busiest holiday bakers.

Christmas time is synonymous with cookie time, and there’s nothing I cherish more than a beautifully arranged cookie plate filled with these delightful peppermint bark cookies. They pair wonderfully with other festive favorites, like these chocolate gingerbread cookies, creating a diverse and irresistible spread for family and friends. Their striking appearance, with the dark cookie contrasting the white chocolate and red candy cane, makes them a standout addition to any holiday table or dessert platter.

This post was originally published in December 2020, sharing the joy of these holiday treats. It has now been updated with enhanced content, more detailed tips, and additional information to ensure you have the most comprehensive guide to baking these festive delights.

If you’re looking to expand your repertoire of holiday baking, I have plenty more festive recipes to inspire you. Why not try my chocolate dipped butter cookies for a classic touch, or these adorable Nutella thumbprint cookies? For something a little different, my cut out shortbread cookies are always a hit, and these peppermint chocolate cupcakes offer another fantastic way to enjoy the classic flavor combination. And for those who love to decorate, my no spread sugar cookies are perfect for creating edible works of art!

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Why You’ll Adore These Peppermint Bark Cookies

These peppermint bark cookies are more than just a sweet treat; they’re a holiday experience waiting to happen. Here’s why they’ll quickly become a cherished part of your festive traditions:

• Explosive Double Chocolate Flavor: We’re talking about a serious chocolate lover’s dream! With both cocoa powder and rich dark chocolate chips, these cookies deliver an unparalleled depth of chocolatey goodness that forms the perfect canvas for the refreshing peppermint.
• Festive & Eye-Catching: Their beautiful presentation, featuring a crisp white chocolate coating topped with sparkling red and white candy cane pieces, makes them a showstopper on any holiday dessert platter. They practically scream “Christmas”!
• Perfect Texture Combination: Enjoy the soft, chewy texture of the chocolate cookie base, the satisfying snap of the white chocolate shell, and the delightful crunch of crushed candy canes – a textural journey in every bite.
• Easier Than You Think: Despite their impressive appearance, these cookies are surprisingly simple to make. With only about 12 minutes of active prep time, they’re accessible for bakers of all skill levels, allowing you to whip up a batch without feeling overwhelmed during the busy holiday season.
• Ideal for Gifting & Sharing: Packaged in decorative boxes or bags, these cookies make thoughtful, homemade gifts. They’re also perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or simply enjoying with a warm mug of hot chocolate by the fire.
• That Signature Peppermint Kick: The refreshing burst of peppermint perfectly complements the rich chocolate, creating that iconic holiday flavor profile that everyone craves.

Understanding the Magic Behind These Cookies

Let’s dive into what makes these cookies so incredibly special and how each component contributes to their irresistible holiday charm:

• These double chocolate chip cookies are crafted with a generous amount of high-quality cocoa powder, providing a deep, fudgy base. But we don’t stop there! We also fold in plenty of chocolate chips, ensuring an extra burst of molten chocolate in every bite. This dual chocolate approach guarantees an intensely rich flavor that chocolate enthusiasts will adore.
• Once the cookies have baked to perfection and are completely cooled, they undergo a magical transformation. Each cookie is carefully dipped into a velvety mixture of melted white chocolate and a touch of coconut oil. The inclusion of coconut oil is a clever trick – it prevents the white chocolate from becoming overly hard and brittle once it dries, which often leads to cracking. Instead, it ensures a smooth, slightly softer coating that beautifully adheres to the cookie and offers a pleasant texture.
• While the white chocolate coating is still wet and glistening, the festive touch is added. Each cookie is generously sprinkled with crunchy, crushed candy canes. This not only adds a vibrant visual appeal with the classic red and white colors but also introduces a delightful textural contrast and that unmistakable, refreshing burst of peppermint flavor that defines holiday baking. The rapid setting of the white chocolate ensures the candy cane pieces stick perfectly.

Essential Ingredients for Your Peppermint Bark Cookies

The printable recipe card with the full list of ingredients and detailed instructions can be found at the very bottom of this post.

Crafting exceptional cookies starts with quality ingredients. Here’s a closer look at the key components that make these peppermint bark cookies truly special:

• Dark Chocolate: This cookie recipe is truly PACKED with chocolate, both in its base and as delightful chunks throughout. For the best flavor, be sure to use a high-quality dark chocolate (around 60-70% cocoa solids) that you enjoy eating on its own. Whether you opt for chopped chocolate from a bar or dark chocolate chips, the quality will shine through in the final cookie. A good dark chocolate provides a rich, complex flavor that balances the sweetness of the white chocolate and peppermint.
• White Chocolate: The cookies are elegantly dipped in white chocolate, and for that perfect smooth, non-cracking finish, the type of white chocolate matters. Look for a good quality white chocolate that lists cocoa butter as a primary ingredient. White chocolate compounds (often labeled as “white baking chips” or “melting wafers”) may contain less cocoa butter and more vegetable fats, which can affect the melting consistency and final texture. Cocoa butter helps create that beautiful, glossy, and firm-yet-creamy coating.
• Candy Canes: Of course, a peppermint bark cookie wouldn’t be complete without the iconic candy canes! Crushed candy canes provide both a burst of refreshing peppermint flavor and a delightful crunch. If traditional candy canes are hard to find, don’t worry – you can easily substitute them with other crushed peppermint candies or even use peppermint extract in the white chocolate dip (though you’d miss the crunch). Just ensure whatever you use is safe for consumption and has that unmistakable minty kick.
• Other Baking Staples: Don’t forget the usual suspects that form the backbone of any great cookie recipe: all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder for that deep chocolate color and flavor, room temperature unsalted butter for richness and texture, a combination of light brown sugar (for chewiness and moisture) and granulated sugar (for crisp edges and sweetness), essential leaveners like baking soda and baking powder for lift, a pinch of kosher salt to balance the flavors, pure vanilla extract for aromatic depth, and one large egg to bind everything together and provide structure.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Peppermint Bark Cookies

Making these impressive holiday cookies is a straightforward process. Follow these detailed steps to ensure perfectly baked, delicious results:

Step 1: Prepare Dry Ingredients and Chocolate. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together your flour and cocoa powder until thoroughly combined and lump-free. This ensures the cocoa is evenly distributed throughout the dough. Next, add the majority of your chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips to this dry mixture, tossing them lightly to coat. This coating helps prevent the chocolate from sinking to the bottom of the cookies during baking. Remember to set aside a small handful of the chopped dark chocolate; this will be used for topping the cookies before baking, giving them a beautiful, rustic appearance.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine your room temperature unsalted butter, both light brown sugar and granulated sugar, kosher salt, baking soda, baking powder, and vanilla extract. Beat these ingredients together on medium speed for a full 5 minutes. This creaming process is crucial for incorporating air into the mixture, resulting in light and fluffy cookies with a tender crumb. Don’t skip this step! You might need to pause and scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice to ensure everything is evenly mixed.

Step 3: Incorporate the Egg. With the mixer still running on low speed, add your egg to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Continue to beat until the egg is fully incorporated and the mixture appears smooth and cohesive. Avoid overmixing once the egg is added to maintain the tender texture of the cookies.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry, Bake, and Cool. Gradually pour your previously prepared dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, and chocolate) into the wet mixture. Mix on low speed until everything is just combined and no streaks of dry flour remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. Scoop out portions of dough, about 2 tablespoons each, and roll them into smooth balls. Place these dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring a good 2 inches of space between each to allow for spreading. Gently flatten each ball into a disc shape – this helps with even baking and creates a better surface for the reserved chocolate. Press the reserved handful of chopped chocolate onto the top of each disc, along with a tiny pinch of kosher salt (this enhances the chocolate flavor). Bake in your preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 13-15 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. Let them cool completely on the baking sheet before moving on. While the cookies are cooling, prepare your white chocolate dip by combining the white chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in short 20-second bursts, stirring well after each interval, until smooth and melted. Once the cookies are fully cooled, dip each one into the melted white chocolate, allowing any excess to drip off. Immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes before the white chocolate sets. Place back on parchment paper to fully set.

Expert Tips for Perfect Peppermint Bark Cookies

Achieving bakery-quality cookies at home is all about the details. Here are some essential tips to ensure your peppermint bark cookies turn out absolutely perfect every time:

• I highly recommend using a weighing scale and measuring out your ingredients the metric way. Baking is a science, and precise measurements make a huge difference in the consistency and outcome of your baked goods. Grams are far more accurate than volumetric cup measurements, leading to more reliable and delicious results.
• To make your cookies perfectly round, a simple trick is to “scoot” them! Immediately after the cookies come out of the oven, while they are still hot and pliable, use a large round cookie cutter (larger than your cookies) or a large glass. Place it over each hot cookie and gently scoot the cutter around the cookie for a few seconds. This helps to reshape any irregular edges into a perfectly round circle, giving your cookies that professional, uniform look.
• Don’t overbake these cookies, otherwise they’ll end up being dry, crumbly, and less flavorful. These double chocolate cookies should still look slightly soft and gooey in the center when you pull them from the oven. The residual heat from the baking sheet will continue to cook them through as they cool, resulting in a perfectly moist and chewy texture. When the edges are just set and the center still has a slight sheen, they’re ready!
• Ensure All Ingredients Are at Room Temperature: This is a golden rule in baking, especially for cookies. Butter, eggs, and other dairy products should be at room temperature unless specified otherwise. Room temperature butter creams beautifully with sugar, creating an emulsified mixture that traps air, leading to lighter and fluffier cookies. Cold ingredients can cause the dough to seize or become lumpy.
• Chill Your Dough (Optional but Recommended): While this recipe doesn’t strictly require chilling, if you have time, refrigerating the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes (or even overnight) can deepen the flavors and help prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. This allows the flour to fully hydrate and the fats to firm up.
• Crush Candy Canes Effectively: For even sprinkles, place candy canes in a sturdy zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin or the bottom of a heavy pan. Aim for a mix of fine dust and small pieces for both flavor distribution and visual appeal. Make sure to do this right before dipping so they don’t get sticky from humidity.

Common Questions About Peppermint Bark Cookies

Explore More Festive Christmas Cookie Recipes!

If you’ve fallen in love with these peppermint bark cookies, you’re in for a treat with these other holiday favorites. Each recipe is designed to bring warmth and joy to your festive season:

Have you made this festive recipe? I’d absolutely love to see your creations! Make sure to tag me on Instagram @alpineellawhen you share your peppermint bark cookies. Also, don’t forget to leave a review below if you’ve tried them – your feedback helps me and other bakers! If you’re constantly seeking fresh and inspiring baking ideas, you can also follow me on Pinterest for a continuous stream of deliciousness. Happy baking!

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