These deliciously chocolatey tender brownie cookies are packed with chocolate chunks and sandwiched with peppermint cream.
On a whim the other day I bought a Peppermint Pattie. Do you remember them? It's extremely rare that I buy candy bars now days, but I remembered them from my childhood and couldn't help but buy one to see if they tasted as I remembered. When I was a little girl, while many children my age would have chosen Mars Bars or Snickers or something equally decadent when given a choice of what candy bar they would like, I chose the humble Peppermint Pattie. In fact, I think that's where my love of peppermint and chocolate first started. Peppermint Patties and those after dinner mint chocolates that used to come in boxes individually wrapped.
When I got home I unwrapped my nostalgic Peppermint Pattie and I was somewhat disappointed. It was much thinner than I remembered. Maybe that's because everything seems bigger when your a child, I'm not sure, but I remembered a thicker disc of pepperminty goodness coated in dark chocolate. As I bit into the taste was still there, and that almost chewy but not quite texture was the way I remembered it.
A couple of days later it ignited another craving for chocolate and peppermint. I then remembered a recipe I had bookmarked in Donna Hay's December/ January 2012 issue for Chocolate Peppermint Cookies where the cookies were described as chewy and rich and chocolatey. And in combination with the peppermint cream they are a delicious and decadent after dinner treat, better than the Peppermint Pattie in my opinion. Especially when the cookies are still semi warm and the chocolate chunks are still oozing.
So tell me, what candy bar was your favourite when you were a child?
Recipe
Ingredients
- 150 g butter softened, ⅔ cup
- 90 g brown sugar ½ cup
- 175 g golden syrup ½ cup
- 225 g plain flour sifted, 1 ¾ cups, all-purpose
- 25 g Dutch cocoa powder sifted, ¼ cup
- 1 tsp baking soda sifted
- 200 g dark chocolate 70% cocoa, chopped, 7 oz
- PEPPERMINT CREAM:
- 400 g icing sugar sifted, 3 cups
- ¼ tsp peppermint extract you might need more depending on taste
- 2 tbs milk
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer combine the butter, sugar and golden syrup and bet until pale and creamy, approximately 10 minutes. Add the sifted flour, cocoa and baking soda and mix until a smooth dough begins to form. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again. Add the chocolate and mix until combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until firm.
- Preheat the oven to 180 celsius (350 Fahrenheit) and take tablespoons of the dough and roll into balls and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Flatten the balls slightly and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the tops of the bookies begin to crack. Remove from the oven and leave on the tray for 2 minutes to firm up before placing on wire wracks to cool.
- Once the cookies are cooled they are ready to ice. Combine the icing sugar, milk and peppermint extract in a bowl and mix until smooth. Taste the icing to see if it contains enough peppermint and adjust as necessary. The icing mixture should be fairly thick. Spread half the cookies with the icing mixture and top with the remaining cookies.
Sarah says
These look absolutely amazing, the recipe and the photos! I'm trying to work on my photography at the moment and you, as usual, are an absolute inspiration.
delicieux says
Thanks you so much for your kind comments Sarah, you are so kind 🙂 Photography just takes practice. There are lots of great tutorials available on the web. Let me know if you need some links.
Nicole Leigh says
Snickers were my favorite as a young child, but I grew out of sweets pretty early. I ended up settling on peppermint patties (like you!) and Sour Patch Kids. Either way, I'm a much bigger fan of tart, sour flavors than overly sweet. 🙂
delicieux says
I love tart sour flavours too 😀 I think that's why I love anything lemon 😉
[email protected] says
What cookies! i am interested to try one out! 🙂
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Yum! When it comes to chocolate and peppermint, great minds think alike :).
delicieux says
Hehe it seems we are in tune with our tastes 😀 Great minds do indeed think alike.
Daisy@Nevertoosweet says
I've seen a few chocolate and peppermint recipes lately but dunno why I've never made any of them at home lol really should though 🙂 thanks for sharing! Now i've just gotta go get the extract hehe
Rosa says
Lovely cookies! They look really addictive.Cheers,Rosa
Choc Chip Uru says
Admittedly peppermint is not a favourite flavour but I doubt I could resist this insanely beautiful dessert :DEasy to eat on the go and packed with flavour!CheersChoc Chip Uru
thelittleloaf says
Mint and chocolate is one of my favourite childhood combinations but I've not had it (apart from in ice cream) for absolutely ages! Your cookies look so lovely with their little crackled tops - and so much better than anything store bought 🙂
delicieux says
I agree, it's hard to beat homemade goodies now days 🙂
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Chocolate and peppermint is such a classic combination. I remember my mom would buy After Eights and I loved eating those when I was a kid.
Tina@flourtrader says
Yes, somehow childhood treats eaten today just do not seem the same. Perhaps tastebuds have changed or we were little so things did seem bigger, but I also think that manufacturers are not as generous as they used to be!Anyhow the combo of rich chocolate and peppermint is hard to resist and I have never tried making a sandwich cookie with these flavors. That does need to change. Your picture is so enticing and I love the crackly cookies with the creamy filling-yum! Have a great weekend.
delicieux says
I think you're right Tina. Tastebuds do change. I think as children we love anything containing sugar, and the more the better 😀 I also agree that manufacturers aren't as generous as they used to be.
Carole says
I love chocolate and peppermint, so will probably try these.My favorite was Butterfinger, but now I don't really care for them! Give me Cadbury chocolate anytime. :)Beautiful photos, as always.
delicieux says
I don't think I've ever tried a Butterfinger. I prefer chocolate too, Lindt is my favourite 😀 Especially the Lindt Excellence Mint Intense!
Bonnie says
These look really good. I might have to give these a try over the weekend.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
It's so true, food from childhood is never as exciting and always seems smaller doesn't it! These look like a vast improvement on the peppermint patty!
ATasteOfMadness says
This is the best combination of flavors! Takes me back to winter. Christmas. Wrapped up cozy in a blanket.When I was a child, I loved sponge candy chocolate. SO good. I still like it, but haven't had it in so long..
Nic@diningwithastud says
I was def a coconut rough girl. Mum would buy one of those for me and a peppermint one for herself 🙂 love the rendition
delicieux says
Hehe it's funny Nic, I loved the peppermint patties and my Mum loved the coconut rough 😀
Yasmeen @ Wandering Spice says
Ooh, Jennifer, I adore chocolate and peppermint together (but then again, who doesn't)! Love the texture of these... perfect for an afternoon tea. Maybe after the wedding diet... who am I kidding, though, I can't resist anything from the oven.When we were kids, we used to adore Cadbury Flake and Kinder Bueno. Can't say I can resist the occasional Bueno every now and again now 🙂
Roxana GreenGirl { A little bit of everything} says
I don't think I ever had peppermint patties, maybe it's something you only find in Australia. But I do love chocolate peppermint, especially around the winder holidays! I'll have to keep your recipe around and try it. they look amazing!
delicieux says
Hi Roxana, thanks for your kind words, and yes the cookies are delicious. In fact we just had one with a cup of tea 😀
Annie says
Looking at this recipe not only waters my mouth but at the same time feeds my eyes! I would really love to try out and munch on some of these over the weekend with the family
Liz says
I always buy some York Peppermint Patties for Halloween...and my kids stash away a few for themselves before the trick or treaters arrive. I need to make these gorgeous cookies for them...YUM!
Deb says
Chocolate and peppermint are one of my favorite flavor combinations. The sandwich cookies are irresistible with the cool, creamy, minty filling sandwiched between the luscious chocolate cookie.
Joanna @ Chic & Gorgeous Treats says
Donna Hay.. who doesn't love her? I know I adore her work.. and have tried several of her recipes. I am the only one in my family who loves choc peppermint combo. So whenever I am not in a mood of sharing my treats, this is something I will make or go out and buy. LOL.. Your cookies are calling out to me right now that I just want to take a bite out of my screen.. Yummm.. xoxo
Jen @ Jen's Favorite Cookies says
I'm not sure whether it's the cookies or the photographs of the cookies that are more beautiful!! I'm such a sucker for peppermint, especially paired with chocolate. Yum!
sarah says
wow, these sound (and look) so, so good!! bookmarking this one for sure!
Simone says
Hmm, I think it must have been mars or milky way that were my favorite bars when I was little. I am not too fond of them anymore these days. Just too much sugar! (not that I don't like sugar..haha) I never was a big fan of chocolate and peppermint combinations growing up, it took me a while to get to like them but these look delicious!
kankana says
Oh I have to try these! I am not a fan of peppermint cookies but recently i bought these herbs called chocolate mint and it's growing wild on my counter top. It tastes so much like peppermint patty. I think a hint of those herbs in this cookies will work great 🙂