Candy Cane Crinkle Cookies
I know, another cookie recipe.
It’s not my fault.
It’s Joe’s.
I want to quit you, Joe.
I make up my mind that we’re going to take it easy on the treats this year.
We’ll enjoy sweets in moderation.
We’ll eat lots of broccoli. All of us. (Yes, that means you, Lulu. I know you’re reading this over my shoulder. Quit telling me that every sentence needs a subject and a verb. And not to start a subject with a preposition. And that you want a puppy.)
But then I go to Trader Joe’s, for broccoli, of course, and he shoves things like “Peppermint Bark Baking Bits” under my nose, and a huge display that taunts me with the irresistible words, “NEW PRODUCTS.”
You hit me where it hurts, Joe.
However, I’m at peace with my decision.
And when I pulled out a plate of these to eat with steamy mugs of hot cocoa while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, I think my family was too.
We ate broccoli with dinner anyhow.
It all evens out.
Joe told me so.
Candy Cane Crinkle Cookies
Makes 24 cookies
***View Nutrition Facts***
- 1 c. gluten-free oat flour (you can simply grind gluten-free oats to make your own)*
- 2/3 c. brown or white rice flour *
- 1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 t. baking powder
- 1/4 t. salt
- 1/2 c. non-dairy margarine (i.e. Earth Balance) or organic butter
- 3/4 c. sucanat or stevia baking blend
- 2 organic or flax eggs (2 T. ground flax + 6 T. water, whisked and set aside)
- 1/2 t. vanilla
- 1 1/4 c. Trader Joe’s Peppermint Bark Baking Bits, divided*
- 1/2 c. powered sugar
*If you don’t wish to make these cookies gluten-free, simply use 1 2/3 c. all purpose or whole wheat pastry flour. If you can’t find the Peppermint Bark Baking Bits and/or want to make these cookies dairy-free, you can use 1/2 c. of crushed candy canes + 1/2 c. chocolate chips or non-dairy white baking pieces instead.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with a silpat or spraying it lightly with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine flours, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
Using a stand or electric mixer, cream together margarine or butter, sweetener and eggs of choice and vanilla. Add flour mixture a bit at a time, beating together after each addition. Fold in 3/4 c of the baking bits.
Place the other 1/2 c. of baking bits in a small bowl and the 1/2 c. of powdered sugar in another small bowl.
Roll cookie dough into balls by the tablespoon and roll the top half of the ball in the baking bits. Roll the ball again, all over, in the powdered sugar and place it on the cookie sheet with the baking bits side facing up. Continue with remaining dough.
Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until cookies are set. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for at least ten minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Oh wow, must make these!!!! Chocolate + peppermint = delicious! I love hot cocoa and I love Charlie Brown Christmas! As always, thanks again for thinking of us vegans! <3
Yeah, I made two batches of these in about three days. And I only gave one away.
Oh don’t worry, you can throw as many Christmas recipes out here as you want and I’ll never get sick of looking at them!! Well, unless of course you’re still doing it in April I think your family has consumed its fair share of broccoli this year, so lots of cookies are warranted!
Yeah, we’ve got to even out the cookie to broccoli ratio. It’s a delicate balance.
They sound yummy, but don’t have a trader joes near us could I use andes mint chips?
Sure…great idea!
these sound yum!
Broccoli over cookies any time for me, though
Do you only eat/bake gluten free now? I love that you still always offer dairy free options
I bake/eat mostly gluten free. Gigi’s best friend is gluten free, as are many of our other readers, friends and a few family members. We don’t notice a taste/texture difference (when I do it right!), so I prefer to just go gluten free whenever possible when I make things.
My husband bought me your book for my birthday. So excited–just wanted to share.
Also broccoli + Mmmm sauce = heaven. It was a main (and very popular) feature on our Thanksgiving table. Tasty tasty.
That’s awesome! Thanks, Michaela!
I just did a dance about these! (Also a Peppermint Joe Joe’s dance.) Must make time this weekend for these, and for a tree, and Charlie Brown! Thank you for the recipe.
We’re getting our tree this weekend too. Can’t wait!
CAN’T WAIT to make these, they look unbelievable. I love all things Candy Cane. Yum!
YUM! I love crinkle cookies! Oh Trader Joe’s and your delicious, holiday goodies.
Oh Mama Pea, Joe tempts me like that, too. I still buy the brocolli and the Brussels sprouts, but I can’t resist a chocolate crinkle cookie. Can’t wait to try these!
I will definitely have to add these to my holiday baking list–both because they look delicious and because it will give me justification for a Trader Joe’s trip
I’m going back tomorrow as well. Coconut chips better be in stock.
Joe is my man, too! He always gets me with his holiday goodies.
Could I use 1-2/3 c. oat flour instead of 1 c. oat flour + 2/3 c. rice flour?
Or will it mess things up?
You made yours with flax egg right? Thanks!
You could definitely play with the flour ratios. The photographed cookies were made with pastured eggs, but flax works great too.
oh, good golly….I did not see this new product while shopping at TJ’s yesterday. That’s probably a good thing—at least for my waistline.
These cookies look amazing though!
A lot of your posts make me laugh out loud. I’m grateful for that as well as for the great recipe! I want to quit you, Joe . . .so funny
Thanks, Heidi!
I’m coming to you for all of my cookie recipes this year (that will probably never be made). I feel like every year, I plane on a dozen or more cooke recipes I intend to make and then end up just walking away with a tin of my mom’s chocolate chip. I’m a dreamer.
These are amazing!
Don’t feel bad about posting another cookie recipe. It’s the cookie time of year!
These look perfectly Christmas-y.
Oh myyy darling I need to make these!!
It’s probably best that we have no Trader Joes nearby. I would be in major trouble…me and my waistline and my pocketbook…
So worth it!
i had the bag in my handdd! and then i put it down. looks like i have to buy it now !!
Why have I not seen the Trader Joe’s Peppermint Bark Baking Bits??! where have I been? And I’m in that store like 2x a week (more if I let myself!) I am going to stalk those! The cookies look awesome. Dark chocolate + mint is a total win!
I know where you’ll be tomorrow. Me too!
Hahahaha! TJ’s is so tempting like that. I love that you got creative with the baking. I think I would have just eaten the chocolate, or at most made hot chocolate.
Now you’re talking with the hot chocolate idea!
Subjects and verbs in kindergarten? Dang – they’re doing it right where you live!
It’s just her. Little freak.
I love the chocolate/peppermint combo. I hope you’ve been having a great week!
Thanks, Amber–you too!
I went to TJ’s immediately after reading this post and was so excited to get these baking bits – but they don’t sell them in MN! I even had the guy look it up, we will not be getting them at all! Any idea for substitutions? These look like my dream cookie…
Nestlé makes mint chocolate chips or you could break up the TJs peppermint bark yourself?
The second I saw the title, I knew you’d gone to Trader Joe’s.
These look great.
Curse you Mama P! I have been so good in feeding my family broccoli and resisting TJ’s! Looks like date night will be spent cruising the aisles of TJ’s! I hope my husband believes the dreamy look in my eyes are only for him and not for JOE
Bren
Oh, my dear man knows that look all too well.
Now you’ve done it! Not only have you been averted from your broccoli ways, you’re pulling me off the narrow road, too! Gluten free this time around!! And I have all these ingredients. Except baking bits. Watch out, Joe. Mama Pea told me about you!
I’ve been noticing a lot of gluten free recipes around these parts – any specific reason ? These cookies look yum!
Gigi’s best friend is gluten free, as are many of our other readers, friends and a few family members. We don’t notice a taste/texture difference (when I do it right!), so I prefer to just go gluten free whenever possible when I make things.
I forgot about my cookie, then we were at the store and I was digging for my wallet…the cookie came out. 4 sets of eyes staring me down, in disbelief that I would keep a cookie from them. It was an awkward moment…but somehow I still managed to not have to share.
Mommy win!
Yeah, yours was missing half the goodies. I added the rolling more on top step in the next batch. I’m a bad friend.
Say what?! This peppermint bark baking bit business is news to me. Oh buddy – that sounds delicious- and dangerous!
Mama Pea – every year since I have been reading your blog, I make a new cookie of yours for my tray! It’s like you’re like a little part of my Christmas! I think these are going to be a hit this year! Stopping at TJ’s after work!
That is a great honor! Thank you!
Oh my, how did I miss these? I was just at TJ on Wednesday….oh well, I’ll have to go today too! And one can never have too many cookie recipes! I love that you give all of the flour options too – helps me use what is in my pantry! (My husband and I maybe inhaled an entire box of Joe’s O’s in the peppermint flavor this week…this would be a bit healthier!)
Have a great weekend! It sounds like Lulu is a junior English major in the making!
Yes, she “writes books” every day after school for fun
Have a great weekend, Christine!
Thanks for this great recipea! I make peppermint bark every year, and inevitably there are tons of small pieces/crumbs left over from breaking it up. Now I have a way to use them up! And helllloooo…who needs to go out for a peppermint mocha when you can dunk one of these tasty treats in your coffee instead!
You do wanna be Ina, with your fancy peppermint bark
Oh man- I’m glad Joe made you buys those. Now I have to pick them up with some broccoli slaw.
These look so darn good. Can’t wait to watch Christnas movies with my boys with cookies and cocoa.
That is how I felt when my co op was featuring vegan marshmallows for thanksgiving….they totally suckered me in and 5 smores late I was paying for it!!!
Apparently I am not the only sucker for TJs new products! Especially baking-related products! I had to buy these the last time I was there as well!
Have you made anything with them yet? I still have half a bag
Not yet… I am afraid to open the bag until I am ready to make something! These cookies definitely are on the list of possible options! Because TJs is about an hour away (depending on border traffic), I may not have a chance to buy these again this season so I have to choose wisely!
Oh man, these look amazing. It’s a good thing my Trader Joe’s is a good hour away – usually not a good thing. I really love this blog – it’s so clean looking and the food looks amazing. Have a great week!
You can never post too many cookie recipes. Thanks Mama Pea!
Wow, these look pretty, sound tasty, and are super festive! Xmas cookies for the win.
I guess I haven’t been paying attention very well, but do you and your family now eat eggs and dairy? I was vegan for a longtime but now eat eggs, so I am just wondering. Thanks and happy holiday baking!
My family has always eaten eggs and dairy. I incorporated them in my diet at the beginning of the year as well, due to health complications. We are lucky to have great local, pastured dairy available (& free eggs from a co-worker!).
There look fantastic! I called 3 T.J.’s stores today in Illinois and none had them. Apparently these little goodies didn’t make it past the Rocky Mountains….. Maybe next year. I may just have to try with the substitutions anyway….
Oh bummer! Maybe I should start stock up and start selling them?
I had a serious panic attack the other day in Trader Joe’s when I saw so much I wanted to buy for holiday fun and knew that I couldn’t because my husband was with me and we were going on vacation. He is sensible and doesn’t buy $100 worth of groceries before a week away. I didn’t see the peppermint bark bits. Now I am back and ready to do some damage.
Since no T. Joe’s are around here, some mint chips and dark chocolate chips equal to the bark mix made my cookies really good. Great recipe….. the kids are licking fingers and asking for more…. and I love the stevia instead of sugar, yes please!
Wonderful! Glad they were a hit, Melissa!
I’ve been drinking peppermint mochas nonstop this past week so this seems the natural next step. Mmmm to the yes!
My trader joe’s sold out of these in 3 days. They must be good!
These are packed up and ready to go to a party tonight! Used chocolate bits and crushed candy canes. Love using sucanat, gives such a nice flavor…
Great! I hope they’re the hit of the party!!!
They were! Very popular! Everybody loved them!
these look like perfection! I need to go to Joes! peppermint bark was ALWAYS one of my most fav. things.
also, thanks for all of the love and prayers, mama.
While searching for another bag (after my family devoured my first batch of these cookies), I ran into 2 other readers in Portland area Trader Joes who were out looking for the peppermint bark too!! Finally found them again at the 4th store I tried! It’s going to be so worth all the driving after I’m done baking tonight
Thanks for another great recipe!!
Too funny!!! I hope you love every bite!!!
it is probably a good thing I don’t have a trader joes near me. those would be gone in no time!
Sent hubby to Trader Joe’s to get the baking chips you mentioned and he couldn’t find them- he asked and were told they don’t have them anymore- they are out of season already! WHAT?? he bought some peppermint bark (even though we usually make it home made) and hoped we could use that!
Yes, of course! Use the bark–but what a bummer about the chips!
These were sooo great!! I wanted to thank you for using a stevia baking blend. My husband has diabetes and just last week I tried Truvia’s baking blend and it was great in these cookies — couldn’t tell there was some “fake” sugar in there!
These cookies were delicious.
That’s wonderful! I haven’t tried the Truvia blend, but I definitely will if you give it a thumbs up!
Hi Mama Pea- I’m about to make these cookies and I have a question about the sugar proportions. On my stevia baking blend package it says to use 1/3 of the amount of the sugar called for in a recipe. So in this case would you suggest using 3/4 cup of stevia baking blend or 1/3 of that amount? (which of course I don’t know the actual measurement of since math isn’t exactly a strength)
thanks!
The baking blend I use measures the same for sugar, cup for cup, but 1/3rd of 3/4 cup is 1/4 cup, so that’s what I would go with. Good luck!
I just made these to take to my family Christmas brunch and I’m going to have to make another batch before I leave because my boyfriend & I finished them all off already!
I included this great recipe in my Links You’ll Love round up this week – Keep up the great work!
http://moicontrelavie.com/2012/12/23/links-youll-love-58/