Peppermint Double Chocolate Cookies

Peppermint Double Chocolate Cookies have a rich chocolate taste and are infused with peppermint. They’re dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy canes for the perfect holiday cookie!

Double chocolate cookies are my absolute favorite. I love the rich chocolate taste, fudgy texture, and double dose of chocolate. And with a glass of cold milk? Perfection.

My soft-batch double chocolate chip cookies are actually one of the most popular recipes on my blog. So I wanted to make a holiday version in time for Christmas to share on Oh Sweet Basil.

The combination of rich chocolate and cool peppermint flavor is the perfect pairing. Then the candy canes make them so pretty for your Christmas cookie exchange.

Ingredients for Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

For the Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

• Flour: just regular all-purpose flour
• Cocoa Powder: dutch processed cocoa is preferred
• Cornstarch: adds a chewiness to the cookies
• Baking Soda: gives the cookies some rise and fluffiness
• Salt: enhances all the flavors
• Unsalted Butter: softened to room temperature
• Brown Sugar: adds sweetness and rich flavor
• Granulated Sugar: adds sweetness
• Egg: gives the cookies structure
• Peppermint Extract: can be reduced for a milder mint flavor
• Vanilla Extract: adds flavors
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: dark chocolate chips could also be used or a mix of the two

For the Chocolate Peppermint Topping

• Semi-Sweet Chocolate: gets melted for the chocolate dip
• Vegetable Oil: helps smooth out the chocolate and gives it a nice shine
• Candy Canes: crushed up for a decorative topping

The measurements for all the ingredients are detailed in the recipe card at the end of the post. You can also print and/or save the recipe there.

How to Make Peppermint Chocolate Cookies

To get started, first we make our cookie dough. We whisk together our dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, corn starch, baking soda and salt), so they’re ready to be added to the batter later.

Then we cream together the butter and sugars in a stand mixer using the paddle attachment (I like to use a combo of brown sugar and white sugar) – and add in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract. The dry ingredients are then carefully added to the wet ingredients, and finally we add in the chocolate chips.

Then it’s time to chill the dough. Chilling is recommended because the double chocolate cookie dough is thick and sticky. If you don’t chill the dou

Sugared Pear Galette Pie

Juicy thinly sliced pears wrapped in a buttery flaky crust in a rustic style pie called a galette. This Perfect Sugared Pear Galette Pie is 100% the greatest dessert ever, imho.

However, not everyone feels that way, which is totally fine but I was missing it! This last Thanksgiving we enjoyed a glorious meal but since the families aren’t into pie all that much, I really was feeling it. So, my friend Kerri and I decided to have a little gathering 2 days after the holiday but then disaster struck- a barfing kiddo!

Our plans were foiled but I couldn’t get this idea of a pear dessert out of my head. So, Saturday rolled around and I started testing recipes and holy moly, it was inspired! Every single person in my family devoured it and Cade kept saying, forget apple pie, this is my new favorite!

 

Ingredients for a Pear Galette

When all is said and done, you only need 8 ingredients to make this recipe. I couldn’t believe that when I actually sat down and counted the ingredients…only 8! And most of them you will already have on hand. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the only thing you’ll need to go to the store for are the pears and candied ginger, unless you’re running low on a pantry staple. Here is what you will need:

Crust

• Flour – just regular all purpose flour
• Sugar – adds a little sweetness to the crust
• Salt – enhances all the flavors
• Unsalted Butter – if you only have salted butter, just omit the salt from the recipe
• Ice Water – get the water as cold as you possible can, it helps the butter stay cold making a flakier crust

Filling

• Butter – adds richness and flavor to the filling
• Pears – I like a combination of Bartlett and Bosc, Anjou also works great
• Sugar – adds sweetness to the filling
• Flour – helps the filling thicken
• Cinnamon – adds that signature fall/holiday flavor
• Candied Ginger – this is the secret weapon, that extra pop of flavor is amazing

Egg Wash

• Egg – whisked well, it helps the crust bake to golden perfection
• Water – thins out the egg wash a little
• Sugar – adds a little sweetness and extra shimmer to the crust

The measurements for each of the ingredients is listed in the recipe card at the end of the post. You can save and/or print the recipe there as well.

 

 

Four Important Tips for the Best Pear Galette

There are a few things that make this recipe extra special…

1. The crust. We aren’t going to make a traditional crust, we are going to make a flakier, sheets of pastry dough crust (see section below for more details). This is accomplished by rolling out the butter in long sheets which I read about in a book long ago. Their version took a few hours and too many steps for me, so I’ve shortened things up and made it crazy easy. In fact, if you struggle with a pie crust this is your new best friend.
2. Brown Butter. Need I say more? Head to our chewy pumpkin cookies pos

Reindeer Muddy Buddies Christmas Snack Mix

An easy and delicious Reindeer Muddy Buddies Christmas snack mix that is perfect for the holidays! This snack mix is filled with muddy buddies, pretzels, M&Ms, and peanut butter cups!

 

I know, we already have a muddy buddies recipe and we already have a 5 minute Christmas snack mix but whenever I go to parties and like a certain combination in a snack mix I want to make it at home.

There’s nothing I love more than a quick and easy snack mix that the kids can make with me. 

Any chance we’ve got to get together over something delicious is kind of a big deal these days. With three kids it’s busy, but since our three are totally different ages and not at all on the same playing level little traditions like making snack mixes is the perfect way for them to connect. 

How to Make This Christmas Snack Mix

1. Make the Muddy Buddies

Prepare our best muddy buddies recipe and allow them to cool completely. 

   2. Combine the Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the muddy buddies, pretzels, m&ms and peanut butter cups. 

   3. Toss everything together and store in a sealed container. 

 

Christmas Snack Mix Storage Tips

Storage is key in any snack mix. It allows you to make it early enough that you can spread out the holiday busyness! 

• Store this Muddy Buddies Snack Mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. 

 

Oh Sweet Basil Pro Tip!

• You can freeze any leftover snack mix in an airtight container/bag for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature and munch away!

Variation ideas for Snack Mixes

• Replace some of the pretzels with popped plain popcorn
• A white chocolate or milk chocolate drizzle with sprinkles is always fun!
• Use chocolate covered pretzels instead of plain pretzels
• Add in mini marshmallows (marshmallows will not keep)
• Throw in peanuts or cashews

 

Gather your kiddos of all ages in the kitchen and make this Christmas snack mix! We love to put some in cellophane bags and deliver them to friends in the neighborhood.

More Holiday Snack Mixes:

• Candied Nuts Snack Mix
• 5 Minute Christmas Snack Mix
• 5 Minute Reese’s Snack Mix
• Ranch Slow Cooker Chex Mix
• Sweet Chex Mix
  Read more

Addicting Christmas M&M Pretzel Hugs

Mmmm, salty, crisp mini pretzels topped off with soft and silky chocolates with an M&M on top! These Christmas M&M pretzel hugs are the most addicting Christmas snack!

It’s one of those non-recipes so I know you don’t technically need a recipe card for our Christmas M&M Pretzel Hugs but it might come in handy.

You see, every year our teenager sets out to make little chocolate pretzels and every year I cannot remember what I set the oven to. So, yes, they are easy and take no instruction at all, but then again, if you’re losing your marbles like I am….

The best part about this Christmas Party Snack is that you can use whatever you’d like:

• Regular Kisses
• Hugs
• Candy Cane Kisses 
• Cookies and Creme Kisses

How to Make M&M Pretzel Hugs

1. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper in case any chocolate melts through the pretzels. (PS I cannot live without my silpats. I have more than I can count and they are life changing in cookie making especially.)
2. Place pretzels in lines and top each with a Hershey’s Hug. 
3. Heat the oven and place the pan in the oven for a few minutes. 
4. Once the chocolate is shiny but still has a little consistency pull them out and quickly top with an m&m
5. Allow to set up completely before eating. 

How to Store Pretzel Hugs

Store cooled and hard pretzel hug snacks in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Refrigeration can soften the pretzels so it’s not recommended.

Oh Sweet Basil Pro Tip!

Make sure you test the chocolate before you pull them from the oven as sometimes only the tip of the chocolate has melted and the m&m is standing too high. 

Gently press the m&m onto a chocolate with the oven open and if it presses the chocolate down into a soft mound without totally making a puddle you’re ready to go!

To Correct a Problem

If the chocolate is too melted let them stand in a cool place to start to solidify again before pressing in the chocolate. 

Are Pretzels Gluten Free?

Pretzels are not gluten free unless you buy the gluten free pretzels. 

Are Pretzels Dairy Free?

Pretzels are almost always dairy free but it’s best to double check the packaging just in case. 

Are Pretzels Healthy?

Pretzels are a salty-carb. Not really a healthy snack as they are not full of many vitamins and minerals.

That being said, if you’re trying to decide between pretzels or chips, yes, go pretzels. 

Are Hershey Hugs Chocolate?

Hershey’s hugs are made with chocolate and white chocolate so it’s not a pure, good quality chocolate like some others, but it’s still a chocolate candy.

Old Fashioned Molasses Cookie Recipe

Old fashioned molasses cookies are one of the chewiest, yummiest cookies to make for the holidays, you will absolutely love them!

These old fashioned molasses crinkles are fantastic and totally similar to our white chocolate molasses cookies. These are meant to get those beautiful cracks all over the top and be a little more chewy to bite into. I have a secret to making those cracks as cracky as possible too!

Note, these cookies are not crunchy as we aren’t making gingerbread cookies, but chewy as is in sink your teeth into delicious. It seems like molasses crinkles are becoming forgotten but I refuse to let that happen.

What Do I Need to Make Molasses Cookies?

I’ve had quite a few molasses crinkle cookies in my day and I’m sorry to say that I have the same complaint with all of them, too much molasses and ginger. I don’t want to be breathing fire when I bite into a cookie.

Now I do like molasses cookies to have warmth to them as that’s how they should be but that all comes from the right ingredient ratios. We only need 1/2 cup of molasses and that’s plenty to bring on the flavor. Here is everything you need:

• Butter: unsalted, softened
• Brown Sugar: adds sweetness and rich molasses flavor
• Sugar: Just regular granulated sugar is used to both sweeten the dough and to roll the dough in before baking.
• Molasses: adds flavor, sweetness and richness of flavor
  • PRO TIP: We prefer Grandma’s brand dark molasses.
• Vanilla: adds flavor
• Eggs: gives the cookies structure
• Flour: just simple all purpose flour is all you need
• Ground Cinnamon: adds warmth and flavor
• Ground Cloves: adds festive holiday flavor
• Baking Soda: gives the cookies rise and fluffiness
• Ground Ginger: adds flavor and warmth
• Salt: enhances all the flavors

The measurements for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to Make Molasses Cookies

These old fashioned soft molasses cookies come together quickly and easily. Here are the basic steps:

1. Wet Ingredients: Mix the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and cream until light and fluffy using the paddle attachment. Add the molasses and beat until smooth and then the egg and mix again.
2. Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk all the dry ingredients together.
3. Combine: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
4. Chill: Scrape the sides of the bowl down and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
5. Prep: Preheat the oven and prep baking sheets with silpats or parchment paper.
6. Form: Scoop the cookie dough into balls and using your hands, roll the dough into balls. Roll the dough in