Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies Recipe
Celebrate the holiday season with these festive Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies. Bursting with semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, and optionally enhanced with crushed peppermint candies, these cookies offer a perfect balance of sweet and minty flavors. Soft, chewy, and delightfully festive, they’re ideal for sharing with friends and family or gifting during Christmas time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 21 minutes
- Yield: 48 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create tender cookies.
- Add Vanilla and Eggs: Incorporate the vanilla extract and eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to ensure a smooth batter.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined to avoid overmixing which can toughen cookies.
- Fold in Chips and Peppermint: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and crushed peppermint candies if you choose to use them, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
- Portion the Dough: Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden and the centers appear slightly underbaked for a soft texture.
- Cool on Sheet: Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes to set before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Optional Garnish: For extra festive flair, sprinkle additional crushed peppermint candies on top of the cookies before baking.
Notes
- For best results, ensure your butter is softened but not melted.
- Do not overmix the dough when combining dry and wet ingredients to maintain tender cookies.
- You can substitute the crushed peppermint candies with other festive toppings like colored sugar or sprinkles.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Freezing the cookie dough balls before baking can help maintain shape during baking.
