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These vegan chocolate chip peppermint cookies are soft, chewy, and perfect for the holidays! Packed with cocoa powder, vegan chocolate chips, and peppermint extract, these mint-chocolate cookies truly embody the festive flavor and require just 15 minutes of hands-on prep! Plus, they’re dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan!
Soft and Chewy Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
As Christmas inches closer, we are currently living our best ‘Hallmark Movie’ lives. We’re decorating merrily, enjoying this easy vegan eggnog and vegan Mexican hot chocolate daily, and baking LOTS (and lots!) of Christmas cookies! Along with triple ginger vegan cookies, raspberry jam thumbprint cookies, and vegan sugar cookies, our collection wouldn’t be complete without these vegan double chocolate chip peppermint cookies!
With both cocoa powder AND vegan chocolate chips, these double chocolate peppermint cookies are the ultimate indulgence for choccie lovers. You can even take it one step further with an optional half-dipped chocolate topping or even melted vegan mallows for ‘hot chocolate’ peppermint cookies! Of course, the addition of peppermint extract is the cherry on top!
Even better, this recipe requires just a couple of bowls, a fairly inexpensive pantry and baking staples (most of which you probably already have), and 30 minutes to prepare. Did we mention that the texture is perfect too?! These vegan chocolate mint cookies are slightly crisp outside with a soft, moist, and slightly chewy. You’d never guess that they’re vegan!
Want to enjoy more peppermint chocolate treats? Why not add some peppermint extract to thick vegan Mexican hot chocolate, dairy-free brownies, or even whip up a quick and simple silken vegan chocolate peppermint pie?!
The Ingredients
This vegan chocolate peppermint cookies recipe is made up entirely of baking and pantry staples, including:
Optional add-ins & Recipe Variations
There are several ways you can adapt this double chocolate peppermint cookies recipe, including.
- Instant coffee: All you need is ½ tbsp to enhance the chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee. Add more if you want peppermint mocha cookies. You can also use espresso powder, though you won’t need as much, as the flavor is stronger.
- Crushed candy canes: (Optional) or peppermint candies. Press a few pieces into the top of the cookies before baking, or sprinkle over after, especially if using a melted vegan chocolate (how to melt chocolate guide) coating for delicious candy cane chocolate chip cookies.
- Mini vegan marshmallows: Use 2-3 vegan mini mallows or half a regular one over the top of the cookies when baking for ‘hot chocolate’ peppermint cookies.
- Vegan chocolate coating: You can optionally make chocolate-dipped mint chocolate cookies by combining melted vegan chocolate (white, milk, or dark) with a teaspoon of coconut oil. Then dip the cookies halfway, sprinkle with any toppings (like crushed peppermint candy) and leave to set.
How to Make Double Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies?
Step 1: First, preheat the oven to 375F/190C. Meanwhile, mix the flax meal and water for a minute in a small bowl. Then leave to rest in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to thicken.
Step 2: Then, cream the vegan butter and sugar in a large bowl. Begin at a low speed, then increase until the mixture is well combined and fluffy. Next, add the vanilla, peppermint, flax eggs, flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder and mix until smooth.
Don’t overwork the gluten as it can lead to tough, flat cookies. Instead, the cookie dough needs to be ‘just’ smooth.
Step 3: Add the vegan chocolate chips and fold them into the mixture. Then, using either a small cookie/ice-cream scooper or a tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop the dough onto a lightly oiled or parchment paper-lined baking sheet with an inch of space between.
Step 4: Bake for around 10 minutes until the edges are firm, but the middle is still fairly soft. Leave to cool on the tray for at least 15 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely (they’ll fully set in this time)—then enjoy!
FAQs
You could substitute the AP flour for a GF all-purpose flour instead. Though, the texture may vary slightly.
No, these cookies don’t spread too much, so it’s not necessary. Though chilling can lead to slightly better tasting (as the flavors meld), chewier cookies. So feel free to do so if preferred.
Technically, yes (for example, using coconut sugar). Though we don’t recommend it as it will affect the texture and spread of the cookies. The brown sugar is also acidic, needed for the baking soda.
That should work fine, but omit any chocolate coating which could melt while en route. Ship the cookies on the day you bake them (so the recipient has longer to enjoy them). Place the cookies either in cellophane bags OR in a cookie tin (but make sure to pack tightly so they won’t be moving around lots). Then place them within a larger well-padded mailing box and write FRAGILE on the top.
Top Recipe Tips and Notes
- Make larger cookies: Feel free to use a larger scoop to make bigger cookies. Just increase the baking time by several minutes.
- Use a combination of vegan chocolate: Combine vegan chocolate chips with either chocolate chunks or a chopped chocolate bar (bonus if it’s a peppermint flavor) for different textures and chocolate flavors in the double chocolate chip peppermint cookies.
- Use high–quality chocolate: It’ll make the double chocolate chip mint cookies taste the best they can be and does make a difference. We recommend Guittard/Ghirardelli if they’re within your budget.
- To gift the cookies: Add a few to a cookie tin or a cellophane gift bag. Then wrap with a ribbon and optionally with a tag. You can also ship the cookies (read FAQs above for method).
How to Make Ahead and Store?
If you want to make these double chocolate chip peppermint cookies ahead, you have a couple of options. The first is to prepare the dough and store it, wrapped tightly, in the refrigerator overnight. Alternatively, you can scoop the cookies onto your baking tray, flash freeze (for about 30 minutes), then transfer them to a Ziplock/Stasher bag and store for 3 months!
Bake the cookies from frozen. Adding an extra couple of minutes (or so) to the baking time.
To store the baked chocolate chip mint cookies, allow them to cool entirely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature for 5 days (or 7 in the refrigerator). You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. They require just a few minutes to thaw before eating (yay!) and can even be microwaved for a few seconds if preferred.
Double Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 2 ½ tablespoons warm water
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup room temperature vegan butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, beat together the flax meal and water for 1 minute. Place in refrigerator for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, beat together the sugar and vegan butter.
- Mix in the vanilla, peppermint, flax mixture, baking soda, flour, cocoa powder, and salt. You can mix by hand or with an electric mixer.
- Using a spoon/spatula, stir in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop dough onto a lightly oiled baking sheet by the tablespoon.
- Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool before eating.
Notes
- Instant coffee: All you need is ½ tbsp to enhance the chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee. Add more if you want peppermint mocha cookies. You can also use espresso powder, though you won’t need as much, as the flavor is stronger.
- Crushed candy canes: (Optional) or peppermint candies. Press a few pieces into the top of the cookies before baking, or sprinkle over after, especially if using a melted vegan chocolate coating for delicious candy cane chocolate chip cookies.
- Mini vegan marshmallows: Use 2-3 vegan mini mallows or half a regular one over the top of the cookies when baking for ‘hot chocolate’ peppermint cookies.
- Vegan chocolate coating: You can optionally make chocolate-dipped mint chocolate cookies by combining melted vegan chocolate (white, milk, or dark) with a teaspoon of coconut oil. Then dip the cookies halfway, sprinkle with any toppings (like crushed peppermint candy) and leave to set.
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