Ah, decadent chocolate and aromatic peppermint - the flavors of the holidays, in a cookie bite so perfect that you won’t even believe you made them yourself. These are also very attractive and store well after cooling. These are amazing as gifts since they look so special and difficult, but the secret will be ours.
Cookie Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 ounces mint chocolate, chopped
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup coarse sugar (optional)
Peppermint Ganache Filling Ingredients:
3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
Cookie Instructions:
In a medium bowl, add the flour, cocoa, and salt. Blend the dry ingredients together and set aside.
Partially melt the bittersweet and mint chocolate in a microwave safe bowl, 30 seconds at a time until the chocolate is almost melted. The chocolate will continue to melt after it is removed from the microwave. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate. Stir the chocolate until it is smooth. If there are still solid chunks, return the bowl to the microwave and heat for an additional 30 seconds. Stir again and set aside to cool.
In a large bowl, whip the butter until it is smooth. Add the granulated and the brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugar by mixing on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes or until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks and vanilla. Mix well.
Take the now cool, melted chocolate and add into the sugar mixture, blending just enough to incorporate.
Now, into the large bowl add the flour and dry ingredients mixture which was set aside earlier.
Mix on low speed until smooth. Be sure to scrape the side of the bowl as you go.
Place the dough on a sheet of plastic wrap that is about 16 inches wide. Pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inches wide. Fold the plastic wrap around the dough and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until it is chilled and firm.
Adjust the position of the oven racks to the upper and lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lightly grease two cookie sheets.
In a shallow bowl, add the coarse sugar and set aside.
Use a tablespoon to scoop up some of the dough and then roll the dough into a ball.
Roll each ball in the coarse sugar and place it on a baking sheet.
Press the back of a melon baller or use your thumb to make an indentation in the center of each cookie.
Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes, until they are only slightly firm.
Remove the cookies from the oven and press the melon baller into the cookies again.
Return the cookies to the oven to bake for an additional 5 minutes, switching the rack placement. You want the cookies to be a bit dry but not hard.
When done, gently move the cookies to wire racks and allow them to cool completely.
Peppermint Ganache Filling Instructions:
In a small microwave safe bowl, add the cream and microwave it on high power for about 30 seconds, until it begins to boil.
Drop the white chocolate into the hot cream and allow the chocolate to melt.
After a few minutes, stir the warm chocolate cream until it is smooth.
Add the peppermint extract to the small bowl and stir to incorporate it with the chocolate.
Using a tablespoon, fill the thumbprints in the cookies with the peppermint ganache filling.
Refrigerate the cookies for about 30 minutes or until the filling sets in the cookies.
