There’s just something magical about White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies. They’re rich, chewy, sweet, and perfectly festive — the kind of cookie that brings a little sparkle to a winter day. Imagine soft centers with slightly crisp edges, creamy white chocolate melting into every bite, and just the right hint of refreshing peppermint crunch. These cookies taste like holiday cheer wrapped in a cozy blanket… and honestly, you don’t have to wait for December to enjoy them!

I first made these cookies on a chilly afternoon when I was craving something cozy — and a little special. The combination of cool peppermint and smooth white chocolate was exactly the kind of comfort I needed, and once my family tried them, they disappeared faster than falling snowflakes. ❤

They’re incredibly simple to make with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Whether you’re planning a holiday cookie plate, prepping for a cookie exchange, or just wanting a sweet treat with a warm mug of hot cocoa, these cookies are here to make your day brighter.

And the best part? They’re totally foolproof — even if you’re brand-new to baking. You’ll end up with cookies that are soft, beautiful, and sure to impress every single time. Let’s dive into why you’re going to love these minty-sweet delights!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These cookies don’t just look festive — they have everything you want in a holiday (or anytime!) treat.

Rich, Chewy & Festive Texture

Every bite is a little celebration:

Soft, tender middles that stay chewy even the next day
Lightly crisp golden edges for delicious contrast
Creamy white chocolate chips melting into the dough
Bright peppermint bits adding sparkle and crunch

That blend of creamy sweetness and cool mint makes the flavor feel fresh and indulgent at the same time. If there’s a cookie that embodies the holiday spirit — this is it. They’re the first to disappear off the dessert tray… trust me!

Simple Pantry-Friendly Ingredients

Nothing fancy here — just the classics:

Butter
Sugar (both brown + granulated for the best chew)
Flour and eggs
Vanilla and peppermint for flavor
White chocolate chips + crushed candy canes for festive fun

Chances are you already have most of these on hand, so these cookies are perfect for spontaneous baking moments. No special shopping required — just mix, bake, and enjoy.

Straightforward & Beginner-Friendly Prep

You’ll love how easy these are:

Cream butter and sugars
Mix in eggs + flavors
Add dry ingredients
Fold in the chocolate and peppermint
Scoop and bake

That’s it! No chilling required, no complicated steps, no stress — just simple baking joy. Even kids can help!

Customizable & Adaptable to Taste

You’re the cookie artist here! 🎨✨

Prefer more mint? Add a touch of peppermint extract.
Want a sweeter bite? Add a drizzle of melted white chocolate on top.
Not a fan of peppermint bits getting too crunchy? Use slightly crushed or finer powder-style peppermint instead.
Need to adjust for allergies? You can swap certain ingredients depending on dietary needs.

Whether you go bold with the peppermint or keep it subtle, you’ll always end up with a delicious cookie that suits your tastes.

Ingredients

Before we dive into baking, let’s take a look at everything you’ll need. One of the reasons I adore this recipe is that the ingredients are familiar and easy to find — most of them are already waiting in your pantry!

Full List of Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups white chocolate chips
1 cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
½ teaspoon peppermint extract (optional for a stronger minty boost!)

Each ingredient plays a delicious role:

Butter adds richness and helps create that soft, tender crumb we love.
Granulated + brown sugar bring sweetness and moisture — the brown sugar especially contributes to the chewy texture.
Eggs bind everything together and help the cookies rise beautifully.
Vanilla (+ peppermint extract) round out the flavors — vanilla for warmth, peppermint for refreshing holiday sparkle.
Flour + leavening agents + salt provide structure and balance.
White chocolate chips melt into creamy pockets of sweetness in every bite.
Crushed peppermint adds crunch, color, and that classic cool-mint finish.

This lineup is simple… yet absolutely magical when baked together!

How to Make White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Ready to fill your kitchen with the cozy scent of fresh-baked cookies? These steps are wonderfully simple — no special skills required, just a little baking joy!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper so the cookies bake evenly and lift off easily.
Cream the butter and sugars.
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This helps create that perfect soft chew!
Mix in the eggs and extracts.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and peppermint extract (if using). Already smells like Christmas, right?
Combine the dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt — this keeps things evenly mixed before joining the dough.
Bring it all together.
Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined. Avoid over-mixing to keep the cookies tender.
Fold in the mix-ins.
Gently stir in the white chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies. Every dough scoop should have sweet and minty goodness!
Scoop the dough.
Drop 1–2 tablespoon-sized portions onto your prepared baking sheets. Leave about 2 inches between cookies — they need space to spread and shine.
Bake to perfection.
Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers still look soft. They’ll continue to set on the pan — so resist the urge to overbake!
Cool and enjoy!
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Grab one warm… it’s pure bliss. ❤️

✨ Baking Tip
If your kitchen is warm or the dough feels extra soft, chill it for 15 minutes before scooping — this helps keep cookies thick, chewy, and gorgeous.

These cookies strike such a beautiful balance — soft and slightly gooey in the middle, with just the right crispness at the edges. Each bite is a little celebration!

What to Serve with This Recipe

These White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are already such a treat on their own, but pairing them with the right drink or dessert can make them feel even more special — like the star of your dessert table!

Suggested Pairings

Warm beverages:
A cozy cup of hot cocoa, peppermint mocha, coffee, or your favorite tea brings out the cool mint and creamy chocolate beautifully. Cool weather and a warm drink? Perfection. ❄☕
Cold classics:
A tall glass of cold milk or even almond/oat milk balances the sweetness and makes each bite even creamier.
Dessert platters for parties:
Add these cookies to a festive holiday cookie board alongside gingerbread cookies, brownies, and sugar cookies. They add beautiful color and seasonal cheer!
After-dinner treat:
Serve warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream — a simple dessert turned holiday-luxurious in seconds. 🍨✨

Variations and Substitutions

Make this recipe your own! Whether you love extra chocolate, want to go big on peppermint, or need something more allergy-friendly, these ideas will help you personalize every batch.

Extra Chocolatey / Drizzled Version

If you’re a chocolate lover (same here!), try:

Drizzling melted white chocolate over the cooled cookies
Adding dark chocolate drizzle for contrast
Sprinkling extra crushed candy canes on top before the drizzle sets for stunning color and crunch

A little extra chocolate makes them feel like a gourmet bakery cookie — no special skills required!

You can even fold in more chocolate chips (white or dark) to make each bite ultra-indulgent. 😋

Peppermint Intensity (Strong or Subtle)

You’re the one in control of the peppermint magic:

Love bold mint? Add the optional ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Prefer a softer mint taste? Skip the extract and rely only on the peppermint candies
Want both? Use extract + chunks for a full winter wonderland moment ✨🌨

Any choice you make — delicious!

Dietary Swaps & Adaptations

This recipe is already nut-free, but you can tweak ingredients if needed:

Gluten-free option:
Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend designed for baking — textures can be just as soft and chewy!
Nut-free assurance:
Check labels on the white chocolate chips and peppermint candies to make sure they’re processed in nut-free facilities.
Dairy-free possibility:
Try plant-based butter + dairy-free baking chips.
(Texture may differ a bit — but still tasty!)

Storage Instructions

Good news: these cookies stay delicious for days — if they last that long without being eaten! Here’s how to keep them fresh and festive:

Room Temperature Storage

Once completely cool, store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
They typically stay soft and chewy for about 4–5 days.

If stacking, place parchment or wax paper between layers to prevent the peppermint from sticking.
Keep them away from direct heat sources so the chocolate doesn’t melt.

Refrigeration (Optional)

If your home is warm or humid, you can refrigerate the cookies to help them stay firm longer.
Just be aware that chilling may slightly change their soft texture — still yummy, though!

Freezing Instructions & Make-Ahead Tips

These cookies (or their dough!) freeze beautifully — a lifesaver for holiday prep!

For baked cookies:

Let them cool fully
Layer between parchment in a freezer-safe bag or container
Enjoy within 2–3 months for best flavor

For raw dough:

Scoop dough into balls
Freeze on a tray until firm
Transfer to a freezer-safe bag
Bake whenever you want fresh cookies!

Bake straight from frozen — just add an extra minute or two. Instant holiday joy! 🎄🍪

Recipe Tips and Tricks

These little nuggets of baking wisdom will help guarantee cookie success every single time:

Start with room-temperature butter — soft but not melty
Measure flour correctly — spoon and level, don’t pack
Don’t overmix once the flour is in — keeps cookies tender
Use a cookie scoop for evenly-sized cookies
Leave space between dough balls so they don’t merge into one giant cookie
Watch closely and don’t overbake — remove when edges look set, centers still soft
Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet before moving them — they finish baking gently while staying perfectly soft inside

Related Recipes

If you loved these White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, here are more festive treats you’ll enjoy:

FAQs

Here are some helpful answers to common cookie-baking questions:

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes! Just reduce the added salt slightly so the cookies don’t become too salty.

Do I need to chill the dough?

Not usually. However, if your dough feels too soft or warm, a quick 15–30 minutes in the fridge helps cookies bake thicker.

Can I swap candy cane pieces for peppermint extract?

Absolutely!

Candy pieces = crunch + color
Extract = smooth, stronger mint flavor
Use one or both depending on what you love most. 💕

Will the peppermint bits stay crunchy?

They’ll soften slightly but still give a pleasant minty bite — part of the holiday charm!

Can I freeze these cookies?

Yes — dough or baked! Perfect for gifting or baking on-demand.

How long do they stay fresh?

About 4–5 days at room temperature in a sealed container — though they usually don’t survive past day two in my house 😄

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a delicious way to celebrate the season — or just want a cookie that tastes like pure joy — these White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are the answer. They’re soft and chewy, full of sweet creamy chocolate, and perfectly kissed with fresh peppermint flavor. And best of all? They’re wonderfully easy to make.

Whether you bake them for a holiday party, share them with friends and family, or enjoy them with a cozy drink by the fireplace, these cookies bring comfort and a little sparkle to every moment.

If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear how they turned out — leave a comment, share a photo, or save this recipe to make again soon!