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Cookies

Sugar Cookie Bars

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Cookie Bar vs Blondie

Sugar cookie bars are clearly a cookie bar. Technically, though, a blondie is also a cookie bar. The two desserts look very similar. Of course, the primary difference is in the ingredients rather than the appearance. What type of sugar you use is the specific difference. For these sugar cookie bars, I used white sugar. A classic blondie, would use brown sugar and butter for a butterscotch type flavor. Blondies also often mix in chocolate chips and pecans. A classic sugar cookie really does not have any type of mix ins. However, I did use rainbow sprinkles in these sugar cookie bars. Are the sprinkles required? I would say yes but feel free to decide for yourself.

Stack of sugar cookie bars with sprinkles.

No Chill

These sugar cookie bars have no chill. Literally. You do not need to chill the dough. You also don’t need to soften the butter – you’ll just melt it. Go ahead and grab everything out of your pantry and fridge. Whisk your dry ingredients. Mix your wet ingredients. Stir the dry and wet ingredients together. Add the sprinkles. Press the dough into a prepared pan. I added a few more sprinkles on top to make them extra colorful, no need to press these in. Bake for thirty minutes. Once cooled, cut the bars into 16 squares. It really is this easy. And the reward for your work is very sweet.

Sugar Cookie Bars with rainbow sprinkles.
Stack of sugar cookie bars with sprinkles.

Sugar Cookie Bars

Sarah Baade
These sugar cookie bars are sweet, tasty, and made festive with rainbow sprinkles.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 bars

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup rainbow sprinkles (an additional tablespoon for sprinkling on top if desired)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, corn starch, baking soda, and salt.
  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together butter, sugar, and vanilla.
  • Mix egg into wet ingredients. (If butter is still quite warm from melting, be sure to mix egg in rapidly so that it doesn't become a scrambled egg in the batter.)
  • Gradually stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients until almost completely blended together.
  • Add 1/3 cup sprinkles to cookie dough and mix until evenly distributed. Dry ingredients should also now be fully incorporated.
  • Press dough into prepared pan. Add remaining tablespoon of sprinkles on top if you choose using (no need to press these into the dough).
  • Bake 30 minutes or until slightly golden on top and a test toothpick comes out clean.
  • Let cool completely before cutting into 16 squares.
Keyword Cookie Bars, Peppermint Sugar Cookies, Sugar Cookie Bars

Looking for more cookie bars? Give these recipes a try:

All In Cookie Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

All In Cookie Bars

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All In

All in. These All In Cookie Bars have a thick chocolate chip cookie base packed full with add-ins you have in your pantry. To create these, I literally grabbed bits and pieces of ingredients from half empty packages. This is the perfect recipe to use up that random bag of pecans, different chocolate ships, etc. Toss them all in! With that in mind, you won’t need to stick exactly to the add-ins I used here. We’ll get into that as we get to each step of the recipe.

Cookie bar with chocolate, pretzels, marshmallows, and pecans.

Step By Step

Let’s get into the details of these All In Cookie Bars! In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients. This makes for even distribution when you mix into the wet ingredients. Set the dry ingredients to the side and grab a large mixing bowl. I like to use a stand mixer but you can absolutely use a hand mixer. In the large bowl, beat together both sugars with the butter until light in texture. Mix in the eggs and vanilla then gradually add in those dry ingredients until just combined.

Cookie bar with chocolate, pretzels, marshmallows, and pecans.

Add Ins

Here is where the All In Cookie Bars get fun and can be customized. Let me start by telling you what I used: pecan pieces, semi-sweet chocolate chunks, dark chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, pretzel pieces. Ultimately, you want a mix of sweet and salty add ins and don’t skimp on whichever ingredient is your favorite. No pretzels on hand? Use plain potato chips or gold fish crackers. No pecans? Use walnuts or peanuts. Use whatever type of chocolate you have on hand – dark, milk, white, whatever. Toffee bits are another fun sweet option. If you have large marshmallows instead of minis, just cut them up and toss the pieces in. Get creative! Whatever add ins you use, toss them all into the dough together and stir them in by hand so as to not over mix the dough. Feel free to sprinkle a few on top before baking as well.

Cookie bar with chocolate, pretzels, marshmallows, and pecans.

All In Cookie Bars

Sarah Baade
Thick chocolate chip cookie base packed full with add-ins you have in your pantry.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 16 cookie bars

Equipment

  • 1 Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
  • 1 8×8 baking pan

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Add Ins – can be customized based on what you have on hand

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  • 2/3 cup pretzel pieces
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup pecan pieces

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with sugar and brown sugar until light in texture.
  • Mix in eggs and vanilla.
  • Gradually stir in dry ingredients until just combined.
  • With a sturdy wooden spoon, stir in add ins of your choice.
  • Press dough into prepared baking pan and bake 30-35 minutes or until golden in color and a test stick comes out clean.
  • Once cooled, cut into 16 squares and enjoy!

Notes

Use whatever add ins you happen to have in your pantry. Possible options: toffee bits, walnuts, peanuts, potato chips, gold fish, chocolate of any type (dark, milk, white, etc).
Keyword All In Cookie Bars, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cookie Bars

More Cookies With Chocolate Chips:

Perfect Dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies

Almond Monster Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

RED VELVET CRINKLE BLOSSOM COOKIES

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Holiday Cookies

This is the third year in a row that I have created a new recipe specifically for Valentine’s Day. Probably my favorite holiday to make sweet treats for! But don’t let all the red and pink fool you, these treats are fun to eat year round! First was my Peanut Butter Cut Out Cookies. Then came my Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. This year, I’m bringing you Red Velvet Crinkle Blossom Cookies. Red velvet cookie dough rolled in powdered sugar then topped with a chocolate kiss fresh out of the oven. Absolute perfection.

Red velvet cookies topped with chocolate kisses.

Dry Ingredients

You know the routine by now, right? Start these Red Velvet Crinkle Blossom Cookies with your dry ingredients. In a bowl, you’re going to whisk together the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt. This will disperse the baking powder throughout the cookies. You want to do this for two reasons. First, you don’t want anyone to bite into a clump of baking powder. Trust me on this, a clump of baking powder makes for a very bitter bite. The other reason you want to whisk these ingredients is to make sure your cookies rise properly.

A bite taken out of a red velvet cookie topped with a chocolate kiss.

Wet Ingredients

In a separate mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Make sure you’re using room temperature butter. Beat it with the sugar until it is light in color and texture. In other words, beat it until you think you’ve got it and then beat it some more. Then mix in the eggs, vanilla, and food coloring. Yes, this recipe calls for a lot of food coloring. Yes, this is normal for red velvet. We want RED Velvet Crinkle Blossom Cookies, not pink. Finally, you can gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Now chill. Seriously, cover the dough with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour. I like to let it chill overnight.

A bite take out of a red velvet cookie topped with a chocolate kiss.

Make Them Pretty

Once your dough is chilled for these Red Velvet Crinkle Blossom Cookies, go ahead and preheat your oven to 350℉. Roll dough into tight tablespoon sized balls then coat heavily in powdered sugar. No need to shake off any excess powdered sugar. Place on prepared cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes. As soon as you pull the cookies out of the oven, gently press a chocolate kiss into the middle of each cookie. Let cool slightly before transferring to a cooling rack. These are particularly delicious when they are still barely warm and the chocolate has warmed enough to fully melt in your mouth.

Red velvet cookies topped with chocolate kisses.

Red Velvet Crinkle Blossom Cookies

Sarah Baade
Red velvet cookies rolled in powdered sugar and topped with a chocolate kiss.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 1 hr 40 mins
Course Dessert
Servings 30 cookies
Calories 127 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2½ cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 3 eggs
  • 1-2 Tablespoons red food coloring
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup powdered sugar (may need more depending on how heavily you coat the rolled dough)
  • 30 chocolate kisses, unwrapped

Instructions
 

  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
  • Mix eggs, 1 tablespoon food coloring, and vanilla.
  • Gradually stir dry ingredients in. If dough is pink in appearance, add more food coloring until you reach a deep red color.
  • Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill 1 hour minimum (can chill overnight if preferred)
  • When ready to bake cookies, preheat oven to 350℉ and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Tightly roll dough into tablespoon sized balls then roll in powdered sugar until fully covered. Place on prepared baking sheet, 3 inches apart. Bake 10 minutes.
  • When cookies are fresh out of the oven, gently press a chocolate kiss into the middle of each cookie.
  • Let cookies cool slightly before transferring to cooling rack.
Keyword Blossom Cookies, Lemon Crinkle Cookies, Red Velvet, Red Velvet Cookies, Red Velvet Crinkle Blossom Cookies

PEPPERMINT SUGAR COOKIES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

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Holiday Cookies

Cookies are always a hit this time of year and these Peppermint Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are no exception. I was inspired by these Key Lime Sugar Cookies but wanted to put a winter twist on them. I essentially subbed the lime flavor for peppermint, tweaked the cookie recipe itself slightly, and opted for a cream cheese frosting. For that peppermint flavor, the recipe includes crushed candy canes as well as peppermint extract. (*I crushed my candy canes by putting them in a large zip lock bag and gently smashing them with a hammer.) Let’s get into the full details on how to make these peppermint sugar cookies…

Sugar cookies covered in cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with bits of candy cane.

Peppermint Sugar Cookies

Peppermint Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting. Let’s start with the dry ingredients – whisk them together to ensure you don’t have any clumps of baking soda or corn starch. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat the heck out of that butter and sugar together until it is light in both color and texture. Don’t forget to scrape the sides of the bowl periodically. Now add in the egg and peppermint extract. Finally, you want to gradually stir in the dry ingredients and half of the crushed candy cane pieces. Save the other half of the candy for decorating the cookies. Now the part everyone hates, chill the dough for an hour. Yes, you could make these straight away without chilling but they absolutely turn out better if you take the time to chill the dough. Once chilled, form the dough into 1″ balls, place them on a parchment lined baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees F for 14-16 minutes. Exact time will vary based on your individual oven.

Sugar cookie covered in cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with bits of candy cane.

Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting

Yes, you could eat the cookies as is. However, peppermint sugar cookies WITH cream cheese frosting is what really puts this recipe over the top. While your cookies are cooling, you can make the peppermint cream cheese frosting. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, and peppermint extract together. Gradually stir in the powdered sugar. Don’t add it all at once as the powdered sugar and easily puff up out of the bowl, making a huge mess. Spread the frosting over the cookies and sprinkle on the candy cane pieces reserved from the cookie recipe to decorate. FYI, this frosting would also be incredible on chocolate cake/cupcakes.

Sugar cookies covered in cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with bits of candy cane.

Peppermint Sugar Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting

Classic sugar cookies with a festive peppermint twist.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 30 Cookies

Ingredients
  

Cookies

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 5 oz crushed candy cane, divided (This is 12 candy canes)

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 4 oz unsalted butter, softened
  • ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1½ cups powdered sugar

Instructions
 

Cookies

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, corn starch, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light in color. Scrape sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Mix in egg and peppermint extract.
  • Gradually add in flour mixture and half of the crushed candy canes. Again, scrape the bowl periodically. Mix until just combined.
  • Chill dough 1 hour.
  • Once dough is chilled, preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Roll cookie dough into 1” balls then place on parchment covered cookie sheet, leaving 2 inches between cookies.
  • Bake 14-16 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and peppermint extract until fully combined.
  • Gradually stir in powdered sugar.
  • Spread frosting over cooled cookies and top with remaining crushed candy cane pieces.
Keyword Christmas Cookies, Cookies, Cream Cheese Frosting, Peppermint, Peppermint Sugar Cookies, Sugar Cookies

Lemon Iced Ginger Cookies

Peppermint Cocoa Cookies

Oatmeal Cherry Cookies

ALMOND MONSTER COOKIES

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My Dietary Changes

I’ve been making some changes in my day-to-day eating habits… again. I promise the end result in this post is a recipe for my incredible Almond Monster Cookies but hear me out on the journey. If you’ve been following me for very long, you might know that I was vegetarian for a while. There is so much that I love about a vegetarian diet but right now, it just isn’t realistic for me. If you’re curious, about the details, you can read more here. Family members of mine recently changed their diet to include gluten-free, dairy-free, and intermittent fasting. I know that intermittent fasting is not something I want to follow but their changes got me thinking and exploring. I’ve been curious about anti-inflammatory foods for a long time and have been reading up on some beginner level information. I certainly don’t claim to have a background in nutrition or medicine. Please don’t look to my choices as any type of advice or expert recommendation. I am simply sharing what is currently working for myself. Right now, I am significantly reducing gluten, dairy, and caffeine in my diet. As I do not have a true allergy to any of these items, I am not holding a strict elimination of these items.

Four rows of cookie dough balls on a tray with a scooper of dough above it.

What I’m Noticing

That Almond Monster Cookie recipe is still coming. First, let’s talk about what I am noticing most by reducing gluten, dairy, and caffeine. An INCREASE in energy. That’s right, more energy with less caffeine! It seems almost counterintuitive but it is a remarkable change. I have an easier time waking up in the morning. My energy maintains throughout the day rather than crashing once the coffee wears off. The other big difference I’m noticing is reduced puffiness under my eyes. I’m not talking slight puffiness from not sleeping well, I’m talking significant puffiness for which I’ve seen multiple doctors for. My docs have happily offered me lots of allergy meds and even botox type of injections. Not one of them ever mentioned diet change to me. I am so thankful to say the puffiness under my eyes has reduced significantly. No it isn’t completely gone, but I’m not self-conscience about it like I have been for a few years now.

Tray of monster cookies with three small plates, each with a cookie on it.

Challenge Accepted

Alright, let’s get down to the Almond Monster Cookies – that’s really why you’re all here, right?! I’m sure many of you have at least tried a gluten free and/or dairy free dessert at some point. You know how bad that experience can be. Listen, I love baked goods and I am not willing to completely give them up. You know what? I’m also not willing to give up quality flavor or texture in those baked goods. In other words, I’m up for the challenge of creating fantastic gluten-free, dairy-free dessert options. These Almond Monster Cookies are definitely monster sized and absolutely delicious. They have a lighter flavor and texture compared to the traditional peanut version but still include the candies and oats you expect in a monster cookie. Give these a try and tell me, do you miss the gluten? I think you’ll be too busy reaching for a second cookie to even reply here.

Large cookie in the palm of a hand.
Tray of monster cookies with three small plates, each with a cookie on it.

Almond Monster Cookies

Sarah Baade
These almond monster cookies are definitely monster sized and absolutely delicious. They have a lighter flavor and texture compared to the traditional peanut version but still include the candies and oats you expect in a monster cookie.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ½ cups almond flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup vegetable shortening (butter flavored)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup creamy almond butter
  • 1 ½ cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1 cup plain m&m candies
  • ½ cup almond slivers

Instructions
 

  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together almond flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat together shortening, brown sugar, and sugar.
  • Beat eggs and vanilla into sugar mixture.
  • Mix in almond butter.
  • Gradually mix in dry ingredients.
  • Stir in oats, chocolate chips, m&m's, and almond slivers.
  • Cover and chill dough for a minimum of 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Roll dough tightly into golf ball sized balls and space out six on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Bake 18-20 minutes or until cookies are golden in color.

Notes

  • If you are baking these for someone who has a gluten allergy, please be sure to use gluten-free certified products.
  • I used an ice cream scoop to make it easier to get the dough into such a large ball.
  • I have made this dough up to 2 days ahead of when I planned to bake the cookies. Just be sure the bowl is covered with a lid or plastic wrap so it doesn’t dry out.
Keyword Almond Cookies, Almond Monster Cookies, GF Cookies, Gluten Free, Homemade Cookies, Monster Cookies

LEMON CRINKLE COOKIES

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Challenging Month

March brought more blogging challenges than I’ve had in a while. As with many aspects of life, there are seasons of smooth, easy success. And then there are seasons where it seems like absolutely nothing is working. Last month, I had fail after fail after fail. I always have a running list of recipe ideas. I assign a few ideas to each month in my calendar to keep me going on new recipes and posts. With a goal of accomplishing a few new recipes each month, that list is essential. So during the month of March, I hit that list like I normally would. But this time, nothing was working out. I tested recipe after recipe and in the end, I only succeeded in getting one new post up on this site (here’s looking at you, Green Pea Hummus). Where does a food blogger go from here? You keep trying. Plain and simple, you keep going. And my next move was turning lemons into… cookies. To be honest, even this recipe for Lemon Crinkle Cookies took more trial and error than I prefer. But, I have to say, all of that effort has paid off and I am incredibly happy with these cookies!

Gold rack with powder sugared yellow lemon cookies.

Sweet Success

These Lemon Crinkle Cookies are a great balance of sweet, bright lemon flavor without being tart – the perfect lemon cookie. While creating this recipe, the first batch actually went straight into the garbage. Yes, it was that bad! But the potential was there. I love lemon desserts and I don’t give up easily. So, I tweaked and adjusted and then… success! I could eat an entire batch of these. I won’t, but I could. What do you do with extra cookies? I am a fan of freezing cookies but we don’t have room in our freezer right now. Instead, I brought these cookies to work and I’m so glad I did. I love sharing treats but I also appreciate getting honest feedback on new recipes. The praises were high on this one. I mean “these are my new favorite cookies” is not something I take lightly. Or how about “best cookies ever” as an unprompted review? Give these Lemon Crinkle Cookies a try for yourself and let me know what you think!

Gold rack with powder sugared yellow lemon cookies.
Gold rack with powder sugared yellow lemon cookies.

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Sarah Baade
These lemon crinkle cookies are a great balance of sweet, bright lemon flavor without being tart – the perfect lemon cookie.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 3.5 dozen

Ingredients
  

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • yellow food coloring
  • 1 cup powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions
 

  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
  • Mix eggs, zest, and lemon juice into butter and sugar.
  • Gradually stir dry ingredients in.
  • Stir food coloring in a drop or two at a time, until you reach the desired brightness of yellow.
  • Chill dough for a minimum of 1 hour. Can be chilled overnight.
  • When ready to bake cookies, preheat oven to 350℉ and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Roll dough into tablespoon sized balls then roll in powdered sugar until fully covered. Place on prepared baking sheet, 3 inches apart. Bake 10 minutes.
  • Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Keyword Cookies, Lemon Cookies, Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Looking for more citrus based recipes?

Orange Spiced Monkey Bread

Five Spiced Citrus Salad

Key Lime Sugar Cookies

PEPPERMINT COCOA COOKIES

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December can only mean one thing when it comes to food blogging… COOKIES! Over the years, I’ve done more Christmas cookie baking days and cookie exchanges than I can count. These traditions are fun, right? And they truly bring joy. Joy that tastes delicious, and sweet, and comforting. So many of us have memories of a grandparent or a parent making a certain favorite cookie. No matter how old I get, I will always feel nostalgic love for a chocolate crinkle cookie (in my family, we call it a chocolate Kringle cookie) because that’s what tastes like home so to speak. In a year when many of us can’t be near our families for the holidays, we can at least come together over holiday cookies. Perhaps you and your mom make the same traditional recipe on the same day this year? Or maybe you video chat with your brother as you both try a new cookie recipe? Let’s make cookies together this year even if we still aren’t close enough to hug.

White background with chocolate cookies surrounded by red and white peppermint candy pieces.

I’ve had chocolate on the brain lately, brownies specifically, actually. However, brownies don’t scream Christmas to me. With that in mind, I converted a brownie recipe I’ve been working on and turned it into a holiday cookie. My husband loves peppermint with chocolate (frankly, I do too) and so this peppermint cocoa cookie was born. To keep things festive, I used actual peppermint candies for this recipe rather than peppermint extract. I hope you’ll think of your family and holiday traditions as you dive into these cookies.

White background with chocolate cookies surrounded by red and white peppermint candy pieces.
White background with chocolate cookies surrounded by red and white peppermint candy pieces.

Peppermint Cocoa Cookies

Sarah Baade
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 36 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional but add richness to the chocolate flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 5 oz starlight mint candies or candy canes, broken into small pieces

Instructions
 

  • In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix together sugar, melted chocolate, vegetable oil, espresso powder and vanilla.
  • Stir in eggs one at a time.
  • Gradually stir in dry ingredients.
  • Stir in broken candy pieces.
  • Chill for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat over to 350°F.
  • Form cookie dough into walnut sized balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheet, 2" apart.
  • Bake 13-15 minutes.

Notes

*I did not have any marshmallow fluff on hand when I made these but I think it would be great for turning these into a sandwich cookie.
Keyword Chocolate, Cookies, Peppermint, Peppermint Cocoa Cookies

PERFECT DOZEN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

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I’ve been on a sweets kick over the past few weeks. Sorry, not sorry about that. In a way, I’m just going back to my roots with this post though. Baking is what first drew me to the kitchen. And chocolate chip cookies? Isn’t that what most of us first learn to bake with? My daughter has known the basic ingredients for chocolate chip cookies since she was two years old. We’re still working on measurements but I love that she can call out the ingredients we need as we grab them from the pantry and fridge.

Even though this is my fourth chocolate chip cookie recipe (you can find links to the others at the bottom of this page), I know I will create more in the future. This has become my favorite cookie to play with and make variations of. Honestly, you guys have also been a driving force behind these recipes. I’ve heard stories about you using my chocolate chip cookie recipes to teach your own kids how to bake. Stories about making my recipes for special occasions. It means so much to me to know that you all are incorporating my cookie creations into your own traditions and communities! Without further adieu, here is the latest version. I really think of this one as a classic chocolate chip cookie. It makes only a dozen because some folks have a need for small batch recipes. That being said, these cookies are larger than I usually make and they are full of flavor.

Perfect Dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sarah Baade
A small batch recipe for a classic chocolate chip cookie – this recipe makes 12 large cookies.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together brown sugar and butter. Scape down sides of bowl as needed.
  • Add egg and vanilla to butter and mix until combined.
  • Gradually stir dry ingredients into butter mixture until just combined.
  • Stir in chocolate chips then chill dough for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Once chilled, scoop 6 heaping tablespoons of cookie dough onto the baking sheet and bake 17 minutes or until cookies are golden brown. Repeat with remaining dough.
  • Enjoy cookies warm with a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream.
Keyword Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Homemade Cookies, Small Batch Recipe

More chocolate chip cookie recipes:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS

by 3 Comments

A friend of mine was commenting on my Peanut Butter Cut-Out Cookie recipe the other day and said she plans to make those for her kid’s class party this week. First and foremost, I was thrilled that she wanted to use my recipe. However, my second thought was complete shock. I was shocked that any kind of peanut product was allowed in her daughter’s classroom. I was also shocked that homemade treats were allowed. Here in San Antonio, I don’t know of any schools that allow nut products of homemade treats in the classrooms. This is true even at the daycare level. I understand the risks to those with nut allergies, and I’m not necessarily complaining here. I think it just makes me realize how much things have changed since I was a kid. Most people brought homemade cupcakes or cookies to class when we had parties back in the day. There is a part of me that is sad I’ll never be able to bring my daughter’s favorite homemade treat to her class. But you know what? Part of me is also relieved. There will never be that pressure to create some fancy homemade treat at the 11th hour the night before a class party.

When my daughter’s current classroom has parties, they ask us to sign up to bring something off of a premade list of foods. This week, our contribution is Valentine colored m&m’s. Perfect. Easy. Done. But for home, I still wanted my daughter to have a fun treat made by mom. Inspired by pink m&m’s, and my daughter’s love for chocolate chip cookies, I’ve created these chocolate chip cookie bars. Mixing up the dough is easy and adding m&m’s along with sprinkles adds a festive flare. I also love that you end up with two dozen servings all done at once. No scooping. No swapping out baking sheets. It is all in one pan and then you simply cut it as you’re ready to serve.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Sarah Baade
The all-American classic chocolate chip cookie turned into a bar.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips (whichever you prefer – you just want variety from the semisweet you'll be adding in)
  • 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • Optional toppings: 1/4 cup candy coated chocolates such as m&m's, 1 Tablespoon jimmie sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat brown sugar and granulated sugar with butter.
  • Add eggs and vanilla.
  • Mix in dry ingredients 1 cup at a time, until all ingredients are fully combined.
  • Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Press cookie dough into pan. If adding candies and sprinkles, spread them evenly and press into the top of cookie dough.
  • Bake 35-38 minutes or until a test toothpick comes out clean.
  • Let cool completely before cutting.
Keyword Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cookies, Dessert Recipe, Easy Cookies, Easy Recipe, Homemade Cookies, Valentine’s Treat

OATMEAL CHERRY COOKIES

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We are in full cookie exchange season and I am loving it! This week I participated in an exchange at work and we ended up with seven varieties of cookies (and recipes). SEVEN!!! It had been several years since I last participated in a cookie exchange and I had kind of forgotten how great it is. I love seeing what people bring in and the stories behind the recipes. This is such a great way of using food to create community. With each story that is told about a recipe, we get to know each other a little bit better.

I am a huge fan of any category of dessert – cakes, pastries, tarts, etc. But let’s be real here, cookies are awesome for several reasons. They are typically easy to make. Most recipes make at least a couple dozen cookies which means you have more to share. If you aren’t needing a few dozen cookies to share, you can always freeze them for later. Actually, you can freeze the dough into individual cookie dough balls and then bake them when the craving strikes. OR, you can bake them all from the get go and just thaw them out when you’re ready for a treat. Cookies really do have a flexibility that most other desserts just don’t have.

For this year’s cookie exchange, I reached into my grandmother’s recipe box. To be fair, I chose this Oatmeal Cherry Cookie recipe partly because I already had all but one ingredient in the house and partly because it sounded like a fun twist on the more traditional oatmeal cookie. The maraschino cherries add a different sweetness than the raisins you would typically find in an oatmeal cookie but they also give a festive pop of color. These cookies are a bit smaller than what most recipes seem to make but I actually really love the size. It gives you that sweet treat that you’re looking for without over indulging. This recipe is also perfect for a cookie exchange because it makes FIVE dozen cookies. That’s right, no need to double the recipe. You’ll get five dozen little cookies out of the recipe as it is. You’re welcome.

OATMEAL CHERRY COOKIES

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 5 dozen cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3/4 cup shortening
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 3/4 cup red maraschino cherries, chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda and cloves. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat shortening, sugars, egg, and vanilla extract.
  • Stir dry ingredients into sugar mixture.
  • Stir in oats and cherries.
  • Drop dough by the teaspoonfuls, two inches apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes.

Notes

Tip: Wear food safe gloves when chopping the cherries so the food dye doesn’t stain your hands.
Keyword Oatmeal Cherry Cookies, Oatmeal Cookies
Original recipe source unknown. Recipe has been modified from this version for the purpose of this blog.
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