Ultimate Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies: Your New Go-To Mint Chocolate Treat
Prepare to fall head over heels for my **Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies** – a recipe that truly redefines cookie perfection. These incredibly fudgy delights are engineered to stay exquisitely soft and wonderfully gooey, ensuring every single bite is a luscious, melt-in-your-mouth minty indulgence. Forget dry, crumbly cookies; these are a symphony of rich chocolate and refreshing peppermint that will captivate your taste buds.
If you, like me, harbor an undeniable love for the classic and utterly irresistible pairing of cool mint and decadent chocolate, then you are in for an extraordinary treat. These Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies aren’t just a seasonal sensation or a holiday must-have; they are designed to be a year-round guilty pleasure, perfect for any occasion when a craving for something truly special strikes.
Imagine biting into a rich, deeply fudgy chocolate cookie, where every chew reveals delightful swirls of cool, refreshing York Peppermint Patty goodness. The experience is a harmonious blend of intense flavors and luxurious textures. The secret to achieving this unparalleled softness and chewiness, making you bake like a seasoned pro, is simple: intentional underbaking! Just a minute or two less in the oven is all it takes to keep these cookies irresistibly soft and perfectly gooey. This tried-and-true trick ensures they maintain that delightful texture long after they’ve cooled, locking in their fresh-out-of-the-oven magic.
I consistently rely on this underbaking method for many of my favorite recipes, from my popular Oreo Pudding Cookies to the delightful Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies. A little tip for an extra burst of warmth and gooeyness: pop one into the microwave for a few seconds. It instantly revives that fresh-from-the-oven taste, making the cookies as chewy and gooey as they were the moment you pulled them from the oven.
Whether you consider yourself a seasoned baking enthusiast with years of experience or a curious newbie just starting your culinary journey, these Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies are your ultimate ticket to achieving cookie perfection. This recipe is straightforward, forgiving, and yields consistently delicious results. Get ready to embark on a magical baking adventure and experience the sheer delight of these cookies; your taste buds won’t just be satisfied, they’ll be utterly amazed!
Why These Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies Will Become Your Favorite
These aren’t just any cookies; they’re a delightful experience waiting to happen. Here’s precisely why these Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies are destined to become a staple in your baking repertoire:
- Irresistible Chocolate & Mint Fusion: The foundation of these Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies is the unparalleled union of deep, velvety chocolate and the cool, invigorating sensation of peppermint. This classic flavor combination is a timeless favorite for a reason, creating a balance that’s both comforting and exhilarating. If you’re a devoted fan of this iconic pairing, prepare to rediscover your love for it in the most delicious cookie form imaginable. The rich cocoa provides a robust base, perfectly complemented by the refreshing burst of mint from the chopped patties, ensuring a complex and satisfying taste in every bite.
- Effortlessly Quick & Easy Baking: Despite their gourmet appearance and exquisite taste, this recipe is surprisingly simple and swift to execute. You won’t need to dedicate hours in the kitchen to achieve these cookie masterpieces. Designed for efficiency, they are perfect for those moments when an intense craving for a sweet, homemade treat strikes, or when you need a fantastic dessert in a pinch. The straightforward steps and common ingredients make them approachable for bakers of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned pros.
- The Secret to Unrivaled Softness & Gooeyness: The true magic of these cookies lies in a deliberate technique: a slight underbake. This crucial step ensures they emerge from the oven with an enviably soft, tender interior and a wonderfully chewy texture around the edges. This isn’t just a temporary state; these cookies remarkably retain their fresh-out-of-the-oven goodness, staying delightfully soft and gooey even after they’ve completely cooled. The result is a cookie that consistently delivers on its promise of ultimate indulgence.
- A Versatile Any-Season Delight: While the festive colors and flavors make them an exceptional holiday treat, these chocolate mint cookies are so inherently delicious that you’ll want to enjoy them all year long. They transcend seasonal boundaries. For ultimate convenience, you can easily scoop and freeze portions of the dough. This means whether it’s the peak of summer, a cozy autumn evening, a special celebration, or simply a regular Tuesday, a batch of freshly baked, warm, and gooey Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies is always just minutes away, ready to deliver a touch of festive joy to your taste buds whenever the mood strikes.
- Unforgettably Shareable & Crowd-Pleasing: The sheer delight these cookies bring is infectious, making them an instant hit and transforming you into a hero among your friends and family. They are perfect for potlucks, parties, bake sales, or as thoughtful homemade gifts. Plus, there’s an old adage: they’re half the calories if you share with a friend! It’s a wonderfully guilt-free way to indulge in some sweet generosity, spreading happiness one fudgy, minty cookie at a time. Be prepared for countless requests for the recipe!
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Peppermint Patty Cookies
For the exact measurements and full instructions, be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
Crafting these delectable Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies requires a selection of quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect balance of fudginess, chewiness, and classic mint-chocolate flavor:
- All-Purpose Flour: This foundational ingredient provides the necessary structure for your cookies. All-purpose flour has the ideal protein content to create cookies that are wonderfully tender without becoming dense or cakey. Sifting it beforehand helps to aerate the flour and ensures a light, uniform dough.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: The key to a rich chocolate base. Using unsweetened cocoa powder allows you to control the sweetness of the cookies. For an even deeper, darker, and less acidic chocolate flavor, I highly recommend using Dutch-processed cocoa powder if you can get your hands on it. It significantly elevates the overall chocolate richness.
- Salt: A small but mighty ingredient! Salt doesn’t just add its own flavor; it’s essential for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors in the cookie, especially the chocolate and mint. It brings out their best qualities.
- Chocolate (Melted & Chips): You’ll need a dual approach to chocolate here. First, a generous amount of chocolate for melting, which forms the core fudgy texture of the cookie dough. I typically recommend semi-sweet chocolate for this, as it offers a deep chocolate flavor without being overly sweet. Second, you’ll need chocolate chips to fold into the dough for pockets of melty chocolate goodness. A mix of ½ semi-sweet and ½ milk chocolate chips provides a lovely contrast in sweetness and texture. However, feel free to customize; dark chocolate will create a more intense, less sweet cookie, while all milk chocolate will yield a milder, sweeter profile.
- Eggs: These act as a binding agent, helping to hold the cookies together and contributing to their structure and richness. Using room temperature eggs is a pro tip, as they incorporate more easily and evenly into the butter and sugar mixture, leading to a smoother dough and a better final texture.
- Vanilla Extract: A crucial flavor enhancer that complements and deepens the chocolate notes. For a truly gourmet touch and a more pronounced vanilla flavor, consider using vanilla bean paste instead of extract. The tiny specks of vanilla bean add a touch of elegance.
- Unsalted Butter, Softened: Butter contributes significantly to the cookies’ flavor and tender texture. Using unsalted butter allows you precise control over the overall salty flavor of your cookies. If you only have salted butter on hand, simply omit the additional salt listed in the recipe. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for optimal creaming.
- Brown Sugar (Light or Dark): Brown sugar is vital for chewiness and moisture, thanks to its molasses content. Light brown sugar will give a mild, rich, and caramel-like flavor, contributing to a softer, chewier cookie. Dark brown sugar, with its higher molasses content, will impart an even more intense, almost maple-like flavor and an even chewier texture. Choose based on your preference for depth of flavor.
- Granulated Sugar: This fine sugar dissolves and disperses evenly throughout the dough, ensuring consistent sweetness and contributing to those slightly crisp edges that contrast beautifully with the soft interior.
- Peppermint Patties (Mini, Chopped): The star of the show! These are what give our cookies their signature minty burst and delightful gooey centers. Chopping mini peppermint patties ensures that every bite offers a delicious swirl of cool, refreshing mint, adding both flavor and a unique textural element. Their slight melt in the oven creates irresistible pockets of minty sweetness.
Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies
Creating these divine Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies is a straightforward process. Follow these steps carefully to ensure perfect, fudgy, and minty treats every time:
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, begin by sifting together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Sifting helps to aerate the dry ingredients, preventing lumps and ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough, which contributes to a more uniform cookie texture. Once sifted, set this mixture aside for later use.
- Melt Chocolate: Carefully melt the semi-sweet chocolate. You can do this using a double boiler: place a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Stir gently until smooth. Alternatively, use a microwave-safe bowl and heat the chocolate at 50% power for 1 minute. Stir well, then repeat in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate, as it can seize. Let it cool slightly before adding to the butter mixture.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, preferably with an electric mixer, cream the softened butter for about 1 minute until it’s light, smooth, and fluffy. This step incorporates air, which is crucial for the cookies’ tender texture. Next, add both the granulated sugar and light brown sugar (or dark brown sugar for a deeper flavor). Beat the mixture on medium speed until it’s well combined, appearing light and fluffy, with a slightly sandy and granular texture. This creaming process can take 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: With the mixer still running on medium-low, incorporate the room temperature eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully integrated. Then, stir in the vanilla extract (or vanilla paste). Once thoroughly combined, slowly pour in the cooled melted chocolate with the mixer on low speed. Continue mixing until everything is seamlessly incorporated and the mixture is uniformly smooth and glossy.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually introduce the sifted flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed only until the flour is *just* combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage, as overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tough cookies. Once the dry ingredients are mostly incorporated, switch to a sturdy rubber spatula. Gently fold in the semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips, followed by the chopped Peppermint Patties. Ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. Once everything is folded in, cover the dough and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the dough is essential; it helps the flavors meld, prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking, and results in a chewier texture.
- Preheat and Bake: While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking. Scoop out small, uniform balls of the chilled cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving enough space between each cookie for spreading. Bake for 9-10 minutes. The key here is to keep a close eye on them: the edges should appear set and slightly golden, but the centers should still look soft and slightly undercooked. This is the secret to their signature soft and gooey texture.
- Cool: Once baked, remove the cookie sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes. This period of “carry-over cooking” allows the centers to set slightly without becoming dry. After this initial cooling, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. This ensures air circulation all around the cookies, preventing them from becoming soggy on the bottom and solidifying their perfect chewy texture.
Expert Recipe Tips & Creative Variations for Your Cookies
Elevate your Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies even further with these insightful tips and fun variations:
- Chill for Intensified Flavor and Texture: For an even richer, more complex chocolate-mint flavor and a superior chewy texture, consider refrigerating your cookie dough for a few hours, or even better, overnight. This resting period allows the dry ingredients to fully absorb the liquids, the flavors to meld beautifully, and the butter to firm up, resulting in less spread during baking and a more robust cookie.
- Experiment with Mint Extract: If you’re a true mint enthusiast and desire an extra burst of refreshing minty flavor, add a drop or two (start with 1/4 teaspoon and adjust to taste) of high-quality mint extract to the dough along with the vanilla. Be cautious, as mint extract can be quite potent, so a little goes a long way! This can enhance the mint presence even with the patties.
- Double the Recipe for Any Occasion: These highly addictive cookies tend to disappear remarkably fast! To ensure you have plenty to share, gift, or simply savor for future cravings, definitely consider doubling the recipe. They are perfect for holiday platters, party desserts, or just keeping a stash for unexpected guests.
- Freeze Dough for Fresh Cookies Anytime: The convenience of having fresh, warm cookies at a moment’s notice is unbeatable. Roll any extra dough into individual cookie-sized balls, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to a zip-top freezer bag. When a craving strikes, simply bake them straight from the freezer, adding an extra minute or two to the baking time. This method ensures you always have freshly baked goodness on demand.
- Parchment Paper Perfection: Always line your baking sheets with parchment paper. This simple step is a game-changer. It not only prevents your precious cookies from sticking to the pan but also promotes more even baking and makes cleanup an absolute breeze. Silicone baking mats work wonderfully too.
- Garnish for Extra Flair: Once the cookies have cooled, consider a simple drizzle of melted dark or white chocolate over the top for an elegant touch. You could also sprinkle a few crushed candy canes or extra chopped peppermint patties on top while they’re still warm for a festive look and an additional minty crunch.
- Mix in Other Candies: Feel free to get creative with your mix-ins! While peppermint patties are traditional, you could also experiment with other chocolate mint candies, such as Andes Mints, chopped up for a slightly different texture and flavor profile.
Absolutely! You can certainly use your favorite quality chocolate bars for melting. In fact, many bakers prefer the superior flavor of chopped chocolate bars over chocolate chips for baking. Just make sure to chop them into smaller, uniform pieces before melting to ensure an even and smooth consistency.
While you can certainly add peppermint extract to the dough for a minty flavor, it’s important to note that it won’t provide the same unique texture and delightful surprise as chopped Peppermint Patties. The patties melt slightly in the oven, creating gooey, chewy pockets of mint that add a distinct characteristic to these cookies that extract alone cannot replicate.
More Must-Make Cookie Recipes
- Frosted Churro Cookies
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Shortbread
- Frosted Sugar Cookies
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Sour Cream Cookies
Peppermint Patty Fudge Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 whole large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 Tablespoons butter, softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
- 14 mini Peppermint Patties, chopped
Instructions
- Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
- Melt chocolate. If using a microwave heat at 50% power for 1 minute. Stir. Repeat at 30 second intervals until melted and smooth.
- Using an electric mixer, cream butter for about 1 minute, until smooth. Add sugar and brown sugar. Beat until well combined, it will be a very sandy texture.
- Add in the eggs and vanilla and beat until the eggs are fully incorporated.
- With the mixer on low, slowly add the melted chocolate. Mix until everything is well combined.
- Slowly add the flour mixture, mix until it is just combined.
- Using a spatula fold in the chocolate chips and the Peppermint Patties. Put the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Scoop small balls of dough onto a baking sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes, until the edges are set. The center will appear soft.
- Remove from the oven, and let the cookies set on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes (they will continue to cook a little). Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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