The moment you sink your teeth into one of these Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies, you’ll understand why they’re a year-round favorite. With a soft, chewy center, buttery crumb, and a cool minty burst from the Andes mints and chocolate chips, every bite is pure comfort.
The subtle green hue adds a playful pop of color, making these cookies especially popular during the holidays — but don’t be surprised if they become your new go-to cookie for bake sales, birthdays, or just because. Easy to make and even easier to devour, these cookies are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
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1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
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1 cup granulated sugar
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1/2 cup packed brown sugar
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2 large eggs
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1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
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4–6 drops green food coloring (optional)
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2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking soda
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1 cup Andes mints, chopped (or mint chocolate chunks)
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1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
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Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in peppermint extract and green food coloring if using.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
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Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
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Fold in chopped Andes mints and chocolate chips.
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Scoop dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart.
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Bake for 9–11 minutes or until edges are just turning golden and centers look slightly underbaked.
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Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes
Kcal: 215 kcal | Servings: 24 cookies
The Irresistible Allure of Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mint chocolate chip cookies are a delightful twist on the traditional chocolate chip cookie that many of us grew up loving. With their cool, refreshing mint flavor and rich pockets of melty chocolate, these cookies are a treat for both the eyes and taste buds. Whether you associate them with winter holidays, St. Patrick’s Day, or simply crave them on a random weekday, these cookies bring comfort, nostalgia, and a burst of freshness to your baking repertoire.
Their unique green hue makes them instantly recognizable, while the balance of mint and chocolate offers a complex flavor profile that’s surprisingly elegant. These cookies are more than just dessert — they’re a sensory experience, from their aroma during baking to the lingering coolness of mint in each bite.
Why Mint and Chocolate Work So Well Together
Mint and chocolate have been paired in desserts for generations, and there’s a reason this combination has stood the test of time. Mint brings a sharp, herbal coolness that contrasts beautifully with the deep, bittersweet richness of chocolate. This contrast doesn’t just work flavor-wise — it also impacts the texture and temperature perception, giving you a cookie that feels lighter despite being decadently rich.
The addition of Andes mints or peppermint extract elevates the flavor beyond basic baking chips. It’s a combo that satisfies both mint lovers and chocoholics, creating a crave-worthy cookie that’s just as appropriate at a holiday party as it is in a lunchbox.
A Visual and Aromatic Treat
The vibrant green color — often added with just a few drops of food coloring — makes these cookies visually appealing and festive. They’re a popular choice for Christmas cookie exchanges, themed parties, or simply adding a bit of fun to your weekly baking. But it’s not just about looks — when these cookies are in the oven, the scent of melted chocolate mingling with fresh mint fills your kitchen in a way that feels both cozy and indulgent.
This sensory appeal makes mint chocolate chip cookies an ideal gift or potluck item. They package well, hold their shape beautifully, and elicit that “wow” reaction that home bakers aim for when presenting a platter.
Texture Perfection: Crisp Edges and Chewy Centers
One of the most satisfying elements of this recipe is its texture. By creaming the butter and sugars just right, and not overmixing the dough, you get that perfect combination: crisp, lightly golden edges that yield to soft, chewy centers. The pockets of melty chocolate chips and chopped mints only add to the sensory experience — every bite offers a mix of softness, a bit of crunch, and deep chocolatey mint flavor.
Baking time plays a huge role in texture. Pulling them from the oven just as the centers appear slightly underbaked ensures they stay soft as they cool. The residual heat finishes the job, creating that irresistible chew that keeps people coming back for more.
How These Cookies Fit into Holiday Traditions
Mint and winter are a classic pair. The refreshing, cooling quality of mint makes it feel synonymous with snow, peppermint candy canes, and holiday desserts. For this reason, mint chocolate chip cookies are a staple in many holiday baking lineups. They complement other favorites like gingerbread, sugar cookies, and thumbprints but stand out thanks to their bold flavor and playful color.
They’re also a fantastic addition to Christmas cookie tins or dessert tables because they provide contrast — not just visually, but also in taste. While many holiday cookies lean into warm spices or rich caramels, the mint offers a brisk and clean bite that balances out sweeter, heavier treats.
Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or Themed Events
Green cookies? Perfect for March! These cookies shine at St. Patrick’s Day gatherings thanks to their subtle (or bold, depending on how much coloring you use) green hue. You can easily dress them up with themed sprinkles, drizzle white chocolate on top, or even sandwich a scoop of mint ice cream between two for a homemade dessert that looks festive and fun.
They’re also great for birthdays, baby showers, or even school bake sales when you want something unique but still universally appealing.
Customizing Your Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
While the standard version of these cookies is hard to beat, they’re incredibly versatile and open to interpretation. Here are some popular customizations and ideas to make them your own:
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Double Chocolate Mint Cookies: Add cocoa powder to the dough to turn it into a rich chocolate base. The contrast with mint is even more decadent this way.
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White Chocolate Variation: Swap the semisweet chocolate chips for white chocolate chips for a sweeter, creamier profile that still pairs beautifully with mint.
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Stuffed Cookies: Press a full Andes mint into the center of each dough ball before baking for a molten, gooey center.
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Gluten-Free or Vegan Versions: This recipe can be adapted with gluten-free flour blends or plant-based butter and egg substitutes. The result is still soft, chewy, and full of flavor.
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Thin and Crisp Option: Chill the dough for only a short time and flatten slightly before baking to achieve a thinner, crispier version of the cookie.
These variations make it easy to tailor the cookies to your audience or dietary preferences while keeping the same core flavors intact.
The History Behind Mint Chocolate Chip
The mint chocolate chip flavor originated in ice cream, believed to have been created in the early 1970s. Its popularity exploded over time, and it became one of the most beloved ice cream flavors worldwide. Naturally, bakers began to adopt this flavor profile into other desserts — cupcakes, brownies, cakes, and, of course, cookies.
Bringing this iconic combination into a baked good format has made it more accessible year-round. Unlike ice cream, cookies travel well, store easily, and satisfy both sweet and nostalgic cravings. Over the years, mint chocolate chip cookies have become more than a novelty — they’re now a beloved variation of one of the most classic desserts in the world.
Storage Tips and Shelf Life
These cookies store beautifully, staying fresh for 4–5 days in an airtight container at room temperature. If you want to keep them longer, freezing the dough or already-baked cookies is a fantastic option. Dough can be rolled into balls and frozen for up to 3 months — just bake them straight from the freezer, adding 1–2 minutes to the baking time.
Baked cookies can be frozen as well, and they’ll retain their texture and flavor perfectly when reheated or simply brought to room temp. This makes them ideal for batch baking, holiday prep, or surprise guests.
Conclusion: Why You Need These Cookies in Your Life
Mint chocolate chip cookies are the perfect marriage of nostalgia, visual appeal, and flavor. They stand out from traditional cookie options while still offering all the comfort and satisfaction of a homemade dessert. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party, gifting to a friend, or simply indulging in a quiet night of baking therapy, these cookies check every box.
They’re approachable yet impressive, playful yet refined. And with so many ways to customize them — from texture to flavor variations — you’ll never tire of making them. So grab your mixing bowl, crank up the oven, and let the scent of chocolate and mint fill your kitchen. Once you try them, they just might become your new signature cookie.
