Chocolate Mint Cookies

The smell of peppermint hitting warm chocolate still takes me back to my first apartment kitchen, where I discovered that extract bottles are dangerously easy to over-pour. These cookies were born from a rainy Sunday experiment that turned into something my roommates actually fought over the last one of.

I brought these to a St. Patricks Day party years ago and watched them disappear faster than the store-bought treats. Someone actually asked if I'd bought them from a bakery, which still counts as one of my proudest kitchen moments considering how simple they are to make.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter: Softening it to room temperature is non-negotiable for that creamy, evenly mixed dough
• Granulated and brown sugar combo: The brown sugar keeps cookies chewy while white sugar gives those crackly tops we love
• Peppermint extract: Start with less than you think, because the flavor intensifies during baking
• Cocoa powder: Sift it first to avoid those frustrating dry lumps that never break up
• Chocolate chips: Fold them in gently so they dont break apart or overwork the gluten
• Powdered sugar: Sifting prevents lumpy frosting that ruins the smooth finish
• Food coloring: Gel coloring gives deeper greens without thinning out your frosting

Instructions

Prep your station:

Preheat that oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment, because scrubbing melted chocolate off pans is nobody's idea of fun.

Cream the butter and sugars:

Beat them until they're light and fluffy, which usually takes about 3 minutes and creates the tender cookie structure.

Add the eggs and extracts:

Drop in eggs one at a time, then pour in both extracts, scraping down the bowl so everything gets incorporated evenly.

Combine your dry ingredients:

Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl to prevent overmixing later.

Mix wet and dry:

Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet, stopping as soon as you no longer see flour streaks for perfectly tender cookies.

Fold in chocolate chips:

Use a spatula to gently distribute chips throughout the dough without developing tough gluten.

Scoop and bake:

Drop tablespoon balls onto sheets, leaving 2 inches between them, and bake 9 to 11 minutes until edges look set.

Cool completely:

Let them rest on the hot pan for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack because frosting melted cookies is sad business.

Make the frosting:

Beat butter until creamy, slowly work in powdered sugar, then add milk and peppermint extract until fluffy.

Add color and frost:

Drop in food coloring until green enough for your liking, then spread or pipe onto completely cooled cookies.

Pin It

My niece helped me decorate a batch last winter and somehow managed to get green frosting everywhere except the cookies. Now it's not officially Christmas until someone has mint-colored knuckles.

Making These Ahead

You can refrigerate the dough balls for up to 3 days or freeze them for a month. Bake from frozen, adding 1 to 2 minutes to the time. Frost fresh baked cookies the same day for the best texture.

Frosting Like a Pro

Room temperature butter creates the smoothest frosting. If yours is too cold, cut it into small cubes first. Too warm means refrigerate for 15 minutes before beating.

Serving Suggestions

These pair beautifully with cold milk or hot coffee, and they make excellent neighbor gifts during holidays. The green color works perfectly for St. Patricks Day, Christmas, or spring celebrations.

• Press a chocolate mint candy into the warm cookie centers before frosting
• Crush peppermint candies over the wet frosting for extra crunch
• Store unfrosted cookies in airtight containers and frost within 3 days

Pin It

Theres something deeply satisfying about the contrast between dark chocolate and bright green frosting. Hope these become part of your own traditions.

Recipe Questions & Answers

→ What gives the cookies their mint flavor?

Mint flavor comes from peppermint extract both in the cookie dough and the green frosting, providing a refreshing taste throughout.

→ How is the green frosting made vibrant?

Green food coloring is added to the mint-infused frosting to achieve a bright, festive shade that complements the chocolate base.

→ Can these cookies be made gluten-free?

Yes, by substituting the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, these cookies can be enjoyed gluten-free without altering flavor.

→ What baking tools are essential for this preparation?

Basic tools include an electric mixer, mixing bowls, measuring cups, parchment-lined baking sheets, and a wire rack for cooling.

→ How do you know when the cookies are done baking?

Bake until the edges are set but the center remains soft, typically between 9 and 11 minutes, then cool on the sheets before decorating.