Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures that the cookies bake evenly when you’re ready to pop them in.
In a stand mixer, add unsalted butter and brown sugar. Beat them together on medium-high speed until the mixture is fluffy and light in color. This will take about 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to incorporate all the sugar and butter.
Next, beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and optional peppermint extract. Continue mixing until fully integrated, ensuring a smooth batter.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the gluten-free all-purpose flour, raw cacao powder, baking soda, and sea salt until evenly combined. This step is crucial for an even distribution of the dry ingredients.
With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix until just combined; overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
Fold in the chocolate chips using a spatula. Ensure they're evenly distributed throughout the dough for that lovely chocolatey goodness in every bite.
If your dough feels too sticky, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling helps to firm it up, making it easier to scoop.
Once chilled, line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Scoop spoonfuls of the dough onto the sheet, leaving space between each one as they will spread while baking.
If you like, gently press a few extra chocolate chips into the tops of the cookies for an extra touch. Forming them into disc shapes can also help with presentation.
Bake the cookies for 10 to 11 minutes. Keep an eye on them; they should look set around the edges but still soft in the center. Immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes as soon as they come out of the oven.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set up perfectly before serving.