In the very beginning of November, one of my old high school friends drove up to stay with her mother-in-law, who lives about twenty minutes away in the next town over, so she set aside time to visit me one night during her trip. Because she works in a bakery as her full-time job, it’s always fun to catch up and trade stories!
We met at the Starbucks just two traffic lights away from my home. Despite walking into the store after 6 pm, we both ordered coffee. Too little sleep makes caffeine a necessity! She elected for a standard cup topped off with milk, but when I spotted their colorful sign promoting their holiday peppermint mocha, all other thoughts flew out the window.
The barista at the register smiled when I ordered, asking if I liked the little curls of chocolate on top. I completely forgot that was an option… And with my chocoholic nature, he sweetly called out to the other barista mixing up drinks to add extra on top of mine!
My friend and I settled into the chairs, hands curled around the cardboard liners, slowly sipping our drinks while laughing, trading stories, and losing all sense of time. It was as if only a day had passed since we last saw each other in person instead of the 1½ years that had actually slipped by!
Although hanging out with my close friend was definitely the highlight of the evening, that peppermint mocha came in a close second. All of that rich chocolaty goodness… So of course, I decided to turn it into a dessert. These Peppermint Mocha Cookies, to be exact!
These chocolaty cookies are treat #3 in Cookie Week on Amy’s Healthy Baking! First up were rainbow chocolate chip cookies, followed by yesterday’s eggnog snickerdoodles. Next on the menu are spiced and classic treats, so stay tuned!
With 3 types of chocolate, these peppermint mocha cookies definitely count as the richest of the week! You’ve got cocoa powder, regular chocolate chips, and minis too. They’re so decadent that they practically taste like fudgy brownies in the shape of cookies. That’s my kind of treat—it combines my two favorites!
Then for the other iconic flavors, we’ll turn to instant coffee and peppermint extract. Don’t use regular coffee grounds! We need the kind that dissolve in water—or in this case, melted butter. Instant coffee ensures an even coffee background flavor without any graininess.
To make sure they stay extremely fudgy, do not overbake these cookies! Pull them out of the oven when they still look slightly underdone; then let them sit on the warm baking sheet longer. This allows the centers to set without the outsides turning crisp and crunchy.
Soft and chewy cookie lovers, beware… If you haven’t tried that trick before, I guarantee you’ll never go back!
I’m incredibly indecisive (it still takes me 10 minutes to choose an entrée at our favorite restaurants!), but these Peppermint Mocha Cookies just might be my favorite holiday cookies this year. Warm coffee, light peppermint, oodles of melty chocolate chips, all wrapped up in fudgy brownie-like cookies…
If you figure out a way to keep your hands out of the cookie jar with these, I’ll be absolutely amazed. We already polished off the entire batch!
| Peppermint Mocha Cookies | | Print |
- ¾ c (90g) all-purpose flour (measured correctly)
- ¼ c (20g) unsweetened cocoa powder (measured correctly)
- ½ tsp (2g) baking powder
- ½ tsp (1g) cornstarch
- ⅛ tsp (1g) salt
- 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 2 tsp (3g) instant coffee granules
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ½ tsp (3mL) peppermint extract
- ½ c (106g) light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp (28g) regular chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp (14g) miniature chocolate chips
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together the butter and instant coffee until about halfway dissolved. Mix in the egg and peppermint extract, continuing to stir until the instant coffee is mostly dissolved. (If a few small granules remain, discard them.) Stir in the brown sugar, smearing out any clumps along the side of the bowl. Add in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated. Fold in all of the regular and half of the miniature chocolate chips.
- Drop the cookie dough into 12 rounded scoops on the prepared baking sheet, and flatten slightly. Press the remaining miniature chocolate chips into the tops. Bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes. Cool on the pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.
Make sure to use instant coffee and not regular coffee grounds. Choose the kind that dissolves in water to create an even background flavor without any graininess.
It takes a while to get the instant coffee to dissolve. I generally use a fork, and when it clumps onto the tines, I rub the fork back and forth against the side of the bowl. The friction helps it dissolve slightly faster.
{low fat, low calorie}
More mocha cookie recipes by other food bloggers…
Chocolate Mocha Snickerdoodles by Crazy for Crust
Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies by Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Café Mocha Cookies by Table for Two
Chewy Mocha M&M Cookies by Overtime Cook
Peppermint Mocha Cookies by Baking a Moment
Oh man those look gooood. I love peppermint mochas (who doesn’t?) but this cookie variation sounds AMAZING 🙂
Thank you so much! I’m obsessed with peppermint mochas right now… And I’ll gladly drink anyone’s who isn’t! 😉
I do not see eggnog listed in the ingredients list, but yet it is mentioned at the end of the recipe. How much eggnog should be added and when. Thanks.
Thanks for catching that! I’ve updated the recipe, so there shouldn’t be any more confusion. 🙂
“Prominent egg nog flavor” is mentioned in the beginning of the recipe too!
Thanks for catching that Dawn — all fixed! 🙂 I hope you enjoy the cookies if you try them!
Sounds delicious- but confused by the eggnog comments.
Thanks for catching that! I’ve updated the recipe, so there shouldn’t be any more confusion. 🙂
I love anything mint/chocolate! These look so fudgy and delicious. Pinned!
Thanks so much Julia! 🙂
You had me at “3 types of chocolate” Amy! Ah, you’ve combined some of my favorite things on the planet, coffee being at the top of that list! I love your stories and I love these cookies. Pinned! xoxo
Aww thank you so much Justine! I’ll put these on the menu for one of our food dates! 🙂
That is one GORGEOUS cookie Amy! Peppermint mochas are my fave!!
Thank you so much Trish!! I still have a few if you’d like any! 🙂
I am on a peppermint CRAZE right now! LOVE THIS. Pinned!
Thanks Lee! I am too… It’s BAD! 😉
Someone is on a major cookie roll! Between these and the eggnog snickerdoodles, I am loaded for Christmas cookie baking!
My freezer is full of cookies — I can’t even fit ice cream inside anymore!
Girlll – you should package these up and sell them to Starbucks! You’d make a killing.
Aww thank you Sarah!! That’s the biggest compliment ever. 🙂 🙂