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Just popping in to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! Our family from England arrived last Thursday and we've been immensely enjoying their company over the last week. When the immediate family's all together, there are six little ones, ten years and under in the mix, so there's quite a cacophony going on almost continuously! It's a wonderful cacophony though and we cherish every minute.
We're actually celebrating Christmas with the family tomorrow. The gifts are all wrapped and the menu's carefully planned. Here at The Café, we pretend it's Christmas whenever we can all be together. It gets a little tricky when your kids get married and there are in-laws involved. We decided long ago to just go with the flow and make it work whenever it works. All that to say, this will be our last post before Christmas.
Guessing that you might be a bit like me, scurrying to check off your list of "to-do's" before the big day arrives I thought you might be able to use a super delicious recipe that can be thrown together in minutes. We put together a fun little video to show you just how quick and easy they are. One bowl, no mixer, just perfect for this busy time of year!
I made a double batch of these cookies to enjoy while the family was together over the weekend. With lots of chocolate chips and crushed peppermint both inside the cookies and as a pretty topping, they disappeared like hotcakes! I have a feeling they will at your house too, so make plenty!
Have a blessed and delicious Christmas!
- 10 tablespoons salted butter
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup coarsely crushed candy canes divided
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Preheat oven to 325˚F. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
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Place butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl (about 2 quart size). Microwave on high power for 20-30 seconds or until butter is starting to melt and has become soft. Don’t let it melted completely as the dough will be runny and the cookies will not have a good texture. (see picture in post)
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Add sugars and mix with a wooded spoon or sturdy spatula until smooth and all brown sugar lumps are dissolved. Add vanilla and egg yolks, then stir again until smooth.
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Add the flour and sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the top. Stir just until all flour mixture is incorporated and dough pulls away from sides of bowl. See “Tips” at the end of the post.
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Add ½ cup of the chocolate chips and ½ cup of the crushed candy canes . Stir to combine. Reserve remaining chocolate chips and crushed candy canes.
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Scoop up dough with a spoon or an ice cream scooper of your choice and place on prepared sheet pan. Leave 1 ½-2 inches between each cookie. I used a 1 ½ inch scooper. Press a few of the chocolate chips onto the top and sides of each dough scoop for a pretty look. (If you’re in a hurry, just add all the chips and into the dough.)
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Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are light golden brown. As soon as cookies emerge from the oven, sprinkle with about ½ teaspoon of the reserved crushed candy cane. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the pan, then transfer to a cooling rack.
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Yield: --18-24
An ice cream scoop is perfect for making uniform size and shape cookies. I like the scoops with a trigger release. I have them in all different sizes for cookie making. They also work great for meatballs.
Don't let the butter completely melt. Start with cold butter right from the refrigerator. Give it 20-30 seconds in the microwave on high power. It should be soft and starting to melt like shown in the picture in the post. If you let the butter get completely melted, the cookie dough will be runny and the cookies will be flat and thin.
After the flour is completely incorporated, the dough should easily form a ball and leave the sides of the bowl. If it's runny and doesn't form a ball, add a bit more flour. Check out the video to see the consistency you want.
Michelle stillman says
When I asked my three grandsons, who made these cookies this afternoon around my counter, to rate these, their answer was an "A+"!
Chris Scheuer says
I love that, Michelle! Thanks for letting us know!
Jill says
These are delicious and easy! One question: Can they be scooped up and then frozen, to be baked another day? Thank you for your recipes!
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Jill, yes, you can definitely do that!
Jen says
My 11 year old made these just now! Sooooo good. I believe this is one of those fail safe recipes. It’s a keeper. Thank you!
Chris Scheuer says
Awesome! Thanks for letting us know, Jen!
Lynda says
Hi Chris
I am making these cookies for gifts may I have the PDF for the labels please . Your recipes have totally lifted my cooking game ! These cookies are delish
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Lynda, I don't have labels for these cookies. Sorry!
Lynda says
Chris,
I just made a batch of these and they are delicious! They are so festive! I look forward to all of your recipes. They are all so good! I plan on making your rosemary goat cheese truffles tomorrow for a Christmas party. I’ve already tried them and they are wonderful!! Thanks again and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Laura | Tutti Dolci says
These look like cookie heaven to me! Hope you had a great visit with your family!
Liz says
What an easy way to transform yummy chocolate chip cookies into a holiday treat!! I bet your holidays are loads of fun with all the little ones. Merry, merry Christmas!!! xoxo
Susan says
Have a wonderful Christmas with your family, Chris and Scott! I'm sure they will be enjoying many wonderful goodies like these cookies which look wonderful!
Maureen says
Lucky you getting to bake these gorgeous cookies with the grands. I can just imagine all the noise and laughter and then you're ready for bedtime.
Merry Christmas to the both of you and all the family.
Monique says
So festive and pretty..I feel like I am in a sugar sprinkled candy cane land this morning..you know that fresh snow stuck to every branch?
Someone up there is the best artist.
Happy holidays to you and your BEAUTIFUL family!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Happy Holidays, Chris! These cookies look so beautiful and christmasy!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much Angie!
Jenna says
Yum! Merry Christmas Chris!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
So easy and festive! Plenty of time for me to whip up a batch 🙂 Have a most wonderful Christmas, Chris and Scott (and family!)
Bonnie says
Please explain the toffee bars in step one of the directions, as they are not mentioned elsewhere?
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Bonnie, these are actually an adaption of my Toffee Bar Chocolate Chip cookies and I missed removing that step, it's fixed now! Sorry for the confusion.
ginny Hartzler says
They look mouth watering! Better than sugarplums for sure!
Charlotte Moore says
I am sure you all will have a wonderful time.
MERRY CHRISTmas!!
Lisa says
Might want to re-read instruction number one- think it's left over from your one bowl toffee chocolate chip cookies - which are delish !
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, fixed!
Wendy says
Merry Christmas, Chris! How wonderful to have your family gathered together. I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts on celebrating not being tied to a date, whether it be Thanksgiving or Christmas or any other holiday. Celebrating a belief or the spirit of a holiday with those you love is what is important , whatever the date. May your holidays be as sweet as these cookies!
Ellen Wright says
TOFFEE BARS? Are there really toffee bars in this recipe?
would love to make these cookies for Christmas, but am a little confused - - - there is no mention of toffee bars in th ingredients or visible in the video. Thanks for clarifying.
Chris Scheuer says
Sorry for the confusion Ellen, it's corrected! You're right, no toffee bars. Just a tired blogger who forgot to remove that step from the recipe. Merry Christmas!
Monique says
They look great! I love how you all get together trough the seasons..I bet you are having a ball!
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says
Yummy! The perfect holiday treat. I love chocolate and peppermint together! Have a blessed Christmas Scott and Chris! Blessings to you and your family.