Chocolate Mint Swirl Cookies

My girl scout leader introduced these cookies to me. At eleven I invited myself over to her house and she taught me how to make them. They have become our families signature cookie. These are also the cookies we leave for Santa every year. He loves them as much as we do!

Let's Get Started!

 (makes 30-36 cookies)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup margarine – not butter (imperial brand)

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 tablespoons water

12 oz bag of semisweet chocolate chips

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 bag of andes baking mints (these are found in the baking aisle near chocolate chips – walmart / target/ HEB has them sometimes) – if they are out of the baking chips you can replace with a bag of regular andes mints from the candy aisle.

Directions:

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, cook the sugar, margarine and water, stirring occasionally until melted.

2. Remove from heat, stir in the chocolate chips until melted.

3. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

4. Pour the chocolate mixture into a large bowl, and beat in the eggs, one at a time.

5. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the chocolate mixture.

6. Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour.

7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

8. Grease cookie sheets.

9. Roll cookie dough into walnut-sized balls and place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

10. Bake for 11 minutes in the preheated oven, be careful not to overbake.

When cookies come out of the oven, sprinkle 1 heaping tsp of baking chips onto the top of each cookie and let sit for 1 minute. When the mint is softened, swirl with the back of a spoon or toothpick to make a pattern with the green filling of the mint wafer. Let cool until chocolate on top has hardened before eating (about 2 hours).

Varition

MINT CHIP BROWNIES (really they're cookie bars) ;)

This is a yummy alternative is great when when you don't have time to the normal cookies.

1. Make the dough as directed above

2. Before baking, mix in the bag of andes mint chips and 1 c. semi sweet chips (or even better - use the nestles mint chip mix).

3. Spread out on greased cookie sheet.

4. Bake at 350 for 20-25 mins.

5. Let cool in pan for atleast 30 minutes before cutting.

Easy. Yummy.