The icy breeze blowing through Candy Cane Forest means only one thing: peppermint season has arrived! And leading the charge is this year’s holiday showstopper — North Pole Peppermint Barkies.
These cookies are a merry hybrid between fudge brownies and peppermint bark — chewy, chocolatey rounds topped with a swirl of white chocolate and crushed candy canes. With every bite, you get deep cocoa richness and a festive crunch that screams “snow day snack time!”
❄️ Cookie Spotlight: North Pole Peppermint Barkies
Backstory:
Originally created by Mintie McFrost, a pastry elf who wanted to merge her two favorite sweets, this cookie debuted at the Reindeer Games Banquet five years ago. Now it’s a seasonal staple.
🧝 Elf Commentary (Buttons Mistletwig): “Barkies are the only cookies that make my ears twitch with joy. And trust me, that’s a good thing.”
📝 Recipe: North Pole Peppermint Barkies
Yields: ~24 cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 10–12 minutes
Cool Time: 15 minutes (plus 10 minutes to set topping)
🍫 Ingredients:
For the Cookie Base:
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
For the Topping:
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- ½ cup crushed candy canes
🍽 Instructions:
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, whisking until smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Stir in flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until combined. The dough will be thick and rich.
- Scoop & Bake: Drop tablespoon-sized scoops onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes. Let cool completely.
- Melt & Drizzle Topping: Melt white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl (30-second bursts), stir in peppermint extract, and drizzle over cooled cookies.
- Sprinkle & Set: Top immediately with crushed candy canes and let the chocolate set for about 10 minutes.
✨ Elf Tip:
Add mini chocolate chips to the dough for a brownie-cookie hybrid. For a spicy twist, use crushed cinnamon candies instead of candy canes.
👀 Coming Soon:
Cookie #12 is a grand finale that celebrates the spirit of giving — St. Nickerdoodles, a classic with a magical twist!
