Handmade for the Holidays {handmade by me.}
ByI know quite a few people who do not like to bake, who say they don’t know how or who are just too busy to do so. So, I’ve decided to share one of my favorite recipes that is so easy, I guarantee ANYONE can do it. The best part? It’s a great gift…I promise it is.
Also? You need not turn on your oven.
First…take two cookie sheets and put them in the REFRIGERATOR. Don’t forget this step, it’s of upmost importance.
Do you have a double boiler? ( if you do not have one, that’s okay, I went without for YEARS and just used a regular saucepan with boiling water in it and a heat-safe bowl on top. It gets super hot, so be careful.
This is what a double boiler looks like:
You’ll also need the following:
Specifically, you’ll need-
16 oz (2 boxes) of Semi-sweet bakers chocolate
Peppermint extract (NOT mint, okay?)
2 sleeves of ritz crackers
some holiday sprinkles, of course!
Friends, what we are basically making is a nice little replica of thin mints…it’s not exact but they are very good. (some people say they are better, but I disagree and I am an expert.)
A cookie. Made with Ritz crackers. Can you believe it?
Begin boiling your water.
Cut up your chocolate, I cut each half in half
Once your water is boiling and your ingredients are ready (I believe in totally prepping before beginning the baking/cooking process, you should, too.) add your bowl or top saucepan to the boiling pan of water. I turn the heat down to medium.
Add the chocolate, stirring often. Once the chocolate is completely melted, add 1/2 tsp of peppermint (NOT MINT) extract. Stir thoroughly.
Retrieve one of the two cookies sheets out of the refrigerator and line with a single layer of wax paper. Dip a cracker into the melted chocolate covering just enough of the cracker that your fingers do not get burned, then use a utensil to dip the undipped side. I use the Pampered Chef skinny scraper, but you can use anything, really.
I also try to keep the flat side of the crackers as the top of the cookie but that’s just me, I prefer the way it looks.
Tap off excess chocolate (do not touch the chocolate with your fingers, you’ll burn your skin off) and place on cookie sheet. If you do not put your cookie sheets in the refrigerator, your chocolate will pool up and your cookies won’t look as pretty, so keep em’ cold. If you do not use wax paper, your chocolate will adhere to the cookie sheet and you will not be able to get them off of the sheet without breaking them. I know this because I’ve done this. This is also known as FAILURE.
You should stir your mixture up nicely after every sixth cookie or so. K?
If you have a broken Ritz, do not use it, just cover it with Cheese Whiz and pop it in your mouth. The last thing you want are crumbs in your chocolate mixture.
I do not decorate all of the cookies because some people prefer non-decorated cookies but if you do decorate them, this is the time to do it, while the chocolate is still nice and melty. (yes, that’s an official term)
Have your sprinkles ready. That’s important.
Once you have filled up the cookie sheet, place back in refrigerator. Take out other sheet and fill up that bad boy with more of the ritzy, chocolate, peppermint (NOT MINT) goodness.
Once the chocolate is all used up…you’re done. That’s it. Place the cookies in the refrigerator for approximately 30-45 minutes.
Remove and place in muffin papers and place in cookie tins. I was able to fill up six muffins liners, five cookies high and then filled up the other side of the cookie tin with Dove chocolate.
Who wouldn’t love this gift?
*if you use mint extract and not peppermint extract, your cookies will taste like toothpaste and that is disgusting.*
*trust me.*
That is so smart and I am so hungry right now. Those are at your house right now?
Steph
I have got to try these bad boys. I don’t know if they can top the peanut butter chocolate Ritz things you got me started on before though. Those are still a real favorite here.
Stephanie…yes, c’mon over!
Nancy, the peanut butter ritz recipe is coming up. Those are SO GOOD, aren’t they?!
Well, I just poured my drink. Why don’t you just bring them to me?
Steph
SO perfect. Thanks for sharing this! I was wrong about the 4 dozen that I need for the cookie exchange… it’s actually 7. I think I’ll just like hexduple (that’s a word, no?) the recipe and eat the remaining 3 dozen myself. Nums.
Almost all of the gifts we are giving are handmade. We create a basket full of homemade/ handmade gifts for family and friends, and these cookies are going in them!
I think I’ve seen these somewhere before. They looks so cute. Especially once they are all tinned up..
Man.. you make the rest of us look so bad..
You are so perfect…
Sounds easy. Looks scrumptious. I love anything with mint! Kidding. Kidding. =)
um, YES. i could eat that whole tin right now.
i adore crackers and chocolate. i’m partial to club
crackers, but i bet these are so GOOD.
Oh my am I hungry now!
Beth, that looks delicious and SUPER EASY, you’re right, if someone doesn’t like that gift, you should take it back. Punishment. That’s just a marvelous idea. Thanks for the easy tips! For sure, I WILL remember Peppermint, NOT mint, don’t wanna think I’m eating toothpaste.
Oh my gosh, what a great idea! I am drooling and it’s 9am!
I only wish we had Ritz crackers and baking chocolate in my town.
Those look divine! Thanks for sharing
What an awesome idea, i really have to give this a try. Thank you for sharing this one
They look divine, I am definitely going to have to make these, they look really yummy. I am sure that the whole family will love them at Christmas time.
A great idea. My aunt used to make them, but without the peppermint extract. Thanks for the warning about using mint… I wouldn’t want them to taste like toothpaste!
These are on my “baking” list this year, too! The chilling the cookie sheet is a great tip! My recipe calls for crushed mint/candy cane pieces instead of sprinkles. I’m anti-sprinkle-too waxy.
Definitely not a baker, but thanks for the tips anyway…maybe if i have time, i will experiment!
You can also put peanut butter in between two Ritz crackers and dip them in chocolate. (I’d leave out the peppermint, though!) These make the best “cookie” I’ve ever had.
I am starving and would like some of these to dip in my coffee. Please bring them to me now. Also bring that bowl of sprinkles, because I like my sprinkles with or without cookies attached.
Sounds wonderful. But I have a question (which will show just how ignorant I am): what’s the difference between mint and peppermint? They’re both mint, right?! Just curious.
We make this very same cookie, and I can attest to their deliciousness! And also to the importance of not using mint extract out of a very disgusting personal experience.
Here is my tip, on some of our cookies I sprinkle crushed up candy canes instead of decorations. It’s yummy!!
First trip to your blog and I’m so glad I dropped in! The only thing that would have made it more perfect is if there had been a plate of these waiting for me when I arrived!
Can’t wait to try this recipe. Looks yummy! I make a cookie with Ritz, dates and a cream cheese frosting. Ritz crackers are pretty handy, aren’t they? 
Ooh – intriguing. I must try these. Or even better, I must get my 14yo daughter to try these.
ok, girls. let’s one-up this a bit. you won’t be disappointed…
skip the peppermint (MINT). spread peanut butter between two Ritz crackers. then dip in the chocolate.
what you end up with is a tag-a-long. the world’s BEST tag-a-long.
there! now you know how those little girl scouts make two of their best cookies!
I already have the crackers in my house and we will be making these this weekend. I was watching a TV program and someone else makes these using mintflavored choc chips that you can buy at Michaels Craft Store.
It is a nice touch to add the holiday sprinkles on top. I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks!
Can’t wait to make these! They look yummy
Yes!! I have made this recipe the past 2 years (taking a break from them this year) and they are always a hit. Hadn’t heard of the refrigerated cookie sheets. I’ve always used crushed candy cane sprinkled on top, but the sprinkles are a nice touch, too.
My new favorite from last year (did I get this from you? I’m not sure), is the Ritz peanut butter sandwich cookies dipped in almond bark, yum, yum. I think I’m just sticking with homemade Buckeyes this year though.
(p.s. these are the cookies I made last night while waiting for your internet http://userealbutter.com/2008/09/25/espresso-chocolate-chip-shortbread-cookies-recipe/ SOOOO good!)
Your kitchen stove is so clean. Sigh. I can’t take pictures of mine. I scrub and scrub and behold, it stayeth grungy looking. The cookies look yummy. Mmmnnn.
Wow. You could use the whole wheat Ritz crackers and they’d be a tiny bit healthy.
I need something this easy for an upcoming Open House.
Thanks!
How is it that you can make even a recipe hilarious?
Can I tell you that I just ran to my pantry, dug around in there, and then did a little happy dance that I have all the ingredients on hand?!? I am so making these tomorrow!
I made these last year and they were awesome! I ate most of them myself.
Hah! That is what I was going to comment on – choc covered PB Ritz sandwich cookies. My ex boyfriend’s mom used to make them every year and they were like crackrock. Om nom nom!
I love the simplicity and peppermint in this recipe, though. (Haven’t made it, but it sounds fun.)
Dang it. Dang it all to heck. Now I’m going to have to hit the store tonight…
Hello stretchypants, it’s good to see you again…
I just got this recipe in my Kraft email yesterday? cool!
They look delicious!
Dude. I love you so much.
I just bought those EXACT same cookie tin thingys at Big Lots and then I was all “um, what do I do with these, I don’t bake…”
This I can do. Thank you.
Mmm! I’ve had these before and they are so good! But, I haven’t made them yet. Didn’t realize they were so easy.
I love to make peppermint bark during Christmas- because it’s so easy. Plus those pretzel-rolo-candy things.
Anything easy!
Oh my word. Hello, deliciousness. I have a feeling you are going to make me seriously gain weight this holiday season. : ) Looking forward to hearing about the peanut butter ones.
Now I want Cheese Whiz…great…
Those look yummy…I will have to try those for sure!
Oh sweet and salty-what a great combination!
Oh my! I am making these asap! Forget about gifts. These puppies will be for me!
You know what else is awesome about these, besides their deliciousness? I think they’ll be a great (supervised) project for my 8-year-old daughter who loves to make gifts for her friends. Here’s something she can do almost completely on her own, and they are super yummy to boot.
By the way, this is the recipe I’m adding to my Christmas cookie arsenal this year. I only add one recipe each year — I’m picky. The simplicity of this one and easy factor won me over. (Also? It has no butter, besides what’s in the Ritz. And I’m buying something like 8 pounds of butter for the cookies this year. I need my own dairy at this rate.)
I make these every year too!!!! I make them a little different though with pepperment oil and almond bark…probably all the same in the end. EVERYONE LOVES these!!!
Have you ever made Cake Bites?? They are my new surprise for Christmas this year. Let me know if you want the sinful recipe!!
My son just made a batch to hand out to his siblings on Christmas. I blogged it and linked people back to you for the recipe.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/PrairieLady/752978/
[...] and last-minute crafting. I made Indoors S’mores, Rocky Road Bars, and Beth’s Ritz Cracker Thin Mints (so very good!), which were packed together in tins to share as gifts. I’ll have to type [...]