Peppermint bark is one of my favorite parts of the holidays. I enjoy white chocolate year round – a little too much, probably – but there is something special for me about white chocolate with crunchy peppermint on top.
I think my true obsession with it blossomed in high school. I fondly remember studying for exams with a cup of coffee and peppermint bark next to me and the Christmas tree. Add some fluffy, falling snow, and I am in nostalgia heaven. An added bonus was that my brother hated (and still does) peppermint bark. Something about the sticky candy in his teeth. More for me!
But I can understand that some people feel guilty about eating exorbitant amounts of pure sugar. These cookies try to make a compromise. Since the peppermint bark decorates a cookie, it is easier to coerce yourself into taking just one! And the brownie cookies that support this glorious peppermint bark are a chocolate dream. They are thick and gooey but not so overwhelming that you wish you had stuck with just an after-dinner mint.
Make sure that these cookies have a place on your holiday table or at your next cookie exchange party! Direct the fans to Adventures of a Frostaholic © so that they can share the deliciousness!
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Step One.
Prep Step! Measure out all of your ingredients.
Step Two.
In a double-boiler (or a bowl over a pot of simmering water), melt the chocolate and the butter. Let the chocolate mixture cool.
Step Three.
In a small bowl, mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt).
In a stand mixer on medium-high speed, beat the eggs and sugar together until light in color. Mix in the vanilla. Slowly incorporate the cooled chocolate mixture. Finally, fold in the dry ingredients until incorporated.
Step Four.
Chill the batter for an hour or until firm. When the time is almost up, preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step Five.
Scoop dough with a Tablespoon and place balls of dough on the baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for about 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies resemble a crackled brownie. Set the cookies on a rack to cool.
Step Six.
While the cookies cool, melt the chocolate and crush the candy canes. Dip the cookies into the chocolate, then sprinkle with crushed candy. These are best when dunked in hot chocolate! =]
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 52 minutes
Yield: about 20 large cookies
The peppermint bark atop these chewy brownie cookies adds an extra touch for a tasty holiday treat!
Ingredients
Instructions