Chocolate Mint Cookies Frosting

The smell of peppermint and cocoa together always transports me back to my grandmother's kitchen in December, where she'd let me help press the cookie cutter into the dough while Christmas music played softly on the radio.

I made these for a St. Patrick's Day party once, completely underestimated how many cookies 24 would actually be, and ended up racing back to the kitchen to pipe frosting onto warm cookies while my guests pretended not to notice the emerging green fingerprints on my white sweater.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter: Softened to room temperature creates that perfect creamed texture with the sugar that makes cookies tender rather than cakey
• Granulated and brown sugar: The combination gives you crisp edges from the white sugar and chewy centers from the brown
• Vanilla and peppermint extracts: This dual extract approach is what makes the mint flavor feel layered rather than one-note
• Cocoa powder: Dutch-processed gives the deepest chocolate flavor but natural works fine too
• Chocolate chips: Folding these into the dough creates little pockets of melted chocolate throughout
• Powdered sugar: Sifting this first prevents those frustrating lumps in your frosting that ruin the smooth finish
• Green food coloring: Gel coloring gives more vibrant color with less liquid than traditional drops

Instructions

Prep your station:

Preheat that oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper now, because you do not want to be scrambling for it when your dough is ready

Cream the butter and sugars:

Beat the butter with both sugars until it looks pale and fluffy, about 3 full minutes, which incorporates air and makes lighter cookies

Add the eggs and extracts:

Drop in those eggs one at a time, letting each fully incorporate before adding the next, then pour in both extracts

Whisk the dry ingredients:

In a separate bowl, combine your flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt so they distribute evenly throughout the dough

Combine everything:

Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until you no longer see flour streaks, being careful not to overmix

Fold in the chocolate chips:

Gently stir in the chips by hand so you don't break them or overwork the dough

Scoop and space:

Drop rounded tablespoons onto your prepared sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each because they will spread as they bake

Bake to perfection:

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until edges look set but centers still seem slightly soft, then cool on the sheets for 5 minutes before transferring

Make the frosting:

Beat the butter until creamy, gradually work in the powdered sugar, then add milk and peppermint extract until smooth and fluffy

Add the color:

Mix in food coloring one drop at a time until you reach your desired shade of green

Frost and serve:

Once cookies are completely cool, spread or pipe the frosting onto each one and let it set before serving

Pin it

My daughter now requests these for her birthday instead of cake, and watching her carefully choose exactly which cookie gets the most perfect swirl of green frosting has become its own kind of annual tradition.

Getting The Right Green

I learned that food coloring intensifies as frosting sits, so always aim for slightly lighter than your target shade initially. Gel coloring gives you those bright, vibrant greens without thinning your frosting like liquid drops can.

Making Them Ahead

The unfrosted cookies freeze beautifully for up to a month, which means you can bake the dough on a Sunday and have fresh-frosted cookies ready in minutes for unexpected guests or midnight cravings.

Serving Suggestions

These areShowstoppers on a holiday platter alongside plain sugar cookies, creating this gorgeous red and green contrast that people cannot stop photographing for social media.

• Sprinkle crushed candy canes over wet frosting for texture and extra peppermint punch
• Pair with hot chocolate or coffee to balance the sweetness
• Stack in clear treat bags tied with green ribbon for the easiest homemade gifts

Pin it

There's something about that first bite of cool mint frosting on warm chocolate cookie that feels like pure holiday magic in your mouth.

Common Recipe Questions

→ How can I intensify the mint flavor?

Adding chopped mint chocolate candies to the dough enhances the minty taste and adds texture.

→ What is the best way to achieve vibrant green frosting?

Use quality green food coloring and add it gradually to the frosting until the desired shade is reached.

→ Can I substitute gluten-free flour?

Yes, swap all-purpose flour with gluten-free all-purpose flour for a gluten-free variation.

→ How do I know when the cookies are baked perfectly?

Bake until the edges are set and slightly firm, usually 9 to 11 minutes, then cool on baking sheets before transferring.

→ What tools are essential for preparing these cookies?

An electric mixer, baking sheets, parchment paper, and a wire rack are key to convenient preparation and cooling.