Irresistible Fudgy Chocolate Mint Cookies: Your New Favorite Recipe

There’s an undeniable magic to cookies, especially during the festive season, but truthfully, any time of year is perfect for a delicious batch. And if you’re a fan of the classic chocolate-mint combination, then these **soft and fudgy chocolate mint cookies** are about to become your absolute favorite treat!

I believe there’s no such thing as too many cookies, particularly when the aroma fills your home. That’s why I’m thrilled to share this recipe, which takes a beloved classic and elevates it with a refreshing twist.

The foundation of these incredible cookies comes from my mom’s legendary chocolate cookies – renowned for their exceptional softness and deeply rich chocolate flavor. I’ve taken that perfection and infused it with cool, invigorating mint. The result? Pure bliss in every bite! While they’re an obvious hit during the holidays, their delightful flavor profile makes them a fantastic dessert to enjoy year-round. They’re sure to impress at any gathering or simply make a quiet evening at home feel extra special.

The Magic of Mint: Choosing Your Baking Chips

The secret to these cookies’ delightful minty kick lies in the quality and type of mint baking chips you use. Thankfully, you have several excellent options, most of which are readily available in grocery stores, especially during peak baking seasons like Christmas. If you can’t find them locally, online retailers are always a reliable source.

• Andes Crème de Menthe Baking Chips: These are my personal favorite and what I typically use. They offer a wonderfully smooth, creamy mint flavor that blends beautifully with the rich chocolate. They often have a subtle green hue, adding to the festive appeal.
• Guittard Green Mint Chips: Guittard is known for its high-quality chocolate products, and their mint chips are no exception. They provide a vibrant mint flavor and a beautiful green color that makes these cookies pop.
• Nestle Dark Chocolate and Mint Chips: For those who prefer a deeper, more intense chocolate flavor, these chips are a fantastic choice. The combination of dark chocolate with mint creates a more sophisticated and less sweet profile.
• Hershey’s Mint Chocolate Chips: A widely available and reliable option, Hershey’s mint chocolate chips offer a classic, balanced flavor that will please almost everyone.

No matter which brand you choose, ensure they are fresh for the best flavor and texture in your cookies. The right chip makes all the difference in achieving that perfect chocolate-mint balance.

Essential Ingredients for Unforgettable Chocolate Mint Cookies

Crafting the perfect fudgy chocolate mint cookie relies on a few key ingredients, each playing a crucial role in achieving that sought-after texture and rich flavor:

• Unsalted Butter (at room temperature): Room temperature butter is essential for creaming properly with sugar, creating a light and airy base for your cookies. This process incorporates air, contributing to the cookies’ soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetness, of course, but also aids in moisture retention and contributes to the crisp edges and chewy centers.
• Large Eggs: Eggs bind the ingredients together, add moisture, and contribute to the cookies’ structure and richness. Ensure they are also at room temperature for better emulsion with the butter and sugar.
• Mint Extract: This is where the primary mint flavor comes from! Be sure to use a good quality mint extract, not peppermint (unless you prefer a stronger, cooler peppermint flavor). Mint extract typically offers a smoother, more subtle mint profile.
• All-Purpose Flour: The structural backbone of your cookies. Sifting it with other dry ingredients helps prevent lumps and ensures an even distribution.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: For that deep, rich chocolate base. Dutch-processed cocoa powder will yield a darker, less acidic flavor, while natural cocoa powder offers a fruitier, more intense chocolate note. Choose your preference!
• Baking Soda: Our leavening agent, working with the acidic ingredients (if using natural cocoa) to help the cookies rise and spread slightly, contributing to their soft chewiness.
• Salt: Don’t skip the salt! It balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors, particularly the chocolate and mint.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate (chopped or chips): In addition to the mint chips, regular chocolate adds another layer of rich chocolate flavor and ensures a truly fudgy texture. Chopped chocolate melts more smoothly and creates beautiful pockets of chocolate throughout the cookie.
• Mint Baking Chips: As discussed above, these are the star for delivering that refreshing mint burst.

Achieving Cookie Perfection: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making these chocolate mint cookies is a straightforward process, but paying attention to a few details will ensure they turn out soft, fudgy, and utterly delicious every single time.

Preparation is Key

1. Preheat your oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Parchment paper is crucial here; it prevents sticking and helps the cookies bake evenly without over-browning on the bottom.
2. Creaming Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or use a hand mixer), beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed. Continue beating for about 4 minutes, until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This step is vital for creating a tender cookie structure as it incorporates air.
3. Adding Eggs and Extract: Incorporate the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until just combined. Overmixing at this stage can develop gluten too much. Finally, stir in the mint extract, ensuring it’s evenly distributed for that consistent minty flavor.

Mixing Dry Ingredients & Combining

4. Sift Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Sifting removes lumps and ensures these dry ingredients are well-combined, leading to a more uniform cookie texture.
5. Gentle Combination: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients in the mixer bowl. Mix on low speed until *just* combined. Stop mixing as soon as you see no more dry streaks of flour. Overmixing after adding flour can result in tough, dry cookies.
6. Fold in the Chips: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate) and the mint baking chips. I recommend holding back about a quarter of the chips to press onto the tops of the scooped dough balls before baking, which gives them that beautiful, professional bakery look.

Baking and Cooling

7. Scoop and Shape: Using a rounded tablespoon or a cookie scoop, portion the dough onto your prepared sheet pan. Leave plenty of space between each cookie – about 2 inches – to allow for spreading. If you reserved some chips, now is the time to strategically press them into the tops of the dough balls. For an extra touch, you can lightly sprinkle the tops with a bit more granulated sugar before baking for a sparkling finish and a slight crunch.
8. Bake to Perfection: Bake for 8-9 minutes. The cookies are done when the edges are set and lightly golden, but the centers still look slightly soft and puffed. They will continue to set as they cool. Avoid overbaking, as this will lead to a drier cookie.
9. Cooling: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This initial cooling on the pan helps them firm up enough to move without breaking.

Common Questions About Chocolate Mint Cookies (FAQs)

Can I use peppermint extract instead of mint extract?

Yes, you can! Peppermint extract has a stronger, cooler, and more intense flavor than general mint extract. If you prefer a bolder “candy cane” type of mint, peppermint extract is a great substitute. You might want to start with ¾ teaspoon and add more to taste, as it can be quite potent.

How do I store these chocolate mint cookies?

Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer freshness, you can place a slice of bread in the container with them – the bread will absorb moisture, keeping the cookies soft.

Can I freeze the cookie dough or baked cookies?

Absolutely! To freeze dough, scoop balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer to an airtight freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time. Baked cookies can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Why are my cookies spreading too much or not enough?

Too much spread can be due to overly soft butter, incorrect flour measurement, or a warm baking sheet. Ensure butter is just at room temperature (slightly yielding when pressed, not melted), measure flour accurately (spoon and level!), and always bake on cool sheet pans. Not enough spread might mean your butter was too cold or your leavening agent is old. Ensure fresh baking soda and proper room temperature ingredients.

What’s the difference between mint chips and mint chocolate chips?

Mint chips (like Andes Crème de Menthe) are typically a blend of sugar, oils, and mint flavor, often with a white chocolate-like base. Mint chocolate chips are usually dark or semi-sweet chocolate with added mint flavor. Both work great, but mint chips tend to deliver a more direct mint flavor and color, while mint chocolate chips lean into the combined chocolate-mint profile more subtly.

Shop Tools for This Recipe

Having the right tools can make all the difference in your baking experience. Here are some of my go-to items that I recommend for this recipe:

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4.50 from 2 reviews

Chocolate Mint Cookies

Servings: 24 cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 9 minutes mins

Total Time: 19 minutes mins

These soft and fudgy chocolate mint cookies are a wonderful treat!

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Ingredients

 

• ▢ ¾ cup unsalted butter (170 grams), at room temperature
• ▢ 1 ½ cup granulated sugar (300 grams)
• ▢ 2 large eggs
• ▢ 1 teaspoon mint extract
• ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour (240 grams)
• ▢ ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (60 grams)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate (170 grams), chopped (see Notes)
• ▢ 1 cup mint baking chips (200 grams), see Notes

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Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium high speed until light and creamy, about 4 minutes.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each. Add the vanilla.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to the mixer and mix until just combined.
• Add the chocolate chips, if using.
• Scoop by the rounded tablespoon onto the prepared sheet pan and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake until edges are crisp, about 8-9 minutes. Let cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.

Notes

NOTES:

• You can also use chocolate chunks or chocolate chips.
• These are the mint baking chips I like to use.

Calories: 244kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 108mg, Potassium: 96mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 201IU, Calcium: 28mg, Iron: 1mg

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Author: Annalise Sandberg

Have you tried this recipe?I’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating and review below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram @completelydelicious with #completelydelicious.

These chocolate mint cookies truly are a delightful combination of rich chocolate and refreshing mint, offering a soft, fudgy texture that’s simply irresistible. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion, sharing with loved ones during the holidays, or simply treating yourself, this recipe is guaranteed to bring smiles. So go ahead, whip up a batch, and savor the magic of these incredible cookies!