Mint Surprise Cookies were a delicious part of my childhood Amish Christmas traditions. At first glance, they look like simple, buttery pecan-topped cookies - but the real magic is hidden inside. Each cookie is wrapped around a cool, minty Andes Creme de Menthe Thin, giving every bite a fun burst of chocolate-mint flavor.
These surprise-inside cookies were always a favorite on our family's holiday cookie plates. Growing up Amish, Christmas meant baking dozens of cookies, making homemade candies, and sharing treats with neighbors. And no matter how many different goodies we made, Mint Surprise Cookies were one we came back to year after year.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love These Mint Surprise Cookies
- Ingredients
- How to Make Cookies with Andes Mints Inside
- Do I Need to Refrigerate the Cookie Dough Before Baking?
- Can I Substitute the Andes Mints?
- How to Store Mint Surprise Cookies
- Mint Christmas Cookies
- Amish Christmas Cookies
- More Amish Christmas Cookies
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Mint Surprise Cookies Recipe (Amish Christmas Cookies)
Why You'll Love These Mint Surprise Cookies
- A fun surprise inside - Each cookie has a hidden Andes mint that melts into a smooth, chocolate-mint center.
- Classic cookie dough, festive twist - A simple vanilla-butter dough wrapped around mint creates a cookie that feels special without being complicated.
- Loved by kids and adults - The familiar buttery cookie + the minty middle is one of those combinations that everyone seems to enjoy.
- Perfect for Christmas cookie plates - These look beautiful with the pecan on top and always get comments from friends and family.
- Great make-ahead option - They freeze well, so you can bake ahead for the holidays.
Ingredients
This recipe for cookies with Andes Mints inside uses basic ingredients you probably already have on hand, with the addition of Andes mints and pecans.
- Butter - I use salted butter for all my baking. It adds richness, flavor, and helps create a soft, tender cookie. Make sure it's softened just enough to mix, but not overly soft.
- Sugar (granulated) - Sweetens the cookies and helps them spread slightly.
- Brown Sugar - Adds deeper flavor, moisture, and a hint of chewiness.
- Eggs - Bind the dough together and give the cookies structure and softness.
- All-Purpose Flour - The base of the dough that gives the cookies their shape.
- Salt - Balances the sweetness and brings out all the flavors.
- Baking Soda - Helps the cookies rise and bake up tender.
- Andes Crème de Menthe Thins - The minty "surprise" hidden inside each cookie; they create a smooth chocolate-mint center.
- Pecan or Walnut Halves - Pressed on top for a decorative touch and a bit of crunch.
And, if you want to add an extra festive touch, feel free to spread a bit of Christmas sprinkles over the top before baking.
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How to Make Cookies with Andes Mints Inside
Making these cookies is just like baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies, although they are a bit more time-consuming since you have to wrap the dough around the Andes mint.
In a large mixing bowl (I use my Kitchen-Aid mixer with the paddle attachment), beat the partially softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and creamy. Add the eggs and beat well.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. Then add this dry mixture to the wet butter mixture and mix only to combine. The result should be a smooth and thick cookie dough.
Using a one-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough into balls and stick an Andes mint inside the dough. Carefully wrap the dough around the mint, making sure to cover it completely and create a round disc.
Place the cookies onto a greased or parchment-lined baking tray, leaving adequate space between them. Lightly press a pecan or walnut half onto the top of each cookie.
Bake the cookies until the edges are lightly browned. If you like soft cookies, Do not overbake!
Let the cookies rest on the tray for a minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
Once cooled, indulge in the delightful surprise as you bite into the cookies and discover the minty center! These Mint Surprise Cookies are sure to bring joy with every delicious bite.
Do I Need to Refrigerate the Cookie Dough Before Baking?
To make these cookies with a surprise inside, we need to handle the dough to wrap it around the thin mint. Therefore, if the dough is too sticky, it will be hard to work with. So, if you find the dough too hard to handle, go ahead and refrigerate it for a while to stiffen it.
However, if you use cold butter, you shouldn't have to refrigerate the dough. You will need to let it soften a bit so that you can mix it properly, but don't let it get too soft.
Obviously, it will depend on the temperature in your kitchen, but I usually get my butter out of the fridge only about thirty minutes to an hour before I want to mix the cookies. It's pretty stiff yet, but I like to use cold butter because I don't feel like waiting for my dough to chill.
However, if you find that your cookies are spreading too much when baking, you probably need to chill the dough.
Can I Substitute the Andes Mints?
Yes, you sure can substitute the Andes Mints in these surprise cookies. You could replace them with York Peppermint Patties. And if you don't care for mint, you could also replace it with a plain chocolate wafer, or whatever else you think would be great in there. Feel free to have fun and create all kinds of surprise cookies.
How to Store Mint Surprise Cookies
Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 or 5 days. To store them longer, I recommend freezing them.
Cookies are always best when fresh, and frozen cookies stay fresh. Make sure they are well-protected to avoid any freezer burn, by using airtight containers. If desired, you can place a piece of parchment paper between the layers.
When properly stored, they should keep well in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw the cookies at room temperature for at least an hour before serving, or enjoy them partially frozen. They're great either way.
Mint Christmas Cookies
I'm a sucker for mint-flavored goodies, which I must have inherited from my mom. (lol) She added mint flavoring to her chocolate chip cookie dough all the time, and I must say, I always loved them with the added mint flavor. Mint and chocolate is a match made in heaven!
These mint-stuffed cookies are made with a basic vanilla/butter cookie dough that could also be used to make regular chocolate chip cookies. Essentially, what you get from this recipe is the classic charm of a chocolate chip cookie, with a delightful twist of surprise mint flavor, that elevates it to a whole new level.
Amish Christmas Cookies
In case you were wondering, the Amish celebrate Christmas. While they may not celebrate the holiday in the typical American fashion, they still celebrate Christmas, remembering Jesus' birth.
Many of them also have Christmas traditions, like baking lots of cookies and making homemade candies such as Krispy Peanut Butter Balls, cashew crunch, or homemade caramels.
My mom used to pass out cookie plates to all of our neighbors, so we spent a lot of time baking and creating beautiful plates filled with all kinds of homemade goodies.
Andes Mint Surprise Cookies were one of the treats we often made, and they've always been one of my favorite Christmas cookies, along with chewy, dipped gingersnap cookies, sugar cookies, and sand tart cookies.
Get ready to elevate your Christmas cookie game with these enchanting Surprise Cookies! These Amish Christmas delights may seem like your everyday buttery pecan-topped treats at first glance, but there's a delightful secret waiting to be found.
I hope you enjoy these Mint Surprise Cookies as much as my family does. They get devoured very quickly at my house. 🙂 If you try this recipe, I'd love it if you left a comment and star rating below. Thank you and Happy Baking!
Maybe you'd also like to try my Christmas Fruitcake Recipe - the best one ever! And check out my recipe roundup posts for 52 Amish Christmas recipes and 51 Vintage Christmas recipes. Also, if you need some flourless cookies for gluten-free people in your life, I have a roundup collection with 33 flourless cookie recipes.
Visit my shop to purchase my Amish Cookbook or to purchase a gift for a friend who loves the Amish.
📖 Recipe Card
Mint Surprise Cookies Recipe (Amish Christmas Cookies)
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks) - slightly softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Approx. 42 Andes Creme De Menthe Thins
- Approx. 42 Pecan or Walnut Halves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉.
- Beat the butter and sugars until well-creamed.1 cup butter (2 sticks) - slightly softened, ½ cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar
- Add the eggs and beat well.2 large eggs
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, and soda. Then add this to the wet ingredients and mix to combine. The dough should be smooth and stiff.3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Scoop the dough into tablespoon-sized balls, stick an Andes mint into the dough, and mold the dough all around the mint so that you cannot see it.Approx. 42 Andes Creme De Menthe Thins
- Place the cookie dough circles onto greased or parchment-lined baking trays. Lightly press a pecan half onto the top of each cookie.Approx. 42 Pecan or Walnut Halves
- Bake for approximately 8 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Let the cookies rest on the tray for a minute and then remove them to a wire rack to cool.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 4 or 5 days.
- For extended shelf-life, freeze cookies to keep them fresh. Thaw and enjoy!
Anna
Love these!