Chocolate Chip Peppermint Stick Cookies!

I had this idea the other day and it sounded delicious. I was 100% correct. :D
Makes 24 cookies!

• 1 cup + 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened.
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup crushed peppermint sticks, or 8-10 sticks.

Plus, you'll need bowls, measuring spoons and cups, a mixer and a cookie sheet. :)

To 375 F.

Do it to it.

Especially if yours is like mine and has to think about warming up for quite a while.

In a large bowl, cream the butter (1 stick, softened.) and sugars (1/2 each brown and white) until nice and fluffy.

Once properly creamed, add in 1 egg, 1/4 tsp salt and 1 1/2 tsp vanilla.

Mix well.

In a separate bowl, measure out 1 cup + 2 tbsp of all purpose flour and 1/2 tsp of baking soda.

Use a fork to mix these together well.

Dump the flour mixture into the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until combined.

Get out your peppermint sticks!
Unwrap them and throw them in a freezer bag.
Use a rolling pin or heavy bottomed pot to crush them.
Think of this as therapy time! :D

(Additional warnings on this step - do the sticks in small batches. Otherwise, you end up with a bag full of half peppermint dust and half peppermint pieces. The peppermint dust doesn't work so well in the batter - you'll end up with very chewy, flat, spread-y cookies. :P)

Dump 1 cup of chocolate chips and your crushed peppermint sticks into the bowl with the cookie dough.

You're probably going to want to give up the mixer and move on to using a spatula to combine this now. Stir well until everyone is playing nice together.

I divide my cookies out by the tablespoon. This way, I get 24 big cookies. You can go smaller if you like. Just make sure they're evenly spaced. :)

I do 12 cookies per sheet.

Once they're all out on the sheet, pop them in the oven for 10 minutes.

Once they've cooled a little, you are free to enjoy your delicious cookies.
(Really though, make sure they're cool. Molten sugar lava is not fun!)