Make Thin Mints

Thin Mints are said to be the most popular cookies amongst the large variety of Girl Scout cookies. Now you don't have to wait for the cookie selling time anymore. You can make yours completely from scratch, or just make a minty chocolate coating for storebought cookies.

Ingredients

Easy Recipe

  • Chocolate graham crackers, Oreos, or unsalted Ritz crackers
  • 1 bag of dark chocolate chips
  • ¼ tsp (1.25mL) peppermint oil

From Scratch

Cookies

  • 1 cup (225g) butter, room temperature
  • ¾ cups (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¾ tsp (3.75mL) salt
  • ¾ cup (180mL) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp (5mL) vanilla extract

Chocolate coating

  • 1 bag of dark chocolate chips
  • ¼ tsp (1.25mL) peppermint oil

Steps

Making Thin Mints

  1. Bring a double boiler to a simmer. Fill a saucepan about ¼ or ⅓ full with water. Bring to a simmer. Place a second pan or a glass bowl on top of the saucepan, making sure it is stable and does not touch the water.
  2. Melt the chocolate and peppermint oil. Pour the chocolate chips into the bowl. Heat until melted, stirring occasionally. Stir in peppermint oil to taste, typically about ¼ tsp (1.25mL). Remove from heat.
    • You can use any type of chocolate, but larger chunks may require special Temper-Chocolate.
    • Alternatively, replace both ingredients with mint-flavored chocolate chips, "bits," or "melts."
    • You can replace the oil with 1 tsp (5mL) peppermint extract, but this tends to have a weaker flavor.
  3. Choose your cookies or crackers. You can bake your own thin, crisp chocolate cookies, using the recipe below. For a quicker thin mint, just use one of these storebought options:
    • Graham crackers (chocolate graham crackers match the color of thin mints)
    • Unsalted snack crackers (Ritz crackers)
    • Chocolate sandwich cookies (Oreos) with the filling removed
  4. Dip the cookies into the melted chocolate. Ideally, use a pair of kitchen tongs to avoid breaking the cookies. Gently dip the cookie or cracker into the melted chocolate, submerge it, and pull it out again.
    • If you don't have any tongs, you can spoon the chocolate directly onto the cookies.
  5. Let cool until hard. Transfer the cookies onto a wire rack, with wax paper or foil underneath to catch the drips. Let cool for about four hours in the refrigerator, until the chocolate coating hardens.

Making Thin Mints from Scratch

  1. Preheat your oven. Set it to 350ºF (175ºC).
  2. Mix the butter and sugar. Cream the butter, adding sugar slowly. Combine until uniform and lighter in color.
  3. Mix in remaining cookie ingredients. Add the flour in two or three increments, mixing in each one until well combined. Thoroughly mix in baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract.
  4. Knead and chill. Knead the dough until it sticks together. Chill for 15 minutes.
  5. Form the cookies. Roll out the dough to about ¼ in (0.6cm) thickness. Cut out cookies using cookie cutters in any shape.
  6. Bake the cookies. Transfer to a parchment-paper lined baking sheet. Bake until fragrant and just beginning to crack on the surface. This can take anywhere from 8 to 15 minutes, depending on how large the cookies are. Check on them regularly.
  7. Let cool. Let them cool completely on a wire rack or parchment paper. This takes about 5–10 minutes.
  8. Melt the chocolate chips and peppermint oil. You can melt the chocolate chips in a microwave, but they may burn or separate. For best results, melt over a double boiler. Stir in the peppermint oil.
  9. Pour or spread the chocolate onto the cooled cookies. You can use a pastry brush or the bottom of a spoon to help spread it evenly. Alternatively, dip the cookies into the chocolate. Let cool completely on a wire rack, with something to catch the dripping chocolate.



Things You'll Need

Easy Method

  • Double boiler (or saucepan + glass bowl)
  • Stirring utensil
  • Kitchen tongs
  • Wire rack
  • Wax paper

From Scratch

  • Microwave or double boiler
  • Large bowl
  • Electric mixer (recommended)
  • Baking sheet
  • Pastry brush or spoon

Tips

  • Sprinkle with crushed candy canes for winter holidays.

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Sources and Citations

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