Copycat Thin Mints Food

HOMEMADE THIN MINTS

Steps:

• Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or wax paper; set aside. Clear out a spot in your refrigerator or freezer to accommodate baking sheet.
• In a shallow microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and shortening (the shortening helps the chocolate stay smooth when using it for dipping; it prevents that thick and gloppy, chocolate getting hard before you want it to phenomenon) and heat for 1 minute on high power to melt. Stir and heat in 10- to 15-second bursts until chocolate can be stirred very smooth.
• To the melted chocolate add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract* and stir. If you prefer it mintier, add another 1/4 teaspoon. I used 3/4 teaspoon in total, but because all brands and taste preferences differ, taste your chocolate and add peppermint to taste.
• Add 1 cracker to the chocolate, coat it, and remove it by lightly scooping it up from the underside with a fork, allowing excess chocolate to drain off through fork tines. Place cracker on parchment and repeat with all remaining crackers. If necessary, re-heat the chocolate in 10- to 15-second bursts if it starts getting too firm for smooth dipping.
• After all crackers have been dipped, place baking sheet in refrigerator. Although these will solidify at room temperature, the shortening in the chocolate lengthens the amount of time that will take; the fridge or freezer helps speed it up.
• Store extra Thin Mints in an airtight container in the refrigerator for many weeks. In the freezer, I estimate that these could be kept for 3 to 6 months successfully.

HOMEMADE THIN MINT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, beat butter for about 30 seconds with an electric mixer at medium speed. Add sugar and beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract and beat until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until just combined.
• Divide dough into two equal parts and use your hands to form each part into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. It may be tempting to skip the chilling time, but chilling the dough is essential to keeping the cookies from spreading while baking.
• Working with one disc at a time, remove from the refrigerator and roll to 1/4-inch thickness. When rolling the dough, sprinkle cocoa powder on your work surface and rolling pin instead of flour to avoid creating white spots on your cookies.
• Use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut the dough into circles. Transfer cut circles to a baking sheet with a small spatula. Re-roll the remaining dough scraps and continue to cut circles until all the dough is used.
• Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. The cookies will still appear soft. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Place chopped chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Add canola oil. Heat, stirring frequently, until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in peppermint extract.
• One at a time, dip each cooled cookie in chocolate. Place each cookie in the melted chocolate, push down with a fork to submerge completely, and use the fork to lift the cookie out. Gently tap the fork on the side of the bowl to allow excess chocolate to drip off. Place dipped cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment or waxed paper.
• Allow cookies to stand until chocolate is completely set.

COPYCAT THIN MINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine dark chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, and coconut oil in a large microwave-safe bowl. Heat in a microwave oven for 1 minute and stir. Continue heating 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until chips are melted and smooth. Add peppermint extract and stir.
• Drop 1 cracker into melted chocolate. Use a spoon to push cracker into chocolate mixture until evenly coated. Transfer coated cracker to a prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining crackers and chocolate mixture, reheating mixture in 20-second intervals if it becomes too thick.
• Refrigerate cookies until chocolate hardens, about 10 minutes. Store cookies covered in the refrigerator.