Chocolate Peppermint Crinkles

I have finally joined on the peppermint party, maybe a little late.  I wanted to make Gina's Chocolate Crinkles, because they are so good. Such a coincidence that her post for these cookies last year was titled  "Chocolate Crinkles for the Grieving" for an Uncle who had past away.  Little did I know that there would be a horrific event in Connecticut, that has shaken our nation, and so I made these cookies for comfort. I was home by myself Friday, as the events in Newtown unfolded. Shaken to my core, the only "person" I could hug was Bailey, the Wonder dog.  I kept thinking that my kids who are grown adults in their 30's, were so fortunate that they never had to face any crisis like Newtown, and could go to school unscathed. Now the world is a very different, scary place at times. Remember your good times, and hug your kids and your dog today. Good will overcome the bad.

I did decide to change up  the Chocolate Crinkles by adding the Peppermint Kisses. After the Crinkles baked, I didn't realize, that because the Peppermint kisses weren't milk or dark chocolate,  so they would melt into the cookies, like the ones in these pictures. I had to add another kiss on top of the melted, so those cookies have a double dose of Peppermint. when I ran out of Peppermint Kisses, I added the Dark chocolate Mint kisses, which, worked perfectly.

Caveat: If you use the Peppermint Kisses, wait about three minutes, until the cookies have set a bit, before adding the kisses

Now, these cookies look better. These cookies are a chewy chocolate cookie topped with the cool peppermint, so good and perfect for the season.

Chocolate Crinkles  Adapted from SP Cookie Queen

Ingredients:

1/2 cup + 4 tbsp. vegetable oil

12 tbsp. cocoa powder

2 cups granulated sugar

4 eggs

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup powdered sugar

1 package Peppermint or Dark Chocolate Mint Kisses

Directions:

1. Mix the oil, cocoa and granulated sugar
2. Mix in one egg at a time until well combined.
3. Add vanilla. Sift the flour.  Add flour, baking powder and salt into mixture, mix until well combined. 
4. Chill the dough at least 3-4 hours.
5. Oil your hands and take rounded teaspoons full of dough and roll into a ball, and then roll the balls in powdered sugar.  Place balls onto a parchment lined baking sheet, 2 inches apart.
6. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes for chewy cookies
7. When cookies are done, Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes. Remove to cooling rack; After three minutes, place a kiss in the center of the cookie, and press down. lightly.
8. Continue to cool on rack, until candy is set.

***Makes 36 cookies

Cooks Note: I made smaller 1” cookies, and I got about 48 cookies.

l inked up my recipe to Brandie@The Country Cook's Weekend Potluck #47
 Stop by and say Hi to Brandie!