Shortcut Grasshopper Cookies (Made With Ritz!) Video

Chocolate mint shortcut grasshopper cookies made with 4 ingredients! So quick and easy. Taste just like grasshopper or thin mints cookies and are made with Ritz crackers! This post contains an affiliate link.

This recipe was originally shared in 2012 and has been updated to include updated ingredients (I can’t find the original mint flavored melting chocolate wafers anymore).

You might also like our homemade Hostess cupcakes, Samoas Rice Krispies treats, or our homemade Almond Joy bites!

Watch our step by step video!

Shortcut Grasshopper Cookies

It’s that time of year—Girl Scout cookie season. I know you can buy replicas at the grocery store, but I like supporting my cute neighbors and always buy a few boxes when they come knocking. That being said, grasshopper cookies (thin mints) are SO EASY to make a home, and I’m not talking from scratch. I’ve done that before and they ARE NOT WORTH the effort. But these shortcut grasshopper cookies? They are SO easy to make and are made from Ritz crackers.

Side note, what should I even call these? Grasshopper cookies or Thin Mints? I recently learned that they are made IN THE SAME FACTORY—so I guess it doesn’t matter what you call them.

Loaded with chocolate mint flavor on the outside and a crispy, crunchy, center. They are perfection! You might also like our white chocolate Ritz peanut butter cookies.

Shortcut Grasshopper Cookies Ingredients

• 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon oil (canola or vegetable oil or shortening)
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 24 Ritz crackers

How To Make Shortcut Grasshopper Cookies

Step 1: melt chocolate chips and oil in a double boiler or microwave until melted and smooth. DO NOT overheat.

Do you really need to add oil? YES! Do not skip this part. 

Step 2: add peppermint extract to melted chocolate and stir.

Step 3: dip crackers into melted chocolate using a fork, flip over to coat evenly, then tap against the bowl to allow excess chocolate to drip off.

Step 4: place cookies on a parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet and chill until hardened (about 15 minutes).

What kind of chocolate is best for grasshopper cookies?

Honestly, the best chocolate is a good chocolate chocolate that you shave down before melting and temper yourself. That being said, I use chocolate chips whenever I can for hot chocolate bombs and other melting chocolate recipes. They work JUST FINE.

Best Mint Flavoring For Baking

I’ve found that peppermint extract is a great all-around mint for baking and doesn’t yield a tooth-paste aftertaste like other mint extracts.

Peppermint Extract or Peppermint Oil for Baking?

That depends on what you making! If you are baking, peppermint extract works great. If you are working with chocolate it is best to use a peppermint baking oil OR add a bit of oil to your chocolate. That is what I did in this recipe since I didn’t have peppermint baking oil on hand (this is the bottle I’ve purchased in the past. A little goes a long way). I added a teaspoon of canola oil to my chocolate chips THEN stirred in a teaspoon of peppermint extract into the melted chocolate chips. You can add an additional teaspoon of oil if you think your chocolate feels thick and isn’t the right consistency for dipping.  If you use peppermint baking oil, you can omit the oil in this recipe.

Shortcut Grasshopper Cookies Recipe

Shortcut Grasshopper Cookies

Chocolate mint shortcut grasshopper cookies made with 4 ingredients! So quick and easy. Taste just like grasshopper or thin mints cookies and are made with Ritz crackers! 

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Prep Time: 10 minutes

chill: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 24 cookies

Calories: 90kcal

Ingredients

• 1 12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon oil canola or vegetable (or shortening)
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 24 Ritz crackers

Instructions

• Melt chocolate chips and oil in a microwave safe bowl or double boiler. If using a microwave, cook in 30 second intervals, stirring inbetween each interval, until chocolate is smooth and completely melted when stirred.
• Stir in peppermint extract.
• Dip crackers into chocolate and flip over. Use a fork to dip crackers and tap fork on the side of the bowl to allow excess chocolate to drip off.
• Place dipped crackers onto a parchment or wax paper lined baking sheet.
• Chill in refrigerator for 15 minutes, or until chocolate has hardened.

Notes

Cookies can be stored at room temperature, but are delicious frozen or chilled too!

May add an additional teaspoon of oil to warm, melted chocolate if it feels thick.

Nutrition

Calories: 90kcal