Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

The first time I made these mint chocolate chip cookies, I accidentally added too much green food coloring and ended up with dough that looked like something from a cartoon. My husband walked into the kitchen, did a double take at the bowl, and asked if I was making cookies or conducting a science experiment. We both laughed so hard, but honestly those wildly green cookies became the ones our friends still talk about months later.

Last Christmas, I brought a batch of these to a cookie exchange and watched as people literally circled the plate trying to figure out what made them so different. My friend Sarah finally took a bite, her eyes went wide, and she whispered that these were the best cookies shed ever had. Now every holiday gathering includes at least one person asking if Im bringing those green ones.

Ingredients

• All purpose flour: Provides the structure for that perfect chewy center while still giving you slightly crisp edges
• Baking soda: Helps the cookies spread just enough without becoming flat
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and makes the chocolate flavor pop
• Unsalted butter: Use this softened to room temperature so it creams properly with the sugars
• Granulated sugar: Creates crisp edges and helps the cookies spread
• Light brown sugar: Adds moisture and depth for that chewy texture we all love
• Eggs: Bind everything together and add richness
• Mint extract: Pure extract gives the best flavor, avoid imitation if possible
• Vanilla extract: Rounds out the mint and adds warmth
• Green gel food coloring: Gel coloring is more concentrated than liquid so it wont throw off your dough consistency
• Semisweet chocolate chips: Classic choice that balances the mint perfectly
• Dark chocolate: Optional but adds these pockets of intense richness throughout

Instructions

Preheat your oven:

Set it to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper so nothing sticks

Whisk the dry ingredients:

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set it aside for now

Cream the butter and sugars:

Beat softened butter with both sugars until fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes

Add the eggs and extracts:

Mix in eggs one at a time, then add mint extract, vanilla, and green food coloring until evenly colored

Combine everything:

Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until just combined, being careful not to overmix

Fold in the chocolate:

Gently mix in both types of chocolate chips until distributed throughout

Scoop the dough:

Drop tablespoon sized balls onto prepared sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each

Bake to perfection:

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are set but centers still look slightly underdone

Cool completely:

Let them rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then move to a wire rack

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My daughter now requests these for every school bake sale because she says theyre the ones that disappear first. Theres something magical about watching people hesitate at the bright green color, then take that first curious bite and immediately reach for another.

Getting the Perfect Green Color

Start with just a few drops of gel coloring and add more gradually. You can always add more but you cant take it away, and that natural mint green is much more appealing than something that looks radioactive. Trust me on this one.

Choosing Your Chocolate

Semisweet chips give you that classic cookie flavor, but mixing in some chopped dark chocolate creates these pockets of intense richness. The contrast between cool mint and bittersweet chocolate is what keeps people coming back for just one more.

Storage and Freshness

These cookies actually improve slightly after the first day as the flavors meld together. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature and theyll stay soft for up to five days.

• Place a piece of white bread in the container to keep them extra soft
• These freeze beautifully if you want to stash some for later
• Warm frozen cookies in the microwave for 10 seconds to freshen them up

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There is something joyful about biting into a cookie that looks playful and tastes absolutely perfect. Hope these bright green treats become part of your own kitchen story.

Recipe FAQs

→ What gives the dough its green color?

Gel food coloring is added during mixing to achieve the vibrant green hue without altering taste.

→ How can I enhance the mint flavor?

Increasing pure mint extract slightly adds more cooling mint notes, but avoid overdoing it to prevent bitterness.

→ Can I substitute the chocolate chips?

Yes, white or milk chocolate chips can be used to create different flavor profiles.

→ Why are the cookies baked until slightly underbaked in center?

This technique retains a soft and chewy texture, giving the cookies a tender bite.

→ How should these treats be stored?

Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days to maintain freshness.