Mint Balls
Mint Balls are super easy, fun to make, and have the most wonderful chocolate mint flavor. These treats will impress any cookie lover!
Sometimes my sweet tooth sneaks up on me without warning and I just need something delicious and quick! I don’t always have the time, or the ingredients handy, to devote to some of the more complicated dessert options, but I do keep a couple of staples stocked in my pantry most of the time.
Over the years I have realized that most of my sugar cravings can be conquered with cookies. Super simple cake mix cookies and this amazing chocolate Mint Balls recipe always come in handy in a clutch.
MINT BALLS
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I don’t know about you but my absolute favorite Girl Scout cookie is the Thin Mint. Every year I look forward to cookie season just so I can indulge in my favorite chocolate-covered cookie. These amazing chocolate candy-coated Mint Balls are a step above the Thin Mint cookie that we all adore.
The best part is you don’t have to wait until cookie season to enjoy them! Mint Ball ingredients are available year-round and there are tons of ways to customize them!
MINT BALL INGREDIENTS AND VARIATIONS
This cookie treat is just so easy to customize, which is one of the things you will love most about this recipe! With so many delicious cookies on the shelves, I am pleased to announce you are not limited to just one variety!
Mint Oreo- You can easily replace Grasshopper cookies with Mint Oreos! Because of the Oreo cream filling, the texture of Mint Oreo balls may be slightly creamier, but they taste just as amazing. The fun part in making Mint Oreo Balls is that you get a fun pop of mint green color from the cookie sandwich cream. Thin Mint Oreo cookies also work, though they have less cream filling so Thin Mint Oreo Balls may be less minty overall.
Cream Cheese- Be sure to use regular cream cheese and not a whipped or low-fat variety for the best outcome!
Mint Baking Chips- If you cannot find Andres Creme de Menthe baking chips don’t worry. Any chocolate mint chip variety will suffice. Or even regular chocolate chips with a 1/4 teaspoon of mint extract will do the trick.
Sometimes during the holiday season, you can even find white chocolate peppermint baking chips! I guarantee that the sweet and creamy chocolate peppermint coating is just magical in this recipe.
Sprinkles- The most fun part of making Mint Balls is decorating them. Be sure to splurge on some fun and festive sprinkles. You can make these candy-coated mint balls for any occasion!
HOW TO MAKE MINT BALLS
- First, in a food processor, pulse the contents of a 10 oz. bag of Keebler’s Grasshopper Cookies a few times before blending them down to cookie crumbs.
- Next, add the softened chunks of cream cheese to the food processor and continue to mix it well into the cookie crumbs.
- Scoop the cookie mixture and roll into balls about 1-inch around. I usually use a cookie scoop to portion the truffle mixture.
- Now, place the mint balls onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. (Waxed paper or silicone mat will work too.) Then refrigerate the truffles for 1 hour – until the balls are hard enough that they will not fall apart when you dip them into the melted chocolate.
- When the mint balls are nearly finished chilling, melt the Creme de Menthe baking chips and stir until they are smooth.
- Next, roll the chilled dessert balls in the melted baking chips fully and evenly covering the surface. Place the coated balls back on the parchment paper.
**If you prefer, you can use lollipop sticks to create a “cake pop” style mint ball. First, dip the end of the stick in the melted chocolate and stick it into the ball. Then use the stick to dip it into the chocolate and gently twist and rolls it to allow the excess chocolate to fall off. - Immediately after placing the dipped mint ball on the parchment paper, cover each ball with sprinkles for decor.
- Once you are finished coating and decorating, place the baking sheet back in the refrigerator so that the cookie balls can harden and set.
- Finally, serve and enjoy your new favorite cookie treat!
TRY THESE OTHER EASY DESSERT RECIPES
- Cheesecake Balls
- Strawberry Cheesecake Balls
- No Bake Peanut Butter Icebox Cake
- No Bake Cool Mint Cookie Chews
- Andes Mint Pie
- More DESSERT recipes…
TOOLS USED TO MAKE THIS MINT BALLS RECIPE
Food Processor: Let this kitchen must-have do all the heavy lifting, and stirring and mixing, for you!
Double Boiler: Though you can melt chocolate without one of these kitchen essentials, why would you ever want to?
*This post originally posted on 03/16/2013.
Mint Balls
Ingredients
- 10 ounces Keebler's Grasshopper Cookies (1 box)
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened, cut into chunks
- 10 ounces Andes Creme de Menthe baking chips (1 bag)
- Green sprinkles
Instructions
- Add the cookies to a food processor. Pulse until the cookies have been turned into crumbs.
- Add the chunks of cream cheese to the food processor. Pulse until evenly mixed with the cookie crumbs.
- Roll the truffle mixture into 1-inch balls. (I like to use a cookie scoop to portion the filling.) Place the truffles on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet
- Place the baking sheet in the fridge for 1 hour. This makes the balls easier to dip in the chocolate so they don't fall apart.
- About 20 minutes before the chilling time is up, melt the Creme de Menthe baking chips. You can melt them in the microwave heating for 30 seconds, stirring, and repeating until smooth, or in a double boiler.
- Roll the truffle balls in the melted baking chips, use a fork to lift, and let any excess chocolate drip off before placing them back on the parchment paper. *If you want the mint balls on sticks, place the end of the stick in the melted baking chips and then stick it into a mint ball. Then dip the truffle into the melted baking chips, lift, and roll the stick so any excess chocolate drips off. Place the mint ball back onto the parchment paper with the stick pointing up.
- Add sprinkles on each ball right after you take it out of the melted baking chips. This will make sure the sprinkles stick as the chocolate sets up.
- Place the mint balls back into the fridge to help the chocolate harden. Store in a cool place (or in the fridge) in an airtight container until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing these at Two Cup Tuesday at Pint Sized Baker.
I hope your son had a good time at his baseball game. As a mother, I am sure you were nervous seeing your 7 year old playing with all the older boys!
I think these mint balls are great and I would love to pop one or two of these in my mouth right now!
Thank you for linking up to the In and Out of the Kitchen party! I look forward to seeing what you bring next week!
Cynthia at http://FeedingBig.com
Thank you Cynthia! My son did amazing in his game and I loved watching him! The Mint Balls are super yummy and disappeared quickly this weekend! 🙂
Oh YUM!! What a super easy treat! Thanks for sharing with Simple Supper Tuesday.
Thank you Cindy! They are easy and super yummy!