Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies are soft, minty, chocolatey and super easy to make. These cookies are a perfection addition to your cookie and candy tray. Even better, gift them. A fun baking project to enjoy with your family during the holiday season.
More About Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
I usually make these chocolate thumbprint cookies for parties or just to enjoy one or two with my afternoon tea. Yup, I need one cookie with my tea, everyday! Forget about diet during teatime! When I’m not baking them for the seasonal holidays then I don’t add the crushed peppermint. For kiddies parties I add some sprinkles, sparkling sugar or use Hershey’s kisses. I wanted to use Hershey’s Peppermint Kisses but didn’t find them in the supermarket near my home. On Amazon, I thought they were a bit pricey. So the next best option was to crush the actual peppermint canes and use that. Just image my luck, the day I baked the cookies, I went to the supermarket. What did I see? Bags and bags of Peppermint Kisses!
Redoing An Old Post
I am redoing an old post. The recipe is the same except that I have added crushed peppermint candy and used chocolate ganache for the filling. The previous recipe had vanilla extract and I used melted chocolate as the filling. Also I had not added baking soda. Adding a video too this time.
This post was posted on 14th February 2013 when I had chocolate thumbprint cookies for the first time to impress hubby for Valentine’s Day. Republishing it on 22nd December 2024.
Some More Cookies You May Like To Check Out
Sharing Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies With Sunday Funday
For this week Stacy suggested “Share recipes using peppermint extract or peppermints as a key ingredient!” Last Christmas my son’s partner brought a few candy canes for us. I am really not a boiled sweets or candy type of person. But having said that I use to love the Tropical mint sweets when I was a kid. For Ksh 1 we would get 10 of them. Walking back from school my brother, my neighbours and I would suck on those minty delights. By the time we reached home, the sweets were over.
Coming back to the candy cane I tasted it and it took me back to my childhood memories. For this weekend theme I am using crushed candy canes. Today, will I get anything for Ksh 1 ($0.0077) ? Not at all! Even a Ksh 100 note has not much value these days. 1 Tropical Mint Sweet in Kenya costs Ksh 10!
Check Out Recipes Using Peppermint Candy Or Extract By Members Of Sunday Funday
- Candy Cane Bark from Sid’s Sea Palm Cooking
- Candy Cane Meringue Kisses from Food Lust People Love
- Chocolate Peppermint and Chocolate Chip Cookies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies from Mayuri’s Jikoni
- Hot Chocolate With After Eight Peppermint from Sneha’s Recipe
- Mint Chocolate Cookies (Biscuits) from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
- Painted Peppermint Cookies from Culinary Cam
- Peppermint Patty Surprise Cookies from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Ingredients Required For Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
Flour
I have used all purpose flour for this recipe. I haven’t tried these cookies with wheat flour. If you have then please let me know how they turn out.
Butter
I have used salted butter. Must use room temperature butter. Should not be too hard or too soft. If you use unsalted butter, then add a generous pinch of salt to the cookie dough.
Cocoa Powder
I have used unsweetened cocoa powder. Use any brand of your choice.
Brown Sugar
Soft brown sugar gives that brownie kind of flavour to these cookies. You can replace it with white caster or baker’s sugar.
White Sugar
Need a little white caster or baker’s sugar for rolling the cookies in. Looks pretty when you are baking them for Christmas. Can omit if you wish.
Baking Agents
Need both baking powder and baking soda. (Soda Bicarbonate). As these cookies are egg free, you have to add the baking agents. I have tried baking them with only baking powder, but I found that they turn out a little dense. By adding baking soda, the cookies turn out melt in the mouth kind but will result in cracks. I don’t mind the cracks as it makes the cookies look authentic.
Milk
Need little milk to soften the dough.
Peppermint Candy Canes or the Round Peppermint Candies.
Crush them into a coarse powder. Can use a meat mallet. Place the candies in a ziplock bag and gently beat with the mallet. Alternately, break the candies into small pieces and use your coffee or spice blender. I used my coffee grinder. I crushed all the candies I had bought. The remaining powder can be used up by adding in hot chocolate, over desserts, ice creams, for brownies, cocktails, etc.
Peppermint Extract
I have not added peppermint extract as the flavour from the crushed peppermint candies is enough for us. I don’t like the cookies to be too minty as that masks the flavour of chocolate. If you wish add ½ tsp peppermint extract. Or go for 1 tsp vanilla extract. We are going to use crushed peppermint candy canes to add to the dough and some for sprinkling on top.
Dark Chocolate Chips
We are going use chocolate ganache to fill the thumbprints. If you like can use only melted chocolate. I have done that several times. I use chocolate ganache to add a bit of the festive touch.
Double Or Whipping Cream
Need some to make the chocolate ganache. I melt the chocolate chips in the microwave oven. Then I add the cream and mix. Ganache is ready. Don’t allow it to set. So make it when you are ready to fill the cookies.
Watch How To Make Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT THUMBPRINT COOKIES
Ingredients
FOR THE COOKIE DOUGH
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 100 g salted butter approx. ⅓ cup
- 6 tbsp brown sugar
- 1-2 tbsp milk
- 1-2 tbsp peppermint candy coarse powder
- 3 tbsp white sugar for rolling cookies
FOR TOPPING
- 50 g dark chocolate chips approx ½ cup
- ½ cup double or whipping cream fresh
- 1-2 tbsp peppermint candy coarse powder
Instructions
PREPARATION OF THE COOKIES
- Preheat the oven to 175℃.
- Line a baking tray with some parchment paper or silicon mat.
- Sieve flour, cocoa powder and baking agents into a mixing bowl.
- Add 1-2 tbsp peppermint candy powder. Mix well.
- If you want to can add ½ tsp peppermint extract for a more minty flavour.
- In another mixing bowl add butter and brown sugar.
- Cream till the mixture becomes soft and creamy.
- Add the flour mixture. Mix everything and make a dough.
- Add 1-2 tbsp milk and mix gently. You should get a soft dough that does not crack when you roll it.
- Take about a tablespoon of the dough. Roll it into a ball.
- Roll the ball in the white sugar to coat.
- Place it on the baking tray.
- Repeat the same with the remaining dough. You will get about 16-18 cookies.
- Place the cookie dough balls about an inch apart in the baking tray.
- Take a ½ tsp measuring spoon or use the back of a wooden spoon or your thumb.
- Press the cookie balls gently in the middle. It will flatten a bit and also create an indent.
- Put the tray in the preheated oven for the cookies to bake. Total baking time is 13-15 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, check the cookies. If the indents have closed them remove the tray from the oven.
- Gently press down again using a spoon or back of the wooden spoon.
- Bake for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the tray from the oven. The cookies initially will appear soft.
- Allow them to rest on the tray for 2-3 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
PREPARATION OF THE CHOCOLATE GANACHE
- Put the chocolate chips in an ovenproof bowl.
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 1 to 1:30 minutes.
- Alternately melt the chocolate by placing a bowl over a sauce pan with hot water.
- Once the chocolate has melted, add the cream. Mix well.
FINAL PREPARATION OF CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT THUMBPRINT COOKIES
- Spoon about ½ tsp ganache into each indent.
- Sprinkle generous amount of peppermint candy powder over the ganache.
- Enjoy Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies. Store them in an airtight container.
Notes
- Add ½ tsp peppermint extract.
- Can use only melted chocolate for topping.
- Use Hershey's Kisses.
- The dough should be dry or too soft.
- Baking time will vary from oven to oven.
- I prefer using a measuring spoon to make the indents.
Pin For Later
A Small Request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or comment on Pinterest @mayuri62
24 Comments
Stacy
December 22, 2024 at 11:47 am
Isn’t that just the way things always go? 🤣 I hope you bought some of those kisses to save for later but I love the choice you made to add the crushed peppermint sticks!
mayurisjikoni
December 26, 2024 at 7:11 pm
Oh I didn’t Stacy. Better go tomorrow to the store and buy them! But these seasonal chocolates and candies are so fun to use for bakes and desserts. And as for peppermint sticks, like them.
Wendy Klik
December 22, 2024 at 12:23 pm
I think it’s a rule that at least one thumbprint cookie needs to be baked each Holiday season.
mayurisjikoni
December 26, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Didn’t know that Wendy, but yes these cookies have now found its way to my list of Christmas Cookies.
Karen’s Kitchen Stories
December 22, 2024 at 7:01 pm
These are super gorgeous with the red and green candy on top. They sounds delicious too. P.S. I redid a post from 2013 too!!!
mayurisjikoni
December 26, 2024 at 7:05 pm
Thank you so much Karen. Loved these new version of chocolate thumbprint cookies with peppermint. Aren’t some of the groups ideal for redos. I still have so many posts that need attention.
Camilla Mateo Mann
December 23, 2024 at 12:45 am
These look delicious and decadent. I can’t wait to try them.
mayurisjikoni
December 26, 2024 at 7:03 pm
Thank you so much Camilla.
SIdsel Mcomie
December 23, 2024 at 7:24 am
I love thumbprint cookies. And these look like such fun to make and eat.
mayurisjikoni
December 26, 2024 at 6:58 pm
Thanks Sidsel. They are fun to make and just amazingly flavourful. Please do try out the recipe.
Amy’s Cooking Adventures
December 24, 2024 at 12:48 am
You can’t go wrong with chocolate & peppermint! These sound great!
mayurisjikoni
December 26, 2024 at 6:54 pm
Thanks Amy…best ever combination. Have now developed a love for peppermint candy.
Sneha Datar
December 28, 2024 at 5:13 am
These cookies are so tempting love the peppermint topping~
mayurisjikoni
December 30, 2024 at 8:32 pm
Thanks Sneha, they add a subtle peppermint flavour to the cookies.
Kalyani
December 16, 2025 at 6:38 pm
The Chocolate Thumbprint cookies with that generous dash of peppermint looks and sounds delish. The xmas vacation is a great time for my kids to try this out by themselves..
mayurisjikoni
December 16, 2025 at 6:50 pm
Addition of crushed peppermint candies is a total game changer. Go ahead and try the recipe.
Priya Srinivasan
December 17, 2025 at 12:48 am
Aww those chocolate peppermint thumbprint cookies look so cute! Only after coming to dubai i have tasted candy canes😀 such a joyous thing. Love the idea of using crushed candy cane instead of peppermint extract! My boys would definitely love these cute cookies
mayurisjikoni
December 17, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Priya I too tasted them when I came to Canada. It is not too much a British thing. Though I can’t have the whole cane on its own, I do love it in bakes and hot chocolate. Adds a lovely flavour.
Seema
December 17, 2025 at 10:26 pm
The cookies came out perfect as a bake for my collegues at work. Loved the soft mounts and the melt in the mouth texture.
mayurisjikoni
December 22, 2025 at 10:11 pm
Thank you so much Seema. Am so happy the cookies turned out well.
Neha (My Culinary Expressions)
December 18, 2025 at 3:57 am
These chocolate thumbprint cookies look so nice. The idea of using crushed candy canes is indeed very creative. Absolutely apt for the upcoming festive season.
mayurisjikoni
December 22, 2025 at 10:11 pm
Thank you so much Neha. I am not a big fan of the candy cane on its own but added to the cookies, hot chocolate, as an ice cream topping, it is simply amazing.
Archana
December 22, 2025 at 8:51 am
Now I need these peppermint canes, and I am baking these yummy chocolate thumbprint cookies! Must ask my brother to get me some candy canes. I love the idea of filling the cookies with ganache. Thanks Mayuri I love it!
mayurisjikoni
December 22, 2025 at 10:02 pm
You’re welcome, hope you get the candy canes or peppermint sweets so that you can bake these cookies.