Peppermint Brownie Kiss Cookies (Doctored Brownie Mix)

These cookies are thick, chewy, deeply chocolatey, gently minty inside, and finished with a bold peppermint kiss on top—pure winter perfection.

The Perfect Winter Cookie

If you’ve baked with me before, you know I’m all about recipes that work—no fuss, no stress, just great flavor. The name of the site came from the premise that it's okay--completely okay--to start with a box (of cake mix, brownie mix, cookie mix, and so on).

"Doctoring" those mixes takes them to a new place, and I've specialized in discovering new ways to do that over the years. In fact, this whole site has taken off because so many thousands of others love the ease of starting with a box of cake mix.

Or, in this case, brownie mix.

These Peppermint Brownie Kiss Cookies are a simple twist on a brownie mix, but what makes them special is the gentle mint inside and the festive Kiss on top.

(I interrupt this post to say that I love Hershey's Kisses. . .in all the flavors! They are an integral part of every holiday season and Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without them!)

A Lovely Minty Cookie

Because I was starting with a brownie mix, I tested the dough to make sure the cookies stayed soft and fudgy without spreading too much. And y'all. . .it works. Beautifully! In fact, my grandkids were so excited about these cookies that I got multiple (very exuberant!) text messages from them within half an hour of dropping them off at their house. That's a win!

This recipe gives you the perfect crinkle every time. These are the kind of Christmas treats you can whip up quickly, but they still feel extra-special for the holidays or winter baking. (And, hey. . .no guilt over the fact that they start with a box!)

Are you ready to doctor a brownie mix? Great! Let's get started!

Peppermint Brownie Kiss Cookie Ingredients

You'll find a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here's a quick peek at what you will need. These ingredients are super simple and readily available at any grocery store.

• 1 box fudgy brownie mix (13–18 oz range works)
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for structure)
• ½ cup finely chopped Andes-style baking mints
• ½ cup powdered sugar (for rolling)
• 24–30 peppermint Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped

How to Make Peppermint Brownie Kiss Cookies

These are super easy to make, thanks to the box of brownie mix. You will be so happy you found this simple recipe, my friends! Here's how you're going to make these delicious cookies:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix brownie mix, eggs, oil, and flour until a thick dough forms. It should be scoopable and sticky but not runny.

Fold in chopped baking mints. This is the minty magic that sets these crinkle cookies apart from the other recipes out there!

Chill dough for 20–30 minutes (this helps prevent spreading).

Unwrap peppermint kisses and set aside.

Scoop dough into 1½-tablespoon balls, roll generously in powdered sugar.

Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets.

Bake for 9–11 minutes, just until tops are cracked and centers look set but soft.

Remove from oven and immediately press one peppermint Kiss into the center of each cookie.

Let cookies rest on the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Serve and Enjoy!

What to Expect from these Cookies

As I mentioned above, the kids flipped over these! I loved them, too. They have a lovely minty flavor and that peppermint kiss softens in the warm cookie, which is absolutely divine!

I loved the brownie texture of the cookie. If you want to amp that up even more (make them taller, say) you can refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before baking.

No matter your choice there, you're going to love the crinkly tops and that bold peppermint kiss on top.

Optional Variations

• Use dark chocolate brownie mix for extra richness
• Add ½ teaspoon espresso powder to intensify chocolate (I use espresso powder in my ultimate chocolate cake and it really amps up the flavor of the chocolate!)
• Swap baking mints for mini mint chips if needed
• Drizzle with white chocolate once cooled for bakery-style flair

Chocolate and Mint Pair Beautifully!

I have lots of other recipes with this combination if you love chocolate and mint. Here are my favorites.

These stay soft for days and freeze beautifully.

• Mint Oreo Trifle: This is my all-time favorite mint chocolate dish, and it's one I (repeatedly) take to family events.
• Double Mint Chocolate Cookies: Simple, and oh, so delicious!
• Double Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cookies: I recently served these at an event and they were a huge hit!
• Copycat Peppermint Patties: My grandkids love these and so do I!

There are lots of other options on this site so feel free to browse before you go.

That's it for this post!

Thanks for stopping by, friends. Please leave a comment below if you make any of these recipes (or if you have any questions). Before you go, please pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

Janice Thompson is a professional baker, cake designer, and author with over 20 years of experience creating unique cakes and desserts. She’s the creator of Out of the Box Baking, where she shares her favorite doctored cake mix recipes, tutorials, and baking tips. Learn more →