Peppermint Bonbon Cookies

Here's a decadent holiday combination--soft and chewy chocolate on the inside with a little peppermint candy crunch on top. These gems are great plain or we offer a double glaze option, too.

Prep: 25 min.; Cook: 13 min. per batch; Other: 2 hr., 35 min.

Editor's favorite; Gift idea; Make ahead

Yield: 2 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• 8  ounces  bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2  cup  unsalted butter
• 1 1/2  ounces  unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 1/2  cup  finely crushed hard peppermint candies
• 6  tablespoons  granulated sugar
• 3  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1  teaspoon  peppermint extract
• 1 1/2  cups  all-purpose flour
• 3/4  teaspoon  baking powder
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  cup  semisweet chocolate morsels
• Additional coarsely crushed hard peppermint candies, divided
• 1/2  cup  powdered sugar (optional)
• 2 1/2  teaspoons  milk (optional)
• 1/2  cup  semisweet chocolate morsels, melted (optional)

Preparation

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large saucepan; cook over low heat until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and stir in 1/2 cup crushed peppermint and 6 Tbsp. sugar. Let cool 30 minutes.

Add eggs to melted chocolate, 1 at a time, stirring well. Stir in extracts.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to chocolate mixture, stirring until combined. Stir in chocolate morsels. Cover and chill dough 2 hours or until firm enough to shape.

Shape dough into 1 1/2" balls; place on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake at 325° for 12 to 13 minutes or until cookies are puffed and cracked on top. Sprinkle coarsely crushed peppermints onto cookies; press candy lightly into cookies. Let cookies cool 5 minutes on baking sheets. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Whisk together powdered sugar and milk; drizzle over cooled cookies, if desired. Drizzle with melted chocolate, if desired. Sprinkle cookies again with chopped peppermint, if desired. Let cookies stand until glaze and chocolate are firm.