1-Preheat your oven: preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to keep things neat and prevent sticking. This sets the stage for even baking and makes cleanup easier.

2-Mix dry ingredients: in a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; set it aside for later.

3-Cream butter and sugars: in a large bowl, beat the butter with both sugars for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping the bowl as needed to get a smooth mix.

4-Add egg and peppermint extract: Add the egg and peppermint extract, beating until everything is well combined for that signature flavor.

5-Combine wet and dry: Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, beating just until combined to keep the dough from getting tough.

6-Fold in mint chips: fold in 1 cup of the mint chips, chopped mint candies, or chocolate chips, saving the rest for topping.

7-Scoop dough: Scoop 2-tablespoon portions of dough onto the baking sheets, spacing them a couple of inches apart to allow for spreading.

8-Bake cookies: Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until the edges begin to turn golden and the centers are still slightly underdone, rotating the pans halfway through for even results.

9-Press toppings: While the cookies are warm, press the remaining mix-ins into the tops for a prettier look.

10-Cool cookies: place the baking sheets on wire racks and let the cookies cool completely to set their texture.