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Mason Jar Peppermint Cookies

Mason Jar Peppermint Cookies

Mason Jar Peppermint Cookies are a festive, easy to assemble holiday gift that bake into fudgy, chocolatey cookies with bright peppermint hits. The layered jar mix keeps well and makes a charming present, while the finished cookies deliver a soft, slightly chewy texture and melty chocolate pockets, perfect for an easy winter treat or an easy weeknight dessert. Make a few jars to share this season.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 29 minutes
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 16 cookies
Calories 150 kcal

Equipment

  • Mason jar
  • Food scale
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Electric Mixer
  • Baking Tray
  • Parchment Paper

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 of 1 full package (18.4 ounce package) fudge brownie mix (9.2 ounces total) Provides concentrated chocolate structure and sweetness to form the base of the cookie dough; using half of an 18.4 ounce fudge brownie mix yields roughly 9.2 ounces to maintain the intended balance of dry mix and added wet ingredients. Adds cocoa flavor, sugar, and leavening agents that interact with the egg yolk and butter to create a fudgy, cookie-like texture when baked or mixed into a jar gift. Helps deliver familiar boxed-mix convenience while preserving the recipe's intended chocolate intensity.
  • 1/2 of 1 full package (3.9 ounce package) instant chocolate fudge pudding mix, dry (so ~2 ounces total) Contributes extra chocolate flavor depth and helps absorb some moisture to stabilize the batter; half of a 3.9 ounce instant chocolate fudge pudding mix supplies dry custard powder that thickens and enhances chewiness. Adds additional chocolate and a touch of creaminess without adding liquid, improving mouthfeel and the final crumb structure of the cookie. Complements the brownie mix by reinforcing fudgy notes and preventing an overly dry outcome.
  • 1/2 of 1 full Ghirardelli peppermint bark bar or Hershey's peppermint bar, coarsely chopped Adds bright peppermint crunch and visual contrast when coarsely chopped; using half of a peppermint bark or peppermint bar disperses minty shards throughout the cookie for a festive flavor pop. Supplies both white and dark chocolate components with mint candy pieces that melt and re-harden into pleasant pockets of texture. Balances the deep chocolate notes with refreshing peppermint to avoid cloying richness.
  • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips Provides pockets of smooth milk chocolate that melt slightly during baking, contributing sweetness and creamy texture; measuring half a cup ensures even distribution without overwhelming the dough. Offers softer chocolate contrast to the chopped peppermint and enhances overall chocolate intensity. Also helps create gooey spots that improve the cookie's indulgent mouthfeel.
  • 2 tablespoons white chocolate chips Contributes small bursts of sweet vanilla-like creaminess and visual contrast; two tablespoons of white chocolate chips add richness without altering structure. Supplies occasional sweet, milky notes that pair with the peppermint and milk chocolate chips for a layered flavor profile. Acts as a delicate counterpoint to darker chocolate elements.
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, full-fat, room temperature Adds richness, tang, and moisture to create a tender, creamy dough; two ounces of full-fat cream cheese at room temperature helps bind ingredients and lends slight acidity for depth of flavor. Softens the texture and promotes a smooth mouthfeel while contributing to a slightly cakier, richer cookie crumb. Interacts with butter and egg yolk to produce a cohesive, spread-controlled dough.
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature Provides fat, softness, and flavor to tenderize the cookie and carry flavors; a quarter cup of unsalted butter at room temperature blends with cream cheese and egg yolk to create a pliable, creamy base. Controls spread during baking and adds buttery richness without adding extra salt. Ensures proper emulsification with the dry mixes for an even texture.
  • 1 large egg yolk Acts as a binding agent and adds richness and color without the extra moisture of a whole egg; one large egg yolk helps emulsify fats and dry ingredients to form a cohesive dough. Contributes protein that sets during baking to provide structure while keeping cookies tender and slightly dense. Enhances richness and promotes a glossy finish where applicable.

Instructions
 

  • IN THE MASON JAR: Using a food scale, separate the brownie mix and pudding mix in exact halves. Add the brownie mix to the jar first (do not pack down). Add in the pudding mix (again don’t pack down). Add in the coarsely chopped peppermint bark bar, milk chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips. Seal the mason jar, add a ribbon with a miniature whisk (if desired), and attach the free printable recipe attachment (or the following directions): The air is often cool and faintly sweet as you layer the dry components, and this step matters because even layering keeps the jar presentable and the powders separated. When I add the fudge brownie mix first, I look for an even, level surface without packing, so the recipient receives the right proportions. A common mistake is compressing the mix, which can lead to uneven measuring later, so resist tapping the jar down tightly. The layers should remain loose, which also makes the jar visually appealing.
  • RECIPE TO ATTACH: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cream together room temperature cream cheese and room temperature butter until smooth. Beat in 1 large egg yolk. Add the mason jar mix and beat until a very thick dough is formed. Scoop out the cookies onto a parchment lined tray and bake for 13-16 minutes. (Underbake for an awesome brownie texture!): The scale gives precise measurements, ensuring the final cookie has the correct balance of structure and moisture. I weigh the original packages and halve them, listening for the quiet clink of the spoon against glass as I transfer. If you eyeball this instead of weighing, you risk too much pudding mix, which can make the dough too loose when combined; accuracy matters here for texture.
  • Add the brownie mix to the jar first (do not pack down): The fudge brownie mix should cascade into the jar forming a soft mound, and that visual cue tells me the jar has the right base. You will notice a slight cocoa aroma when the mix settles, which hints at the chocolate intensity to come. Packing the mix will compress it and make the jar look smaller, plus it can alter how the recipient will measure for baking.
  • Add in the pudding mix (again don’t pack down): When the instant chocolate fudge pudding mix layers in, the color deepens slightly and the texture appears finer. I allow it to fall naturally, keeping the jar airy. Overcompacting this layer can lead to clumping, which makes it hard to incorporate later during mixing, so keep it loose for an even bake.
  • Add in the coarsely chopped peppermint bark bar, milk chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips: As you add the peppermint bark and both types of chocolate chips , you will notice the jar become more textural and colorful, which is the point. The peppermint pieces create contrast against the dark mixes, and their scent will lift the whole jar. Avoid using finely powdered candy, because it could settle into the mixes and make the layers indistinct.
  • Seal the mason jar, add a ribbon with a miniature whisk (if desired), and attach the free printable recipe attachment (or the following directions): Sealing preserves the layered aesthetic and keeps moisture out. I like to add a ribbon and tag so the recipient has the instructions handy. One slip to avoid is storing jars in humid spots before gifting, which can encourage clumping of the dry mixes.
  • RECIPE TO ATTACH: The kitchen warms instantly when you preheat the oven to 350 degrees F , and this matters because the initial oven temperature sets the right rate of rise and edges crisping. Preheating ensures the cookies start baking immediately for even spread. A common error is placing cookies in a cold oven which alters the texture and may make them overly dense.
  • Cream together room temperature cream cheese and room temperature butter until smooth: The texture becomes glossy and slightly fluffy as you beat the cream cheese and unsalted butter , and that emulsification is crucial for a homogeneous dough that bakes evenly. You should see small air pockets and a pale color shift. If ingredients are too cold, they will not blend and the dough can split, so allow them to sit at room temperature first.
  • Beat in 1 large egg yolk: Incorporating the egg yolk brings the mixture together and adds richness, making the dough silkier. As you beat, the mixture will thicken and feel more cohesive under your beaters. One mistake people make is adding the yolk to cold fat, which can cause uneven mixing; room temperature components avoid that issue.
  • Add the mason jar mix and beat until a very thick dough is formed: When you add the layered jar contents to the creamed mixture, the sound changes to a soft rustle as the dry ingredients get incorporated, and the batter transforms into a dense dough with visible flecks of peppermint and chocolate. This step needs patience because over mixing can break down the chips and peppermint, while under mixing leaves pockets of dry mix. Mix until just combined and the dough is thick enough to scoop. A common pitfall is adding extra liquid to loosen an apparently stiff dough, which will alter the intended fudgy texture.
  • Scoop out the cookies onto a parchment lined tray and bake for 13 to 16 minutes: As the cookies bake, you will notice the edges set first and the center remaining glossy, which is the visual cue for that desirable brownie like center. The aroma of chocolate will intensify and mint notes will lift as the peppermint warms. Avoid overbaking, because the cookies are meant to be slightly underdone in the center for chewiness; pull them when the edges look set and the center still yields slightly.
  • (Underbake for an awesome brownie texture!): The residual heat from the tray continues to finish the cookies after removal, creating that fudgy interior. I let them sit for a few minutes on the tray before transferring to a cooling rack so they stabilize. Removing them too early can cause them to break, and leaving them too long in the oven will dry them out, so timing in this final moment is key.

Notes

  • Use flavored bark: Swap the peppermint bark for another seasonal flavored bark to change the theme and aroma.
  • Increase chip variety: Add more milk chocolate chips for extra melty bites, or increase white chips for visual contrast.
  • Decorative ribbons: Tie a ribbon and include a small whisk or cookie scoop to make the jar feel like a complete gift.
  • Personalized tags: Add a handwritten note with baking tips and serving suggestions to elevate the presentation.
  • Double the chips: For chunkier cookies, increase the chocolate chips and peppermint pieces while keeping the dry mix proportions the same.
  • Freezing instructions on tag: Include clear instructions for freezing baked cookies and reheating for best texture.
Keyword cookie mix in a jar, fudgy peppermint cookies, holiday cookie gift, peppermint cookie jar