How do I garnish these cookies for the holidays?+
A fun way to dress up peppermint cookies for the holidays is by sprinkling crushed candy canes or peppermint candies on top. You can do this right after they come out of the oven while they’re still a little warm, or press the candy pieces into frosting or melted chocolate once they’re cooled. This adds a festive look and a nice peppermint crunch. If you don’t have candy canes, red and green sprinkles work great too.
Can I use different chocolate chips instead of white chocolate?+
Yes, you can swap out the white chocolate chips for any kind of chocolate you like. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even semi-sweet chips all work just fine. Use whatever you prefer or have on hand. The cookies will still taste delicious, just with a slightly different flavour.
Should I chill the dough before baking?+
Chilling the dough is a good idea if you want your cookies to be thick and chewy. It helps the cookies hold their shape while baking and keeps them from spreading too much. Letting the dough chill in the fridge for about an hour before baking usually gives great results. But if you’re short on time, you can still bake them right away—they’ll just be a little flatter.
How should I store these cookies and how long do they last?+
After the cookies have cooled completely, put them in an airtight container. You can keep them at room temperature for up to five days. If you want them to last longer, you can freeze them. Just make sure they’re wrapped well and stored in a freezer-safe container or bag. When you’re ready to eat them, let them thaw or warm them up for a few seconds in the microwave.
What if I don’t have candy canes?+
No problem! You can use crushed peppermint candies or even spearmint mints instead of candy canes. If you don’t want to add any candy at all, just use peppermint extract in the cookie dough for flavour. Red or green sprinkles can also make them look festive without any mint pieces on top.
Can I add white chocolate chips to the dough?+
Yes, white chocolate chips are a perfect match with peppermint. Just mix them into the dough before baking. They’ll melt slightly while baking and give the cookies little pockets of creamy sweetness. If you don’t have white chocolate chips, peppermint chips or even regular chocolate chips work too.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free or dairy-free?+
Yes, you can make some simple swaps. For gluten-free cookies, just use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour mix instead of regular flour. For dairy-free, use plant-based butter and dairy-free chocolate chips. The cookies might have a slightly different texture, but they’ll still taste great and keep that peppermint flavour.
Why did my cookies turn out flat or tough?+
Cookies can come out flat if the butter was too soft or the dough was too warm. Chilling the dough before baking can help fix this. Tough cookies usually happen if the dough is mixed too much or if too much flour is added. Try not to overmix the dough and measure your ingredients carefully. Also, be sure not to bake them for too long, or they might dry out.
