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    Home > Recipes > Christmas

    Chocolate Mint Brownie Cookies

    Published: Dec 3, 2012 · Modified: May 24, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 12 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    chocolate brownie cookies on a wooden tray
    adding glaze to chocolate cookies
    chocolate brownie cookies with candy cane topping
    chocolate cookies topped with candy cane topping on a wooden tray

    Bite-Sized Chocolate Brownie Cookies with Candy Cane Topping are a soft, brownie-like chocolate cookie that only becomes more irresistible when rolled into bite-sized proportions.

    In the very early days of this blog, I buried one of my favorite cookie recipes deep in a post on Chili Cashew Chicken.  Now, to be fair, that chicken is really quite good, but these cookies are the recipe that I find myself most often searching for on the blog.

    As I was thinking about Christmas cookies, along with, it seems, half of the planet this week, these cookies were the first thing that came to mind.  The discovery of candy canes at the grocery store this week (holy goodness gracious have I been looking everywhere for them) prompted me to give these beloved cookies a Christmas make-over.

    adding glaze to cookies on a cooling rack

    They are still just about the simplest cookies around, and perhaps one of the most lovable things about them is how well they freeze.  If ever there was a secret weapon for holiday entertaining/party-going/cookie-swapping, it's frozen cookie dough.

    Roll the dough, dip it in sugar, freeze on a cookie sheet, and transfer to a bag.  Even the easy peppermint glaze and crushed candy canes can be made in advance (refrigerate the glaze; freeze the crushed candy canes).

    While the chocolate cookies are fantastic on their own, they were made to be bedazzled with candy cane crumbles.

    a bowl of crushed candy canes

    With Christmas cookie season in full swing, here are a few other beauties that I would love to get at a cookie swap this year!

    Claire's Mexican Chocolate Snickerdoodles  (mmm, spice and chocolate are so good together)

    3.1.08

    Sally's Soft Gingersnaps with Butterscotch Chips (love that butterscotch chip pillow on top)

    Ashley's Brown Butter Ginger Cookies with Honey Mascarpone Cream (sandwich cookies with brown butter and ginger = holiday perfection)

    Joy's Red Velvet Black and White Cookies (Joy took these to Ina Garten’s house, so you know they're good)

    My Master List of Christmas Cookies

    • Crisp Gingerbread Cookies
    • Baking Christmas Cookies with Kids
    • Salted Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cookies
    • Chocolate Mint Pinwheel Cookies
    • Chocolate-Mint Ribbon Cookies
    • Candy Cane Meringues
    • Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms
    • Christmas Tree Meringues
    • Bite-Sized Chocolate Brownie Cookies with Candy Cane Topping
    • Elf Pies {Video}
    • Chocolate Candy Cane Truffles

    Favorite Tools

    • Anchor 3-Piece Glass Mixing Bowls 
    • Stand or Handheld Mixer
    • Flat-bottomed bowl or plate
    • Half Sheet Pan 
    • Cooling Rack
    • Whisk
    chocolate brownie cookies on a wooden tray
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Bite-Sized Chocolate Brownie Cookies with Candy Cane Topping Recipe

    These soft, chewy chocolate cookies are topped with a peppermint glaze and candy cane crumbles.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time7 mins
    Total Time27 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: Christmas, cookies, easy baking
    Servings: 100 cookies
    Calories: 66kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $3.00

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • Stand or Handheld Mixer
    • Half Sheet Pan
    • Flat Bottomed Bowl or Plate
    • Cooling Rack

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
    • ¾ cup Cocoa Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 ¼ cups Unsalted Butter, softened
    • 2 + 1 cups Sugar, divided
    • 2 teaspoon Vanilla
    • 2 large Eggs

    For topping:

    • 1 ½ cups Powdered Sugar
    • 4 Tablespoon Hot Water
    • ¼ teaspoon Peppermint Extract
    • 5 Candy Canes

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a bowl and stir until evenly combined.
    • Beat butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and eggs and gently mix for another minute. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
    • Pour 1 cup sugar into a flat-bottomed bowl or plate. Roll small balls of cookie dough (a teaspoon is about how much you'll want to use for each) between your palms and then roll each ball in sugar to fully coat. Place rolled dough balls on a cookie sheet, leaving a couple inches of space between them. (If the dough is too soft to easily roll, put it in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to help it firm up.)
    • Bake just until cookies have spread out slightly but are still moist, 7-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack. (Cookies will be fragile when they come out of the oven but will remain tender after completely cooled.)
    • To make the peppermint glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, hot water, and peppermint extract in a small bowl until smooth and pourable (add more water, 1 tsp. at a time, if necessary to reach a pourable consistency). Put the candy canes in a plastic bag and pound with a rolling pin until crushed into small pieces.
    • When the cookies have cooled, drizzle the tops with peppermint glaze and immediately sprinkle each cookie with crushed candy canes.

    Notes

    These cookies freeze very well. Roll the dough in sugar, place them on a small cookie sheet and pop them in the freezer until frozen all the way through. Transfer the frozen dough balls to a large ziploc bag and store in the freezer until you're ready to bake them.
    Recipe adapted from "Grammy's Chocolate Cookies", published in Martha Stewart Living, February 2000

    Nutrition

    Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 76IU | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg

    Related

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Claire @ Claire K Creations

      December 03, 2012 at 6:40 am

      Oh my goodness I've never thought to freeze the dough already rolled that's sheer brilliance! I will most gladly swap you a basket of Mexican chocolate snickerdoodles for a basket of these! YUM!

      Reply
      • Jess

        December 03, 2012 at 7:28 am

        Oh you've got to try it! It's almost TOO easy - a bag of rolled cookie dough is a tempting thing to have in the freezer. Have you ever had Mexican hot chocolate? Your cookies totally reminded me of how delicious it is!

        Reply
    2. Ashley

      December 04, 2012 at 1:34 am

      Yum, I love chocolate brownie cookies! I need to buy some candy canes... I've been holding out so far this year but I think it's time... : )

      Reply
    3. Averie @ Averie Cooks

      December 04, 2012 at 9:02 am

      Well great minds clearly think alike with our brownie cookies today! I love the peppermint addition to yours and that they look so chewy. Like I want to sink my teeth into them!

      Reply
      • Jess

        December 04, 2012 at 9:07 am

        Haha - I know! I thought the same thing! I'm a huge fan of soft chewy cookies that are much more like brownies, so I'm happy to have lots of options to try! Next time though I'll load them up with all sorts of chocolate like yours!

        Reply
    4. sally @ sallys baking addiction

      December 04, 2012 at 9:42 am

      ARe these not the cutest cookies in the entire world? The adorable icing on top, the candy canes - the perfect chocolate cookie recipe. They look SO soft and chewy. Pinning these, they are SO festive!!! 🙂

      Reply
    5. Julia | JuliasAlbum.com

      December 05, 2012 at 3:48 am

      So pretty! I have peppermint candy canes still left over from last Christmas, so I am looking for ways to use them. 🙂

      Reply
      • Jess

        December 05, 2012 at 8:21 am

        I love the way they look, but I always have candy canes left over from year to year, Julia! This would be a great way to use them!

        Reply
    6. Emily @ Zweber Family Farms

      December 10, 2012 at 2:36 am

      I just found this recipe from a Google search. I am making them right now!! Thank you for the recipe (PS I love your blog)

      Reply
      • Jess

        December 11, 2012 at 1:03 am

        Thank you, Emily! Hope you liked them as much as I did!

        Reply
    7. Christy

      February 04, 2021 at 10:58 pm

      5 stars
      This cookie tastes amazing in taste and texture!!! I do have one question, are these cookies supposed to be on the flatter side? I have made two batches and when I take them out of the oven they flatten. I do chill them, roll them into a ball and I haven’t made any changes.
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        February 06, 2021 at 8:19 am

        Hi Christy - yes - these cookies do always turn out a bit flat / thin. I think that's what helps them to retain that chewy texture.

        Reply

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