The Best Andes Peppermint Chocolate Cookies
The Best Andes Peppermint Chocolate Cookies are the perfect combination of thin & crispy on the outside and soft & chewy on the inside.
How is it already less than 2 weeks until Christmas?! I don’t know if it’s because Thanksgiving was so late this year, or because the holiday season always seems to fly by but, my goodness, this year has gone by so quickly!! I love Christmastime – everything about it.
Anyone who knows me knows my obsession with Christmas music. The day after Thanksgiving, those Christmas tunes can be heard blaring wherever I am. Matt has been a good sport about this, with only every so often dropping subtle hints of “Do you think we should listen to something else for a bit?”.
I used to work at General Mills in a food chemistry lab. My co-workers liked listening to Christmas music, but they had a limit. Our compromise was that I could listen to 1 hour of Christmas music a day (it was all they could handle)! Once the hour was reached, the station was quickly turned!!
It’s pretty awesome, because Jack and Will share my same affinity for Christmas music – to the point where Will and I can often be found singing Christmas duets (I told Matt yesterday that all my dreams have finally come true). Jack sometimes will join in but, other times, looks at the two of us like we are crazy.
I love all of the traditions surrounding Christmas. It’s so fun to think about my own childhood traditions and then create new ones with my family now. Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, we take the boys to the same Christmas tree farm to cut down a tree. I absolutely LOVE doing this!! The tree farm is about 45 minutes away, so we listen to Christmas music on our way down to get in the spirit (are you surprised)?! Once we get there, the hunt is on for the best tree. Our living room is 2 stories, so we can really go crazy with the tree height. All 4 of us trudge through the snow, saw in hand, with Matt stopping every so often to do an arm measurement for the tree height.
This year, as we were walking through the snow, Will started singing “Jingle Bells”. Pretty sure my heart almost exploded. After lots of debating (the kids LOVE to chime in), we finally picked our perfect tree and Matt started sawing away. Both boys like to jump in for a turn trying to saw it down (it’s more ceremonial than anything, let’s be honest)! The tree farm that we go to makes it really special for the kids – they have a horse drawn hay ride and Santa.
When we get home, it’s time to decorate! This year, the kids were super into putting the ornaments on the tree. They requested stools so they could make sure to evenly distribute the ornaments (I used to find it so funny when we would let them decorate and they would bling out one 12×12 inch square of the tree). Both of them we really interested in where each ornament came from. I have all of my ornaments from childhood, so it’s really fun to explain the meaning behind each one.
When it came time for the star, both boys wanted that special job (real shocker right?!). Things were starting to go south when they were discussing who would get that important role when Matt came up with a plan. Matt would hold Jack and Will would hold Matt (I know, I was thinking the same thing – what now?). Somehow, they decided this was a suitable plan and I snapped one of my favorite Christmas pictures.
I feel like you can’t celebrate Christmas without making some type of Christmas cookie. The boys and I always do a Christmas cookie exchange every year with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. These Chocolate Mint cookies are my go-to Christmas cookie that I always bring.
Baking with Kids
If you are afraid to bake with your kids, that’s okay!! Baking can be messy. Baking with kids can be REALLY messy! My first piece of advice is to take a deep breath and remember that you are making memories, not perfect cookies. It’s amazing how when we let go of our expectations, how much easier it can be to involve our kids.
With this recipe, you have to unwrap a lot of Andes mints. This is a perfect job for a kid. I always find that putting my kids on charge of a task, and labeling it as such, makes them feel very important. So, grab two bowls (one for wrappers and one for chocolate mints) and let the unwrapping commence!
The best andes peppermint chocolate Cookie Ingredients
- butter
- brown sugar
- water
- chocolate chips
- eggs
- flour
- baking soda
- salt
- Andes mints
Cookie Consistency
I think the consistency of a cookie is something that is not talked about enough. I don’t like crunchy cookies. The kind that you feel like your teeth are about to break on. And, I don’t like cookies that are really crumbly. I want my cookie to be able to hold itself together!
These Andes Peppermint Chocolate Cookies have the perfect consistency – thin & crispy on the outside and soft & chewy on the inside.
More cookie recipes
Andes Mints
You top that perfectly cooked cookie with an Andes mint and you just might have perfection in a cookie (okay, that might be a bit extreme but these cookies are GOOD)!
I love a deal as much as the next person, but you have to use Andes Peppermint Crunch Thins for these cookies – no knock off chocolate mint candies allowed here! The Andes mints really make these cookies amazing, so they are a necessary ingredient.
I feel like these chocolate mints have become easier and easier to find, especially this time of year. In the Twin Cities, I have been able to find them at Byerly’s, Cub Foods and HyVee. But, let’s be honest, we all know the fool proof option – Amazon – you can always find Andes Mints there!
Once the mint has melted, you smooth it out with the back of a spoon on top of the cookie. I think these Andes Peppermint Chocolate Cookies are best enjoyed chilled. Once I swirl the mint on top, I let the chocolate harden and then I store them in Ziploc bags in the freezer until it is time to make my cookie trays to distribute. I hope you enjoy these Christmas cookies as much as we do!!
Tips for involving kids
- Let your kids help you measure out all the ingredients for the cookies (it might be a bit messy but they will LOVE it)!
- Have them be in control of the mixer (with supervision of course). Flour might fly everywhere but they will be so proud of themselves!
- While the cookie dough is cooling in the fridge, have your kids unwrap the Andes mints. It will keep them busy AND it will help you out so much! It’s the perfect job for little kids.
- There is always going to be a mess when you cook with your kids but, like my little guy Will (3 years old) says, “It’s okay Mom, chefs make messes and then they clean it up.” Have fun cooking with your kids!!
The Best Andes Peppermint Chocolate Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter melted
- 1½ cup brown sugar
- 2 T water
- 12 oz bag chocolate chips
- 2 eggs
- 2½ cups flour
- 1¼ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 48 Andes mints 2 – 4.67 oz boxes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat.¾ cup butter
- Once melted, add the sugar, water and chocolate chips.1½ cup brown sugar, 2 T water, 12 oz bag chocolate chips
- Heat until all the chocolate chips have melted, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Add the eggs, flour, baking soda and salt and mix to combine.2 eggs, 2½ cups flour, 1¼ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt
- Chill the cookie dough for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- While the dough is chilling, unwrap all of the Andes mints.48 Andes mints
- Once the dough is cooled, roll it into little balls.
- Place the cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Once you take the cookies out of the oven, immediately place one Andes mint on top of each cookie.
- Let the mint melt partially and then swirl it on top of the cookie with the back of a spoon.
- Store cookies in the fridge or freezer.
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