How to Make Homemade Thin Mint Cookies

When the season for Girl Scout Cookies rolls around, it’s not a time of year to be missed. Those tasty cookies packaged in colorful boxes are recognizable from a mile away! And when cookies go on sale, the quest to find a Girl Scout fundraising for her troop is on. From Samoas to Lemonades, there’s a favorite Girl Scout Cookie out there for everyone. But the universally acknowledged best Girl Scout Cookie is none other than the Thin Mint.

You can now order Girl Scout Cookies online as well as in-person. But what about when you run out? Or what if you want a box of Thin Mint cookies and it’s not the right time of year? We have the perfect copycat to replicate the crisp, minty, chocolaty cookies at home.

See the surprising secrets we discovered about Girl Scout Cookies.

How Do You Make Thin Mint Cookies?

It may seem intimidating, but Thin Mints can be made at home with a bit of patience. The key to baking the round, crunchy cookie is to keep the dough cold before baking. As for the chocolate coating? Be sure you’re using good-quality chocolate. By following these steps, you’ll end up with two dozen Thin Mint cookies that taste just like the Girl Scout version.

Homemade Thin Mints ingredients laid out on a marble kitchen counter

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract

Chocolate Coating:

8 ounces baking chocolate
1/4 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract

Find the best baking chocolate, according to our Test Kitchen pros.

Tools You’ll Need

Directions

Step 1: Make the dough

Homemade Thin Mints dough in a clear glass bowl on a marble kitchen countertop

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder. Whisk until smooth.

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg and peppermint extract. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until the dough comes together. Use your hands to form the dough into a ball.

Step 2: Roll and chill the cookie dough

Homemade Thin Mints dough being rolled out

Place the ball of dough onto a sheet of parchment paper. Flatten it into a disk and put another piece of parchment paper on top. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thick. Transfer the rolled dough, with the parchment paper, onto a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer to chill for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Cut and bake the cookies

Homemade Thin Mints flattened dough with circular cuts

Transfer the flattened dough to a countertop. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper and use it to line the baking sheet. Use a small, circular cookie cutter to cut out disks of dough. Transfer the cut disks onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space in between. Because the dough is chilled, these cookies won’t spread too much while baking.

Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 11 minutes. Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven, then transfer the parchment paper and cookies to a cooling rack to fully cool.

Step 4: Dip the cookies

Homemade Thin Mints finished product with a bite taken out of one of the cookies

While the cookies cool, prepare your chocolate coating. Set up a double boiler and chop the chocolate. Add the chopped chocolate into the bowl of the boiler and stir in the vegetable oil. Stir the chocolate until fully melted and stir in the peppermint extract.

Use a slotted wooden spoon to make the dipping process easier. Place a cookie on the wooden spoon. Dip it into the chocolate or use a large spoon to help cover the cookie. Tap the spoon gently against the bowl to remove excess chocolate. Once covered in chocolate, transfer each cookie back to the baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the fridge for 20 minutes to allow the chocolate to fully set and harden.

New to working with chocolate? These tips on how to melt chocolate will help!

How to Store Thin Mint Cookies

Often, the way you store Thin Mints is up to personal preference. For many, Thin Mints are best enjoyed cold. Storing them in an airtight container in the freezer or fridge is sure to keep them tasting fresh. They’ll keep in the freezer for one to two months, or in the fridge for two weeks. This will also keep the chocolate coating at its best.

If you prefer to keep Thin Mints at room temperature, store them in an airtight container for two days.

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