Thursday, July 22, 2010

Homemade Girls Scout Cookies


 I was asked to bring cookies to our family reunion.  My plan was to start baking on Monday and make a batch or two a day and have plenty by the time we were ready to go.  Sounds simple doesn't it!  It was not to be.  Monday and Tuesday were so busy that I got as far as getting the butter out to soften and get my cook books out - that was it.  There was definitely no baking going on!  Wednesday, I got up with determination.  I was going to get my baking done, if it was the last thing I did.  I should have stayed in bed.  Everything I made, I burned.  The sugar cookies were blackened and the layer cookies were inedible.  I did manage to salvage some sugar cookies to frost, but everything else was a loss.

Today I decided to give it another go.  Heaven forbid I take store bought cookies!  That would cause quite a stir.  I determined I would start with something simple - no baking, just dipping.  Success!

These Homemade Girl Scout cookies are very similar to the thin mint cookies that the Girl Scouts sell.  They are wonderful but so easy, even I couldn't mess them up!

First, you start with a roll of Ritz crackers (see, I told you it was easy).  Next, you melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave.  I always add a little Crisco so the chocolate thins out a bit.  Use a cup or two of chocolate chips, depending on how many rolls of Ritz you are planning on using.  After you have melted your chips, take off the heat and stir in a teaspoon (or more - to taste) of Peppermint Extract.  After you have stirred the extract into the chips, dip crackers, one at a time.


After you dip your crackers, place on a wax paper (or tin foil) covered cookie sheets until the chocolate hardens.  I usually  put the cookie sheets in the freezer and then transfer the cookies to a box or tin for storage.  I like to store them in the refrigerator or freezer, just so the chocolate doesn't melt on your hands.


Here they are - all done.  And I didn't even burn them!  Be careful, these are addictive.  Oh, by the way, Hand Grenade doesn't like mint, but he loves peanut butter and chocolate, so when I make these for him, I leave out the mint extract, sandwich peanut butter between two crackers and then dip in chocolate - yummy indeed!

6 comments:

  1. Save the Canning JarsJuly 22, 2010 at 7:41 PM

    Oh, thank you for sharing that! I can't wait to try that...both variations...mint and peanut butter. I can assure you my family thanks you in advance!

    Think of me tomorrow as I'll be canning 30 lbs of organic chicken. I bought 100 lbs today (bargain at $1/lb for thighs and leg quarters). 70 lbs were frozen so slipped those into the freezer when I got them home, but the rest need attention tomorrow as they had thawed.

    And the cucumbers need attention (pickling) and the crisper is full of apples needing to either be dehydrated or made into apple sauce. It's all happening at once. Thank God for His abundance and for my first born being a daughter who is a great help in the kitchen.
    I should have named her Cin-der-el-la!

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  2. Those look really good. I am going to have to try it, or both of your ideas.

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  3. Save the Canning Jars-
    Yeah! Sounds like a great deal on chicken. Good for you for canning a bunch. I love canned meat - it is so convenient! You'll have to let me know if you like the cookies!

    Enola

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  4. Just wanted to let you know, I've been replying to your e-mails, but they are bouncing back to me as undeliverable! Just thought you should know, in case there's a setting that needs to be changed. And I hope you didn't think I was ignoring you! :) (Heather den H.)

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  5. Fabulous! We love thin mints and can only afford a few boxes each year.

    Now I can surprise the family with a homemade version. :)

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  6. I have made these and yes, they are addictive.
    Last Christmas, I "accidentally" made some wonderful cookies that are similar.
    I had a plan to dip some pretzels. So I nuked the white chocolate as I always do. But for some reason this time the wh choc just dried up so quickly. I was in a panic because I had no shortening to thin it out with. And I thought, "What about peanut butter? It's fat. Right?" So I added 2 heaping tablespoons of PB and began my dipping. Yummy pretzels!
    I ran out of pretzels and used ritz crackers. EVEN BETTER!
    Who knew white chocolate and peanut butter were so very good?

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