Special Holiday Cookies

The Headlines:

This is the month to make cookies.

Try these.

December hits and kids want cookies.  I'm not sure why, it's almost intuitive, they just want cookies around.  I guess I do too.  For that friend that pops by unexpectedly, a play date made at the last second  or even a planned party.  Cookies are festive and fun during the holidays.  But here's what I don't want:  boring old chocolate chip cookies.  No sir, I want a cookie I don't get all year long.  A cookie that screams CHRISTMAS!  Something special to celebrate a season that is just that… special.   I want something like this:

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

They are a teensy bit more labor intensive than your average chocolate chip cookie but the difference is worth your time!  I know very few people who don't like the combination of chocolate/mint… which is why this cookies works so well!

Here's what you need:

2 cups flour

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tspn salt

1 1/4/ cups unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 large egg

1 tblspn vanilla extract

5 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

1/2 tspn peppermint extract

Here's what you do:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium bowl, beat 1 cup of butter and 1 cup of sugar on medium until fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla, beat to combine.  Then gradually add flour.  Put the 1/2 cup left of sugar in a small bowl.  Roll little balls out of the dough into the bowl of sugar to coat.  Place balls on cookie sheet with parchment paper on it.  Bake for 5 minutes and remove.  Use the back of a tablespoon to make indentations in center of cookie.  Place back in oven for another 3 minutes.  You want them to just set.  Then take them out and let cool.  

While that's happening, find a microwave safe bowl and micro the chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of butter.  Watch carefully and stop as needed.  Once melted, stir in peppermint extract.  Let cool.  Then put mixture into a big baggie.  Cut corner off to use as make shift pastry filler and squeeze on top of cookies in indentation.  Let cool fully and serve or freeze.  

Guests of any kind, young or old, will be delighted by these babies.  You will too!