Before you start, line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil to place your dipped onto.

If you’re using peppermints for one of your decorations, put two or three in a plastic bag and give them a tap with something heavy like a meat mallet or a heavy bottomed glass. Don’t bash it too hard or you’ll have peppermint dust.

Gather and/or prepare any other decorations you want to use such as edible glitter, sprinkles, etc.

When you have all your decorations assembled, prepare the chocolate. Use one type at a time so that neither hardens before you’re finished.

In a small microwaveable dish, place one cup of chocolate chips and one teaspoon of a flavorless cooking oil such as canola or grapeseed. Microwave for 30 second increments, stirring well after each, until the chocolate is almost completely melted. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir until all the chips are melted.

Dip the bottom or top of one cookie at a time into the melted chocolate allowing most of the excess to drain back into the bowl. Place the dipped cookie on the prepared baking sheet. While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle with your chosen decoration. Repeat as needed.

For some of the cookies, I chose to submerge them completely into the chocolate. Simply use a fork to lift the cookie out of the chocolate and allow the excess to flow back into the bowl.

Repeat the entire process using the other chocolate chips for half the cookies.

To make the cookies with stripes, place a tablespoon or two of the desired chocolate into the corner of a resealable plastic bag. Be sure to push the chocolate down into the corner. Snip off the tiniest possible point. Use light pressure to gently push the chocolate out of the bag. Move in a back and forth motion across the top of the cookie.

Just a note if using the chipotle chili flakes – be sure to warn your guests or gift recipients that the chipotle flakes are quite potent! And I’d suggest using a very light hand when applying those to the finished cookies. Two or three on a cookie go a long way.

When you have finished decorating all your cookies, place the baking sheet with the finished cookies in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to set up.