Chocolate Peppermint Sugar Cookies

Yield: Makes 24 cookies

Preparation Time: and Active Time: 20 min; Total Time: 35 min

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

2 cups Essential Everyday All Purpose Flour

1/2 cup Essential Everyday Cocoa Powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 1/2 sticks Essential Everyday Unsalted Butter, softened

1 1/4 cups Essential Everyday Sugar

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

1 Essential Everyday Egg

3/4 cup Essential Everyday Chocolate Chips

For the Icing:

1 1/2 cups Essential Everyday Powdered Sugar, sifted

2 tablespoons milk

3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

For the Decoration:

1/2 cup crushed peppermint hard candies

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 large sheet pans with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl whisk to combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.

3. In a large bowl with a hand mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

4. Beat in peppermint extract, then beat in egg. Scrape down sides of bowl, add flour mixture, and mix in just until smooth. Gently mix in chocolate chips.

5. Scoop the dough into portions using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, then break each portion in half and roll into balls.

6. Place dough balls on prepared sheet pans, leaving 2-inches of space between them. Use the palm of your hand to flatten the dough balls.

7. Bake until just set, 8-10 minutes, switching oven racks and rotating sheet pans halfway through baking. Let cool for 3 minutes on sheet pans, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

8. In a medium bowl whisk to combine powdered sugar, milk, and peppermint extract. Spread out crushed peppermint candies on a plate.

9. Roll edges of cooled cookies in the icing, then in the peppermint candies. Place on a parchment lined sheet pan and allow the icing to set.

10. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.