Dessert

Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Bylina Carter November 7, 2025November 7, 2025

Introduction

These Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies bring festive cheer with a delightful mix of classic chocolate chips, white chocolate, and crunchy peppermint candies. Perfect for cozy gatherings or gifting during the holiday season, they offer a sweet and refreshing twist on a beloved treat.

A tall stack of five soft, thick cookies sits on a black cooling rack over a white marbled texture. Each cookie is a light golden color, dotted with white chocolate chunks, dark chocolate chips, and small red and green candy pieces spread evenly across the surface. The top cookie has a bite taken out of it, revealing a soft, moist inside with chunks of white and dark chocolate, along with the colorful candy pieces inside. The texture of the cookies looks chewy and tender, with slight cracks on the edges. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Step 3: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract to combine well.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.

Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
Step 6: Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and crushed peppermint candies evenly throughout the dough.
Step 7: Drop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.

Step 8: Bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown.
Step 9: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.

Tips & Variations

For a softer cookie, reduce the baking time by a minute or two and let them cool completely on the baking sheet.

Substitute crushed peppermint candies with chopped candy canes or omit them for a classic chocolate chip cookie.
Use dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet for a richer chocolate flavor.
Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help the cookies hold their shape better.

Storage

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, freeze the baked cookies in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to enjoy warm cookies with melty chocolate.

How to Serve

A stack of five thick, soft cookies sits on a black grid, each cookie light golden-brown with rough edges and packed with colorful details. The base cookie shows small chunks of dark brown chocolate chips, white chocolate chunks, and tiny red and green candy pieces mixed inside the dough. On top, a bitten half cookie reveals gooey melted chocolate inside and a crumbly light interior. The white chocolate chips are plump and glossy, the dark chocolate chips are smooth and shiny, and the red and green candies add bright spots of color all over. The cookies are thick and slightly curved at the edges, dry-looking outside but soft inside. The background is a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?

Yes, you can use salted butter but reduce or omit the added salt in the recipe to prevent the cookies from becoming too salty.

How do I crush the peppermint candies safely?

Place the peppermint candies in a resealable plastic bag and gently crush them with a rolling pin or the back of a spoon until they reach the desired size.