Make these easy 10-minute homemade thin mints using Ritz crackers, melted chocolate chips, and peppermint extract!
PS. If you love thin mints, you have to try my Giant Thin Mint Cookie Cake!
Tips for Success
- Thin out chocolate: when melting chocolate chips, it helps immensely to thin it out with shortening or vegetable oil. Simply melt the shortening with your chocolate chips and you’ll have a much easier time dipping!
- Freeze to harden: after dipping, you can pop these in the freezer to speed up the hardening process.
- Decorate with a drizzle or sprinkles: for added presentation, use a fork to drizzle chocolate on top or simply decorate with sprinkles!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Ritz Crackers (32, one sleeve): these will give your cookies the perfect sweet and salty flavor. But you could also use Oreo thins to make them have a chocolate center.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or Melting Wafers (2 cups or a 10-12oz bag): If using chocolate chips, add 1 tablespoon of shortening, vegetable oil, or coconut oil to help thin it out. I also like the Ghiradelli melting wafers, as they melt thin and are great for dipping.
- Peppermint Extract (3/4 teaspoon): the amount of extract I used gives you a medium mint flavor but feel free to adjust the amounts if you like less/more! You could also make these with Andes mints for a 2-in-1 coating.
How to Make Thin Mints:
Step 1: Melt Chocolate Chips & Add Peppermint
In a medium-sized, microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips at 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring in between each increment. Once melted, stir in peppermint extract.
Tip: I like to add about 1 tablespoon of shortening (Crisco Butter Flavor) to the chocolate chips before melting which will help it melt thinner and be easier to dip. Coconut oil or vegetable oil also works to thin out chocolate chips (add before melting) but they will give the chocolate a bit of flavor.
Step 2: Dip Crackers
Dip the Ritz crackers in the melted chocolate chips or melting wafers. It’s easiest to place them on a fork and then use another fork to scoop chocolate on top. Tap off the excess chocolate, then place on a piece of parchment paper.
Tip: Before they fully harden, it can be helpful to carefully move them to another spot of the parchment to prevent the chocolate from “pooling” on the parchment.
Step 3: Drizzle or Add Sprinkles
If you have extra chocolate, use a fork to drizzle it on top of the thin mint crackers. While the chocolate is still wet, you can also add fun sprinkles.
Allow to harden (you can freeze to speed it up), then enjoy!
Storage & Freezing
Storing: Store in an airtight container for up to a week!
Freezing: These are delicious frozen! Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month for optimal freshness.
Thin Mint Ritz Crackers
Make these 10-minute homemade thin mints using Ritz crackers, melted chocolate chips, and peppermint extract!
Ingredients
- 32 Ritz crackers (one tall sleeve)
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or melting wafers (roughly a 10-12 ounce bag)
- 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 tablespoon shortening, coconut oil, or vegetable oil (optional) optional, will help chocolate chips melt thinner and make dipping easier
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
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Melt chocolate chips and shortening (optional) in the microwave at 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring in between each increment (even if they're not melted at the beginning, stir anyways). If using melting wafers, follow instructions on package.
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Mix in peppermint extract.
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Dip Ritz crackers into melted chocolate. It’s easiest to place them on a fork and then use another fork to scoop chocolate on top.
Tap off the excess chocolate, then place on a piece of parchment paper. Before they fully harden, it can be helpful to carefully move them to prevent the chocolate from “pooling” on the parchment (which will help you get crisp-edged eggs!).
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If you have extra chocolate, use a fork to drizzle it on top of the thin mints. While the chocolate is still wet, you can also add fun sprinkles.
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Let harden, then enjoy! You can place these in the fridge or freezer to help them harden quicker.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Freezing: I actually prefer these frozen, as you can grab one when a craving hits! After the chocolate is hardened, place in an airtight container (you can place a piece of wax paper or parchment in between each layer to prevent from smearing).
How do you get your chocolate chips smooth for dipping? Chocolate chips are naturally designed to hold their shape, so whenever I melt chocolate chips, I always add a heaping tablespoon of Crisco shortening before melting to smooth it out.
If you want to make these thin mints without shortening, you can instead use melting wafers (naturally designed to melt better) or just add coconut oil or vegetable oil to the chocolate chips instead (add before microwaving).
