Let’s bake the ultimate winter wonderland chocolate chip cookies. Is there anything that captures the spirit of the season quite like a warm, freshly baked cookie? I think not. These are a festive transformation of a classic a soft, chewy canvas dotted with rich chocolate and a hint of winter magic. They’re utterly irresistible. So, pull out your favorite mixing bowl and let’s create some holiday joy, one perfect cookie at a time.
INTRODUCTION
The moment you step into a kitchen filled with the aroma of baking winter wonderland chocolate chip Christmas cookies, you know the holidays have truly arrived.
- Frankly, these cookies are like a hug in edible form.
- They are my go-to recipe for everything from holiday parties and cookie exchanges to leaving out for Santa (with a tall glass of cold milk, of course).
- This winter wonderland chocolate chip Christmas cookies recipe is straightforward. Yet, the results are nothing short of spectacular, producing cookies that are soft in the center, slightly crisp at the edges, and bursting with festive flavor.
WHY MAKE THIS RECIPE
They’re Bursting with Festive Flavor
What sets these apart from a standard chocolate chip cookie? Well, it’s all about the little twists. We’re incorporating a blend of spices and extracts that evoke the very essence of a snowy December evening.
Imagine the cozy warmth of cinnamon and a whisper of nutmeg mingling with the rich, buttery dough. It’s a combination that will have your whole house smelling like a Christmas boutique.
They’re Surprisingly Simple to Make
Listen, the holidays are busy enough without complicated recipes that dirty every dish in the kitchen. This recipe is your saving grace. You don’t need any fancy equipment; a couple of bowls and a wooden spoon will do the trick.
Consequently, even if you’re a baking novice, you can absolutely nail these cookies and impress everyone. They come together in a flash, leaving you more time to enjoy the twinkling lights and festive music.
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Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies with a festive winter twist white chocolate, peppermint, and sparkling sugar make them a true Winter Wonderland treat!
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
- 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
- Sparkling or coarse sugar for topping (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- 3. In a large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- 4. Add vanilla, egg, and egg yolk, and mix until well combined.
- 5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms.
- 6. Fold in semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and crushed peppermint candies.
- 7. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- 8. If desired, sprinkle tops with sparkling sugar for a frosty look.
- 9. Bake 9–11 minutes, or until edges are golden but centers are still soft.
- 10. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For a wintery look, drizzle cooled cookies with melted white chocolate and sprinkle with crushed peppermint.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- These make perfect holiday gifts wrap them in cellophane and tie with a ribbon!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: cookies, chocolate chip, peppermint, holiday baking, winter dessert
HOW TO MAKE WINTER WONDERLAND CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
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- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (this is the secret weapon!)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips (for that snowy look!)
- Preheat Oven: Turn your oven on to 375°F (190°C). Allowing the oven to fully preheat ensures even baking from the moment the cookies go in.
- Prepare Baking Sheets: Line your baking sheets with parchment paper. This not only guarantees no sticking, but it also promotes even browning and makes cleanup effortless. If you don’t have parchment paper, you can lightly grease the sheets with butter or cooking spray.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the following:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
- Use a whisk to blend them together thoroughly for about 30 seconds. This aerates the flour and ensures the leavening agents and spices are distributed evenly throughout the mixture, preventing clumps of any single ingredient.
- Set this bowl aside.
- In a separate, larger bowl, place the softened butter (it should be cool to the touch but yield easily when pressed), granulated sugar, and brown sugar.
- Using an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer) on medium speed, “cream” these ingredients together. This process incorporates air into the dough. Mix for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture becomes noticeably lighter in color, fluffy, and smooth. Do not shortcut this step, as it is essential for the cookies’ texture.
- Add Eggs One at a Time: Crack one egg into the butter-sugar mixture. Mix on medium speed until it is fully incorporated and the mixture appears smooth again. Then, add the second egg and repeat. Adding them one by one ensures they emulsify properly with the fats.
- Add Extracts: Beat in the vanilla extract and almond extract just until combined. The almond extract is the secret to a complex, bakery-style flavor profile.
- Gradually Add Dry Ingredients: With your mixer on low speed, gradually add the bowl of dry ingredients to the wet mixture in about three additions. This prevents flour from flying out of the bowl and helps the ingredients incorporate evenly without overworking the gluten.
- Mix Until Just Combined: Stop mixing as soon as you no longer see streaks of dry flour. The dough will be thick. Overmixing at this stage will lead to tough, dense cookies.
- Add the semi-sweet and white chocolate chips to the bowl.
- Using a spatula, gently fold them into the dough. Use a sweeping motion, turning the bowl as you go, until the chips are evenly distributed. This prevents overmixing and avoids breaking the chips.
- Using a tablespoon measure or a small cookie scoop, drop rounded portions of dough onto your prepared baking sheets.
- Leave about 2 inches (5 cm) of space between each portion to allow for spreading.
- Place one sheet at a time in the center rack of your preheated oven.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes. The cookies are done when the edges are set and golden brown, but the centers still look soft and slightly underbaked. They will continue to cook on the hot baking sheet.
- Rest on Pan: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool directly on the hot sheet for exactly 5 minutes. This allows them to set and finish cooking through without becoming dry.
- Transfer to Rack: After 5 minutes, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. This stops the cooking process and allows air to circulate, ensuring the bottoms don’t get soggy.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Preparation
Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugars
Step 4: Incorporate Wet Ingredients
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Step 6: Add Chocolate Chips
Step 7: Portion and Bake
Step 8: Cool the Cookies
NUTRITION AND HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
A Note on Indulgence
Let’s be real, these are a holiday treat, and they are meant to be enjoyed as such. While they are packed with deliciousness, they are also rich in sugars and fats. However, you can make mindful choices, like using high-quality chocolate, which often contains less processed ingredients.
Simple Swaps for Dietary Needs
Fortunately, this winter wonderland chocolate chip Christmas cookies recipe is quite adaptable. For a gluten-free version, simply substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. If dairy is a concern, use your favorite plant-based butter. And guess what? The results are still fantastic.
For a slightly lighter option, you can reduce the amount of chocolate chips, but where’s the fun in that during the holidays?
HOW TO SERVE WINTER WONDERLAND COOKIES
The Classic Christmas Spread
Picture a beautiful platter piled high with these warm, inviting cookies. They are the star of any dessert table. Furthermore, pair them with a chilled glass of milk, a rich cup of hot cocoa, or even a festive eggnog for the ultimate holiday experience.
They also make wonderful gifts when stacked in a cellophane bag and tied with a pretty ribbon.
Get the Kids Involved
Baking these cookies can be a wonderful family activity. Kids love scooping the dough and, of course, sneaking a few chocolate chips. Shaping the dough and watching the cookies transform in the oven creates lasting Christmas memories that are just as sweet as the treats themselves.
HOW TO STORE WINTER WONDERLAND COOKIES
Keeping Them Fresh and Soft
To maintain that soft, chewy texture, store your completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Believe it or not, placing a single piece of bread in the container works wonders; the cookies will absorb the moisture from the bread, staying soft for days while the bread goes hard.
Freezing for Later Enjoyment
This dough freezes beautifully, which is a lifesaver during the hectic holiday season. You can scoop the dough into balls and freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer bag. Then, whenever a cookie craving strikes, you can bake them straight from the freezer, adding just a minute or two to the baking time.
TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST WINTER WONDERLAND COOKIES
Tips and Notes: Your Kitchen Companion
Do not use melted butter! Using properly softened butter (cool to the touch but easily indented) is the key to achieving the perfect cookie structure and that delightful chewiness.
Details
Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes, while not always necessary, can prevent the cookies from spreading too much and results in a slightly thicker, chewier cookie. If you have the time, I highly recommend it.
Variation
Feeling adventurous? For a truly decadent winter wonderland chocolate chip Christmas cookies experience, try adding ¾ cup of dried cranberries for a tart contrast to the sweet chocolate. You could even swap the white chocolate chips for peppermint chips for a cool, minty finish.
Notes
The baking time is a guide. All ovens are different, so keep an eye on your first batch. You want the edges to be set and golden, but the center should still look slightly underbaked when you take them out. They will continue to cook on the hot baking sheet.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 72 hours. This actually allows the flavors to meld together even more beautifully. Just let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before scooping if it’s too hard.
My cookies came out flat. What happened?
This is usually due to butter that was too warm or melted. Next time, ensure your butter is just softened, not greasy. Also, double-check that your baking soda is fresh, as old leavening agents lose their potency. Chilling the dough, as mentioned, is your best defense against flat cookies.
Can I use only one type of chocolate chip?
Of course! While the combination of semi-sweet and white chocolate creates our “winter wonderland” effect, you can use all semi-sweet, all milk chocolate, or even dark chocolate chips based on your personal preference. The recipe is very forgiving.
CONCLUSION
And there you have it. Your very own guide to creating the most magical, memorable, and mouthwatering winter wonderland chocolate chip Christmas cookies. This recipe is more than just a list of ingredients; it’s a ticket to creating warm holiday moments and sharing joy with the people you love. So, preheat that oven, gather your ingredients, and get ready to bake a batch of pure happiness. Happy baking, and may your holidays be sweet!