:: Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies ::
Well, it’s started! The Christmas Season is officially underway! Just this weekend, my sweet girl sang in our small town light parade with her school choir! Nothing puts you in the Christmas spirit quite like a parade filled with exuberant, marching, glowing kids! {Haha!}
Now that it’s truly feeling like Christmas is near, I have started planning what cookies and bars to make for neighbors, family and friends, to celebrate the joyous upcoming holiday. I know one thing for sure! These Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies, will most definitely, be on my list!
Earlier this week, while doing a little grocery shopping, I picked up a bag of these little gems {Hershey’s Peppermint Kisses}! You guys! I hadn’t eaten one before! I wouldn’t consider myself a peppermint lover {although I don’t mind a little peppermint creamer added to my coffee this time of year}… well, let’s just say that I had to go out and buy bag *number two* before making these cookies! Ha! They’re really that good — and addicting, I might add! {You try just eating one!}
I have always loved chocolate crinkle cookies. When I think of Christmastime, I can’t help but imagine these classic, mouth-watering, irresistible cookies! They’re rich, chocolatey, and chewy! {The perfect cookie texture, in my opinion!} Just prior to baking, the cookie balls are rolled heavily in a blanket of fresh powdered sugar. Once out of the oven, this coating creates a crackling effect — revealing the decadent, fudge-like insides!
Trust me when I tell you that this original recipe from Betty Crocker is just fabulous on its own! {All you have to do is read the reviews to know that this is a tried-and-true recipe, made for several decades in kitchens all over the world!} These perfect cookies literally melt-in-your-mouth, when you bite into one that is still warm from the oven!
Now, these already perfect chocolate crinkles — KISSED by a peppermint… are truly even tastier! {You’ll just have to whip up a batch to see for yourself!} Remember I’m not a huge peppermint fan, right? Well, the kiss adds just the right amount of peppermint to the cookie. Since the candies are added as soon as the cookies are removed from the oven… they get a bit melty, while still holding their form. At last, once you take a bite into the middle – you get a creamy peppermint burst of flavor, combined with the chewy chocolatey cookie! It’s Christmas magic… in the form of a crinkle!
Enjoy, friends! Wishing you the loveliest holiday season!
Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- *4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate melted, cooled
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar {for coating}
- 1 bag of Hershey's Peppermint Kisses
- *If using unsweetened cocoa powder in place of the unsweetened baking chocolate simply melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter in the microwave or in a saucepan {remove from heat source}. Stir in 12 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder until well combined.
Instructions
- In large bowl, mix oil, melted chocolate, granulated sugar and vanilla. Stir in eggs, one at a time. Set aside.
- Combine dry ingredients {flour, baking powder and salt} in a separate mixing bowl. Slowly add to wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet with cooking spray or line in parchment paper.
- Drop dough by teaspoonfuls {I used a small cookie scoop} into powdered sugar; roll around to coat and shape into balls. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. {I was able to fit 16 small cookies per cookie sheet.}
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly in center. {While cookies are baking, unwrap peppermint kisses.}
- When cookies are done, immediately place a peppermint kiss candy in the center of each cookie, and press lightly.
- Cool on cookie sheet for a minimum of 2 minutes. Using a spatula, remove the cookies to a cooling rack and cool completely until candy is set. Enjoy!
P.S. ~ Don’t forget to share some with SANTA!
