Double Chocolate Cookies with Peppermint White Chocolate M&M's

In case you were lucky enough to find the white chocolate peppermint M&M's (apparently a Target exclusive?!?) this holiday season, you've gotta make these cookies!  I apparently wasn't a huge fan of peppermint in baking... until this year.  I've been using it non-stop.  This is just a double chocolate cookie with m&m's mixed in.  Soooo... if you're not a huge fan of peppermint, go ahead and substitute whatever you'd like!  The chocolate cookie is a great base for any mix-in's.

  

Double Chocolate Cookies with White Chocolate Peppermint M&M's
Source:  adapted from melskitchencafe.com

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 stick (½ cup) butter, cut into pieces
1½ cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup white chocolate peppermint M&M's

Directions
Preheat your oven to 325˚F and grease two baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

Melt the semisweet chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Let the mixture cool slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the melted chocolate, sugar, eggs and vanilla at medium speed until combined. Reduce the speed to low and gradually stir in the flour mixture. Use a spoon or spatula to stir in the candy pieces.

Scoop tablespoons of dough and roll them into balls, placing them about 1½ inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake the cookies for about 13 to 14 minutes; they’ll still be soft, but the tops will have started to crack. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 2 to 3 minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.