12 Days of Christmas Treats: Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

     Here's another recipe I've been making for years.  It's another one from my "Low-Fat" cookbook so naturally, I added all the fat back in and threw in some chocolate chips for good measure.  Can't have all that stupid health at Christmas, now can we?

     I used a food processor for the first time this year to chop the candies,  you can always use the old-fashioned "bash 'em with a hammer" method, but this was quicker and more uniform.  Process for about 10 seconds until most of the mints are dust, but there are still a few pea sized chunks in there, too.  I used Trader Joe's brand peppermints because they don't have artificial colorings or flavors.  They are smaller, though, so I used about 35 candies.

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (Modified from Low-Fat Ways to Cook Desserts)
Yield: 53 cookie scoop size cookies, 44 if you follow the directions
1/2 C stick butter, softened
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C firmly packed brown sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 C plus 1 Tbs unsweetened cocoa
2/3 C finely crushed round peppermint candies (about 30 candies or 8 candy canes)
1/2 C chocolate chips

Beat margarine at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well.  Add egg substitute and vanilla; beat well.  Combine flour and next 4 ingredients.  Add to margarine mixture, stirring just until blended.  Stir in crushed candy.  Drop dough by level Tbs 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets lined with parchment or wax paper.  Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes.  Remove from cookie sheets and let cool on wire racks.

Notes:
You definitely want these to be on some sort of barrier instead of relying on cooking spray or any magical non-stick properties your pan may possess.  They can be super sticky!

Review:
I really like these especially with the smaller pieces.  The kids love them with hot chocolate!