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No-Bake Chocolate Peppermint Cookies Everyone Will Love

No-Bake Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Soft, chewy chocolate-oat cookies flavored with peppermint extract and finished with crunchy crushed candy canes. This no-oven recipe makes about 24 cookies in approximately 40–50 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
  • 1/2 cup (113 g) Unsalted butter
  • 2 cups (400 g) Granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) Milk
  • 1/4 cup (about 21 g) Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 3 cups (about 240 g) Quick-cooking oats
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon Peppermint extract
  • 1/2 cup (about 60 g), plus extra for topping if desired Crushed peppermint candies or candy canes

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or waxed paper. Set them beside the stovetop so the hot cookie mixture can be portioned quickly.
  2. Add the butter, sugar, milk, cocoa powder, and salt to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth.
  3. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, with bubbles visibly covering the surface. Once it reaches that point, boil for exactly 1 minute while stirring continuously.
  4. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the quick-cooking oats, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and crushed peppermint candies until every oat is coated.
  5. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Flatten each mound slightly if preferred, then sprinkle with extra peppermint pieces while the cookies are still warm.
  6. Let the cookies cool at room temperature for 20–30 minutes, or until firm enough to lift from the paper. If the kitchen is warm, refrigerate them briefly to help them set.

Notes

Use quick-cooking oats for the best texture. Start the one-minute timer only after the mixture reaches a full rolling boil; under-boiling may leave the cookies soft, while over-boiling can make them dry or crumbly. Store set cookies in an airtight container.