Chocolate Andes Mint Cookies… My Family’s Christmas Tradition

I have been asked for the recipe for these Andes Mint Cookies numerous times, and am now going to share this amazing recipe with you!  Who knows, it may become your new tradition, too!

I’ll also be sharing with you a great way to package up your cookies and treats this holiday season, so stick around!

3/4 C butter

1 1/2 C brown sugar

2 Tbsp. water

2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 eggs

2 1/2 C flour

1 1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Andes Mints (I bought mine at Walgreens)

1.  On low heat, stir the butter, brown sugar, and water just until melted.

2.  Add the chocolate chips, stir until partially melted.  Remove from heat.  Continue to stir until the chocolate is melted.  Pour into a large bowl (I use my Kitchen Aid bowl), and let stand for 10 minutes until cooled slightly.

3.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Add the dry ingredients, beating  just until blended.  Chill for one hour in the fridge.

4.  Heat oven to 350 degrees, and put a sheet of foil on a baking sheet.  Roll the chocolate cookie dough into small balls, and place on foil.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.  While cookies bake, take the wrappers off of the mints (or have your kids help unwrap- they love it), making sure that you have one mint per cookie.

5.  Remove the cookies from oven, and place one mint on top of each cookie.  Let mint sit on cookie for a minute to melt, and then gently smooth and swirl the chocolate around in a circle on the top of the cookie.  Using a spatula, remove cookies from hot pan, and let them cool on a piece of wax paper.

This recipe makes quite a few cookies, but since these cookies are always a huge hit, I usually double the recipe.  That way I can keep some dough in the fridge to make a fresh batch of cookies whenever I want over the next few days, or I bake all of the cookies, and freeze the extras.  I am not a big fan of freezing my food (hate that freezer taste), but these cookies freeze very well, and taste just as delicious after they have been frozen.

Now to package up the cookies…  Anyone that knows me can tell you that I absolutely adore Martha Stewart and all of the great products in the Martha Stewart Crafts line.  This craft line, as well as other amazing brands such as Jolee’s Boutique, American Girl Crafts, Perler, and K&Company (just to name a few), are all made by the same company, EK Success.  So you can imagine how thrilled I was to be contacted by EK Success, and asked if I would like some samples of their holiday products and gift ideas.

EK Success was very generous in sending me these Wonderland Gingerbread Treat Boxes from the Martha Stewart Crafts line that is sold at Michaels.  Not only are the boxes adorable and perfect for packaging up treats and goodies for your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers, but they also include the pre-cut tissue paper, ribbon, and labels to make six gingerbread houses.  Much more impressive than delivering cookies on a paper plate, don’t you agree?

I packaged up some of my Andes Mint Cookies in these adorable gingerbread houses, and now they are all ready to give away to friends.  So easy!

EK Success was also kind enough to send some boxes of American Girl Crafts and Perler products for my kids to try out.  They were thrilled to open up their boxes and start crafting!  Just like their mama 😉

I’ll be sharing these fun gift ideas with you next week, after my kids have finished their projects.   We only got the box a few hours ago, but they were so anxious to get started, I couldn’t tell them no.  And be sure to check out all of the holiday products and great gift ideas from EK Success (Martha Stewart Crafts, American Girl Crafts, Perler, Swarovski Elements, Jolee’s Boutique..), available at Michael’s.

So have you ever eaten these cookies before?  Are you going to give them a try?  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!