These easy Peppermint Oreo Cookies are loaded with cookie chunks and peppermint chips, making them taste amazing! Make a batch for your family this holiday season and watch how quickly they disappear.
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A few years ago I made these chocolate mint cookies, and I have been dreaming about them recently. They seriously taste like a deep fried mint Oreo, and they are heavenly!
For the holidays, I decided to make a peppermint version. And oh my word! These peppermint cookies and cream cookies are seriously one of the best Christmas cookies you will make this year!
They are so easy to make because they start with a box cake mix. I have a serious love affair with easy cake mix cookies!
Why These Oreo Cookies Are The Best
- Easy to make with just a few ingredients.
- Stay soft for days making them the perfect cookie to ship to loved ones.
- Loaded with Oreo cookie chunks and peppermint crunch chips!
- Tastes like Christmas in a cookie!
- Get rave reviews from everyone who tries them.
Main Ingredient Notes
The dough for these peppermint crunch cookies comes together in minutes. In order to keep the cookies from spreading as they bake, you need to refrigerate the dough for at least an hour.
- Vanilla Cake Mix - The dry cake mix is the base to the cookie dough.
- Butter & Cream Cheese - Provides the moisture and fat needed for soft, puffy cookies.
- Egg - One large egg helps to bind the ingredients together.
- Extracts - A mixture of vanilla extract and peppermint extract gives the cookies a great flavor.
- Mix-Ins - Chocolate chips, Oreo cookies, and Andes peppermint crunch chips are my favorite things to add to these peppermint cake mix cookies.
FYI: If you love these peppermint Oreo cookies, you have to try these chocolate peppermint crunch cookies. The same delicious holiday cookie, but in chocolate form!
How to make Peppermint Oreo Cookies
For this holiday cookie, I decided to jazz up these cookies and cream cookies with some peppermint extract and peppermint crunch chips. I have been using these peppermint bits for years, and I'm still obsessed with them.
- Make the dough. Mix together the dry cake mix, softened butter, egg, extract, and cream cheese until a soft dough forms. FYI: These cookies seem to work best with a Pillsbury or Aldi cake mix.
- Add the mix-ins. Stir in the Oreo cookie chunks, chocolate chips, and peppermint crunch bits gently.
- Refrigerate the dough. Keep it in there for at least 60 minutes. The longer you refrigerate, the better. The dough should be able to be scooped and rolled without it sticking to your hands.
- Make dough balls. Use a cookie scoop to divide the dough into 24 scoops. Roll the dough into a ball. Place 12 on a baking sheet with a baking mat & the other 12 in the fridge.
- Bake and cool. Bake the cookies for 10-11 minutes, then cool for a few minutes on the hot pan before placing on a cooling rack. Whatever you do, do NOT over bake them! Trust me on this. Yes, the cookies will be very soft and you will think I'm crazy. But cake cookies do set up after cooling.
BruCrew Tip: The cookies may come out of the oven slightly puffy. If you want, you can tap the tops with a flat spatula after 2-3 minutes. It's not necessary, but I like to do that.
Storage Recommendations
On the Counter - Keep the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.
In the Freezer - Place cooled peppermint cookies in between layers of parchment paper in a freezer safe bag or container. Freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Recipe FAQS
The Andes peppermint crunch chips tend to sell out very quickly each year. You can usually find them on Amazon year round. I also saw Andes peppermint crunch thins at Target that could be chopped into chunks.
You can also chop up Ghirardelli peppermint bars or Hershey's candy cane kisses and use those if you can't find the Andes chips.
You can, but I don't recommend it because candy canes melt down so quickly in heat. You could end up with puddles of melted candy in and around the cookies.
You can freeze the scoops of dough, so you can enjoy hot fresh cookies later. Remove the frozen dough balls and let thaw for about 15 minutes before baking. The dough will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
Or you can freeze the baked cookies after they have cooled for a few hours. Make sure to place parchment or wax paper between the cookies to keep them from sticking together. Remove and let thaw to room temperature before serving.
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
- Orange Cardamom Cookies
- White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
- Mint Truffle Kiss Cookies
- Peppermint Mocha Cookies
- Homemade Little Debbie Cherry Cordials
- Mint Chocolate Pudding Cookies
- Mint Meltaways recipe
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Recipe
Peppermint Oreo Cookies
These easy Peppermint Oreo Cookies are loaded with cookie chunks and peppermint chips, making them taste amazing! Make a batch for your family this holiday season and watch how quickly they disappear.
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix (see note below)
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup Oreo cookie chunks
- 1 cup Andes Peppermint Crunch pieces + extra
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips + extra
Instructions
- Add the dry cake mix, butter, egg, extracts, and cream cheese to a mixing bowl. Beat with a mixer until a soft dough forms.
- Stir in the cookie chunks, peppermint crunch pieces and chocolate chips gently. Refrigerate the dough for at least 60 minutes. The longer, the better. The dough should not stick to your hands when you roll it.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Scoop or roll the dough into 24 balls. Place 12 on a baking sheet and the other 12 in the fridge.
- Bake for 10-11 minutes. Do not over bake. The cookies will be very soft and look undone when you take them out.
- Let the cookies sit on the hot cookie sheet for 2-3 minutes, then gently remove them with a thin metal spatula to a piece of parchment paper on the counter.
- If the cookies are extra puffy, tap the tops with the bottom of the flat spatula. Press extra chocolate chips or peppermint pieces into the tops of the hot cookies. Let them sit until completely cool. Store in a sealed container.
Notes
- These cookies seem to work best if a Pillsbury or Aldi cake mix is used.
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are not overly soft. If they are, your cookie dough may need to be refrigerated longer.
- If you are using a hand mixer, it will take longer for the dough to come together. Keep mixing until there are no butter or cream cheese streaks.
- Cake mix cookies do take longer to set up. These are best after cooling on the counter for a few hours.
- Can't find the Andes Peppermint Crunch pieces, use any type of chocolate peppermint candy bar and cut into small pieces.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 179Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 73mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies was first published on December 4, 2013. The post and photos were updated, and it was republished on December 4, 2019.
Jennifer
Do you have to use dark chocolate chips?
Jocelyn
You can use milk, white, or dark chocolate chips. It all depends on your preference...or what you have on hand😉 Happy baking!
Brittany
Hi there. Can u let this dough sit in the fridge over night? Ran out of time tonight to make them
Jocelyn
Yes, you can keep the dough in the fridge overnight. It may be really cold, so let it sit out a few minutes, so it is easier to scoop into balls.
Janet
Hello! Im in Canada and can’t find Pillsbury or Aldi cake mix. Is there another brand that would work just as well? Thanks!
Jocelyn
Any brand will work as long as is a 15.25 oz mix. I just prefer those two brands the most. I hope you enjoy the cookies!
Lynda C Miller
Can you freeze these cookies in their dough form?? and then bake them later?
Jocelyn
Yes, you can freeze the dough balls and then bake them later. I would just add a few extra minutes to the bake time, so the frozen dough can cook thoroughly. I hope you enjoy the cookies!
Lana
Do these freeze? Also, I’d like to make them into cookie cutter shapes. Is that doable? I’m thinking chocolate chips may have to be left out
Jocelyn
Yes, you can freeze these cookies, but the dough is definitely not able to be done as a cut out cookie. It is a sticky dough that is best baked as a ball. I hope you enjoy the cookies!
LaQuita
Thank you Jocelyn for posting this recipe. I made it as one of my treats that I give neighbors and friends during Christmas and everyone LOVED them‼️
One my friends asked me to bake her a dozen and she paid me for them. They do not disappoint. She said they tasted the same as when I baked them at Christmas.
Lizzy Murphey
I made these last Christmas and they did NOT last long, they were so delicious. I was very impressed. However, I don’t remember having to use a boxed cake mix in the recipe! If we don’t want to use a mix, do you know the ratios of the ingredients? Also would they turn out the same?
Jocelyn
If you made this recipe, it has always been made with a cake mix. I don't have the ratios of other ingredients for this particular cookie. You could make this vanilla cookie and add the Oreos, chocolate, and peppermint chips instead of the candies.
Kayla Grandinetti
hi how are you my name is Kayla I tried this recipe a week ago and did all the ingredients and all the measurements right as well and my cookies turned out flat and I don't know what happened but everyone loved them so thats good if you can please tell me where I went wrong it would be greatly appreciated happy new year
Jocelyn
That's great that everyone loved the cookies. How long did you refrigerate the dough? I usually do at least 60 minutes to get them to bake up puffy. Also, did you use a plain baking sheet or one lined with a Silpat or parchment paper? Those will keep cookies from spreading more too!
Stacie
These cookies are so good! My son helped me make a batch for a work party last week. After a taste test, he commented that they were so good Santa had to have some. We made another batch for Santa last night. 😊
Jocelyn
That's so awesome to hear! I love that your son helped you bake more for Santa!
Hannah
Been making these for years, and love them. I don't add the peppermint extract and use crushed candy canes instead of the Andes mints because I like the texture when baked. They add a different crunch! Something i would also recommend if you are like me and dont have the patience for cutting up the cookies (and mash them in a baggie instead), but dont want grey colored cookies - pass them through a strainer and discard the fines. I was wondering after rereading the recipe if it makes a difference if you use an ungreased sheet, parchment paper, or greased cookie sheet. I always use parchment for easy cleanup, but never have had them puff up much. Does that make the difference? TYIA!