Name: Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 26 min
Cuisine: American
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

Jump to Recipe· 4.5 from 17 reviews

If you’re dreaming of cookies that capture the magic of a snowy holiday scene, you’ve got to try this Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. These cookies are more than just your average chocolate chip treats – they bring together the cozy warmth of classic chips, the cool peppermint crunch, and a sprinkle of white chocolate to make each bite feel like a festive celebration. Trust me, once you bake a batch, you’ll find yourself reaching for these cookies all winter long, and your kitchen will smell like a holiday wonderland.

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Why This Recipe Works

Perfect Texture: Soft and chewy centers with just the right crisp edges thanks to the butter and sugars balance.
Flavor Harmony: Classic semi-sweet chocolate melded with white chocolate and refreshing peppermint for a truly festive taste.
Easy to Customize: You can tweak mix-ins or swap peppermint for other festive candies without losing any magic.
Reliable Results: Simple instructions that even amateur bakers can follow for consistent cookies every time.

Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies, holiday chocolate chip cookies, festive winter cookies, peppermint white chocolate cookies, easy holiday cookie recipe - A tall stack of five round cookies with a light golden brown dough base, each cookie filled with a mix of white chocolate chunks, small dark chocolate chips, and tiny red and green candy pieces spread evenly on top and inside. The top cookie has a bite taken from its upper edge, showing the soft, dense texture inside dotted with chocolate and candy bits. The cookies have a slightly rough but soft surface with some cracks. The stack sits on a black metal cooling rack with a white marbled background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Here’s the lowdown on the magic behind each ingredient in our Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. Using familiar pantry staples with a few festive twists means you’ll get a cookie that’s both nostalgic and exciting. I always make sure to use fresh, quality ingredients to get the best flavor and texture out of these cookies.

Unsalted butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control salt levels perfectly, and creaming it well with sugars gives your cookies that lovely fluffiness.
Granulated sugar and brown sugar: The combo provides sweetness plus moisture and chewiness – brown sugar especially helps keep the cookies soft.
Eggs: They’re essential for structure and moisture, plus they help bind everything together nicely.
Vanilla extract: This adds warm, sweet aroma that elevates the chocolate flavors beautifully.
All-purpose flour: The base for structure – using the right amount keeps cookies from turning out too cakey or too tough.
Baking soda: The leavening agent that helps cookies spread just enough and get those light, tender centers.
Salt: Small amounts enhance flavor and balance the sweetness perfectly.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Classic cookie staple providing a rich depth of chocolate flavor.
White chocolate chips: A creamy contrast that adds sweetness and a nice color pop to the cookie.
Crushed peppermint candies: This festive touch delivers crunch and a refreshing mint kick that really makes these cookies special.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the reasons I love the Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to make your own with simple tweaks. Whether you’re partial to more peppermint punch or want to swap in nuts or dried fruit, this recipe plays well with your favorites.

Extra Peppermint: I sometimes add a sprinkle of crushed candy canes on top right before baking for an extra festive crunch and pop of color.
Nut Lovers’ Twist: Adding chopped toasted pecans or walnuts works wonders if you like a bit of nutty texture with your chocolate.
Vegan/Dairy-Free Version: I haven’t tried this personally, but swapping butter for vegan margarine and using egg replacer could be a fun experiment if you need dairy-free cookies.
White Chocolate Only: If you prefer a sweeter cookie, try doubling white chocolate chips and leaving out the semi-sweet for an ultra-creamy finish.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy

Start by softening your unsalted butter to room temperature – this makes creaming much easier. I use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and beat the butter with granulated and brown sugars for about 3-4 minutes until you see the mixture lighten in color and puff up. This is key for soft, tender cookies with great rise, so don’t rush it!

Step 2: Beat In Eggs and Vanilla

Add your eggs one at a time, mixing well between additions so everything blends smoothly. Then stir in your vanilla extract. Watch your mixing speed here—too fast and you’ll get too much air, which can make cookies puff up weirdly. Medium speed works nicely for this step.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients & Fold Into Wet

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This keeps the leavening and salt evenly distributed. Gradually add this dry mix into your wet ingredients, stirring gently just until you don’t see any flour streaks. Overmixing can make cookies tough, so be gentle here.

Step 4: Fold in Chocolate Chips and Peppermint

This is where our Winter Wonderland magic comes in: fold in both semi-sweet and white chocolate chips along with crushed peppermint candies. This combo gives bursts of cocoa richness and refreshing mint in every bite. Pro tip: crush peppermint candies just enough to have some crunchy bits, but not so fine they disappear into the dough.

Step 5: Scoop, Bake, and Enjoy!

Use a tablespoon scoop (I swear by my cookie scoop for uniform size) and drop cookies about 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake in the preheated 375°F (190°C) oven for 9-11 minutes, keeping an eye so edges turn golden but centers stay soft. Let them cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a rack. That little cooling time helps them set perfectly without falling apart.

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Tips from My Kitchen

Butter Temperature: Make sure your butter is softened but not melted for the best creaming result and cookie texture.
Peppermint Candy Prep: Use a rolling pin to crush candies inside a sealed bag so you avoid mess and get even chunks.
Cookie Spacing: Leaving enough space on the baking sheet ensures cookies don’t spread into each other, so don’t skip the 2-inch gap.
Watch the Oven: These cookies bake fast, so start checking at 9 minutes and don’t overbake to keep them soft and chewy.

How to Serve Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love dusting a tiny bit of powdered sugar on top to mimic fresh snow – it just amps up that winter wonderland vibe. Sometimes I sprinkle a few extra crushed peppermint bits on warm cookies right out of the oven for an extra festive look and crunch.

Side Dishes

These cookies are perfect with a cold glass of milk or a cozy cup of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream. They also pair surprisingly well with a slice of peppermint bark or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent treat.

Creative Ways to Present

When I bring these to holiday parties, I like arranging them on a platter lined with evergreen sprigs and placing little red berries around for that Christmas-y charm. Wrapping a stack in festive cellophane tied with a ribbon also makes an instant, impressive gift for friends and neighbors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature—they stay fresh and soft for up to a week. If they start to lose a bit of their magic, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave revives that just-baked softness.

Freezing

One of my favorite tricks is freezing unbaked dough balls on a tray, then transferring them to a freezer bag once firm. When cravings hit, you can bake fresh cookies straight from frozen—just add a minute or two to the baking time. This way, you always have festive treats on demand without any hassle!

Reheating

To warm up leftover cookies, I pop them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds—enough to melt the chocolate chips slightly but not dry out the cookie. Another option is a quick 5-minute stint in a 300°F (150°C) oven wrapped loosely in foil to keep them chewy and soft.

FAQs

Can I use different types of chocolate chips in the Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! While the combination of semi-sweet and white chocolate chips gives a festive balance, you can substitute with dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or even peanut butter chips depending on your preferences. Just keep the total amount roughly the same to maintain the cookie texture.
What’s the best way to crush peppermint candies without making a mess?

Place your peppermint candies in a resealable plastic bag, seal it tightly, and gently tap with a rolling pin or the bottom of a heavy pan. This method prevents sticky candy shards everywhere while allowing you to control the size of the pieces.
Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can make the dough and refrigerate it up to 48 hours before baking. This can even improve the flavor and texture as the ingredients meld together. Just be sure to let the dough sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before scooping and baking.
Why do my cookies spread too much when baking?

This often happens if your butter is too soft or melted or if you don’t chill the dough before baking. Try using butter that’s softened but not oily, and chilling the dough for 15-30 minutes can help cookies hold their shape better.

Final Thoughts

This Winter Wonderland Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe feels like a little celebration in every bite, and it always brings that cozy, happy feeling into my kitchen. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just treating yourself on a chilly afternoon, these cookies deliver the perfect mix of comfort and festiveness. I can’t wait for you to try them and add your own personal twists—once you do, they’ll be part of your holiday traditions too, I guarantee it!