Chocolate and Fresh Mint Cookies

Although this recipe is not actually a family recipe, it is made with lots of fresh mint from Mom's garden. Currently, the mint is growing out of control. Every time I visit Mom, I take home lots of mint and there is still so much mint growing. I've used the mint to flavor water and tea. I've made tabbouleh and added mint to various salads. Then, after reviewing recipes, I decided to try adding fresh mint to baked goods. This recipe is the delicious result.

With fresh mint, you can extract the mint flavoring by simmering the mint in another ingredient to be used, such as milk or butter. But, for this recipe, just add the mint leaves into the dough for a serious mint flavor. I was worried that the mint leaves would disrupt the texture of the cookie, but the leaves blend right in. It was hard to stop eating these delicious minty and chocolaty cookies. I bet that adding fresh mint to brownies or the standard chocolate chip cookie recipe would also be irresistible.

Chocolate and Fresh Mint Cookies 

1 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking sodas
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups chopped fresh mint

Preheat oven to 350. cream together the butter and both types of sugar. Add the vanilla and the eggs and beat until fluffy. Blend in the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Roughly chop the mint leaves. Add the mint and chocolate chips. Spoon dough onto a cookie pan. Bake for about 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Enjoy!