Karen Aoki's Mint Chocolate Cookies

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp peppermint extract or 4 drops of Young Living peppermint essential oil
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks (I used white chocolate chips for contrast)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Beat in eggs and peppermint extract. Gradually add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt and beat until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Form dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Flatten balls slightly.

3. Bake cookies until edges begin to firm but center still appears soft, about 9 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks and cool completely.