I am not a baker – my skills are usually limited to boxed cake mix and pre-made Pillsbury cookie dough. But, in an effort to get into the holiday spirit, I put my baking skills to the test and got festive with a new recipe.
I wanted to attempt one that looked easy and sounded delicious, so I ran with “Peppermint Brownie Bark Cookies,” a Christmas cookie recipe by a baking blog called Flouring Kitchen.
This recipe was easy to follow, even for me. It only took half an hour from start to finish, and I only got six dishes dirty in the process. I do have to admit, however, that I nearly burnt down my kitchen when I mistook wax paper for parchment paper, so please read the directions carefully.
The star of this recipe is the white chocolate “Peppermint Bark Dip” which is what makes these cookies stand out. It tastes and looks incredible, but it’s also easy to mess up. White chocolate overheats quickly, so don’t be like me and make sure to heat it low and slow over water; otherwise, the cookies won’t look very pretty after dipping them into a thick, sticky mass of white chocolate.
Even so, the end result was absolutely delicious and festive. They reminded me of sipping a White Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks or eating an Andes Mint Chocolate after a meal at Olive Garden. Just a warning: the peppermint flavor is strong, so if you’re not a big fan, go light with the extract.
If you attempt this recipe, you’re also in for a laugh. The dough has more of a cake-batter consistency, so you’ll need a small scooper or a piping bag to portion it onto the baking sheet. I chose the latter, and before the cookies went into the oven, they looked hilariously similar to piles of crap. Thankfully, they didn’t stay that way for long and baked into normal-looking cookies.
While the cookies were fun to make and tasted great, the recipe was not college-kid friendly, unless you’re lucky enough to still live with your parents who have a pantry stocked with all of the random ingredients of cocoa powder, peppermint extract, white chocolate, and more.
Otherwise, this recipe will disappoint your wallet. It might be better to just buy chocolate cookie dough and sprinkle it with crushed candy canes and melted white chocolate for a similar effect.
Overall, I give this recipe three out of five stars. The cookies are tasty, festive, and fun for the whole family, but you may want to take a few shortcuts to save money. Other classic Christmas recipes like peanut butter kiss cookies, peppermint bark, or simple frosted sugar cookies can offer the same holiday cheer with far fewer ingredients.
