Mint Chocolate Cookie Cups
Chocolate cookie cups filled with an easy mint frosting and topped with an Andes mint. These Mint Chocolate Cookie Cups are a perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day or mint chocolate lovers!
*Photos and recipe updated March 2017*
If there’s one thing I love just as much as the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate, it would have to be mint and chocolate. In fact, whenever we go out to get ice cream it’s pretty much guaranteed that I will order mint chocolate chip.
I’ve made these cookie cups several times over the years and they’re always a huge hit. So, I figured with Saint Patrick’s Day right around the corner it would be a perfect time to update the photos for this recipe and share it with you again!
The base of this recipe starts with my favorite chocolate cookie recipe. You’ll mix up the chocolate cookie dough, divide it between all the cavities in a mini muffin pan, and bake it for about 11-13 minutes.
I will say that cookie cups can be a little tricky to bake versus regular cookies. If you want them on the softer side and not too crispy, I suggest checking them at about 10 minutes. Keep in mind that as the cookies cool, they will firm up some just like a regular cookie. I prefer to bake these cookie cups for right at 11 minutes, but every oven is different.
The picture above is a visual of what they will look like as they’re cooling. To get that perfect little indention in the center, I suggest using a measuring teaspoon to gently press them in right after you take them out of the oven.
Then, you’ll mix up an easy mint buttercream frosting to pipe into the cookie cups. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can scoop the frosting into a ziplock bag and snip the corner off and use that instead. For the “mint” extract in this recipe, you can use either peppermint or mint extract. I actually prefer peppermint because mint extract has spearmint in it and can sometimes taste like toothpaste if you’re not careful.
And if you’re not a huge fan of mint, you can use another type of frosting in these too. Here’s my post all about how to make buttercream frosting with a few different flavor variations in it!
Mint Chocolate Cookie Cups
Ingredients
For the chocolate cookie cups:
- 1 and 1/3 cups (165 grams) all purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/3 cup (25 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the mint frosting:
- 1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 cups (180 grams) confectioners sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) heavy cream or milk
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon peppermint or mint extract adjust to taste
- 2-3 drops green food dye
Optional: 12 andes mints, cut in half
Instructions
To make the cookie cups:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 24-count mini muffin pan well with non stick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 1-2 minutes. Then, mix in the egg and vanilla extract one at a time until well combined.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Evenly distribute the cookie dough between all 24 cavities of the mini muffin pan (a little over 1 tablespoon for each one). Bake at 350°F for 11-13 minutes or until the tops of the cookie cups are set.
- Remove from the oven and use the back of a measuring teaspoon to gently press in the center of each cookie cup. Allow to cool in the pan for five minutes, then remove from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
To make the mint frosting:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar and heavy cream and mix until well combined. Add in peppermint extract and food coloring and mix until fully combined. Taste and add more extract if desired.
- Pipe the frosting into the cooled cookie cups and top each one with half of an andes mint. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Love mint chocolate?
Try my mint chocolate chip ice cream brownie pie next!
Or these easy mint chocolate truffles!
Hi Danielle. I’m looking for desserts for Christmas time. So I was thinking instead of the green frosting of using a red or pinkish color and then crushing up some candy canes to sprinkle on top to take the place of the Andes Mint half. What do you think? You think it would work? I would probably have to cut back a little on the extract though. Thanks in advance for a reply.
Hi, Renee! Yes, I think that would work just fine. I would reduce the peppermint extract in the frosting to 1/8 teaspoon and then add more if you think it needs it.
Has anyone tried other variations instead of frosting? I was thinking like a little cherry pastry filling.
Hi, Holly! I think another type of frosting that pairs well with chocolate would work fine in these cookies cups. I haven’t tried a cherry pastry filling though.
So the mint aspect is peppermint. I was thinking it would be more like actual mint like what you’d find in mint chocolate chip ice cream or something? Will this have more of that taste or a peppermint type taste? Thanks!
Hi April! I have used mint extract in these and it works just fine. I find that mint extract can have more of a spearmint flavor and some brands can taste a little like toothpaste. I usually use peppermint extract, just because I prefer the flavor more. You can feel free to use either one in this recipe. Hope that helps 🙂
Hi, would like to ask if the cookie base will be crunchy or cupcake texture after it cools?
Hi Eunice, the texture is not like a cupcake it’s like a cookie. They’re a little crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Thanks for the quick reply Danielle! 🙂
Sweetened cocoa powder?
Hi Eva! It’s unsweetened cocoa powder. I’ve updated the recipe to correct that!
These looks amazing! Perfect for St. Patty’s day!! They are almost too cute to eat!
These are super duper cute! Pinned!
I want to eat that frosting straight from the piping tube! 😀 Such a great recipe for St. Patty’s Day!
These are so cute!! Minty chocolatey desserts are my favorite so I love that they work so well for St. Patty’s AND Christmas!!
I love mini, bite-sized treats! These are just perfect!
You can never go wrong with this flavor combination! I saw these on Instagram last night and knew I’d be rushing over today to check out your recipe! Love!!
GAHHHHH! Love these Danielle! Now, you’ve made me very hungry and I haven’t even had breakfast! Maybe I’ll have these for breakfast! 🙂
I LOVE mint and chocolate (especially the ice cream!) but for some reason Ben can’t STAND the flavor combination…something must be wrong with him! I love these cookie cups, Danielle, they are SO cute!
I love mint chocolate chip ice cream! The mint-chocolate combo looks delicious in cookie cup form! Can you believe I’ve never made cookie cups? They seem so easy and fun!
I’m loving all of the mint chocolate recipes I’m seeing lately. These little cups are adorable, Danielle!
These cookie cups are so adorable! I love the mint and chocolate combo! They’re perfect for St. Patty’s Day!
These are adorable 🙂
These look absolutely beautiful Danielle! Love the chocolate mint combination! Pinned for later 🙂
What a perfect little dollop of frosting! Not to mention how delicious it must taste. Chocolate + mint is one of my favorites too. Pinning!
I am such a sucker for mint! And when it’s chocolate and mint together? I’m done for. These look so delicious!
Mint chocolate chip is one of my favorite combos too!! these little cookie cups are so cute and I love the light green frosting! So pretty 🙂
These look so cute and delicious!! I adore that minty frosting swirl, and your photos look perfectly exposed 🙂 haha. These are so fun for St. Patty’s Day!
I’m a mint and chocolate lover too. Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream is my all time favorite! I bet you love Junior Mints too, just like me. These cookie cups are so cute! And I love that you did a mint frosting! Can’t wait to make these for St. Patty’s Day : )
Junior mints are the best! I always get them when we go to the movies! Thanks, Natalie 🙂
I’m with you on the chocolate-mint thing — it’s right up there with pb & chocolate! These are so adorable and sound so easy to make! They’re just perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. 🙂
Such perfect little cookie cups! I love tiny little sweets like this, they are so much cuter than big versions! And you certainly cannot go wrong with a chocolate+mint combo!
I agree, you can never go wrong with chocolate and mint!
SO cute! And I’m not a mint chocolate person, but dang, these could change my mind. I love adorable treats!
I’m a sucker for adorable treats too haha. Thanks, Mir!
These are just SO super cute! I am also a die hard mint chocolate lover 🙂
These look like so much fun to eat and perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
Oh, gosh. Mint and chocolate is absolutely my favorite flavor combo this time of year, so I’m all over these adorable cookie cups! Love how tiny and poppable they look, Danielle! Sooo it’s cool that I eat like 5 in one sitting right? 😉
Totally cool, Sarah! I may or may not have done that 😉
Mint and chocolate definitely make the best combo! And these cookie cups are just the cutest! I love the pretty mint frosting and the fact that they’re bite-sized! I think it would be so hard not to devour the entire pan! Pinned!
Thanks, Gayle! At least they’re bite sized, so you can eat more! 😉