15 Best Recipes Using Mint Extract

Find the best recipes using mint extract here, including a DIY mint extract method and tips on using it in your dishes. 

Mint has always been a favorite in kitchens for centuries, but mint extract takes that love a notch higher. This concentrated essence lets you add that refreshing, minty touch to recipes without needing fresh leaves. 

From desserts like mint chocolate chip cookies to beverages, mint extract has proven its versatility in the gastronomic world.  Join me as we discover some of the best recipes that highlight this aromatic powerhouse.

Note: Most of these recipes are desserts, so better have your sweet tooth ready!

DIY Mint Extract Recipe

Here’s a simple recipe for homemade mint extract:

Ingredients:

• 1c mint leaves
• 1c vodka

Instructions:

• Wash and pat dry the mint leaves. Remove from stems.
• Lightly crush the leaves using the back of a spoon.
• Place crushed leaves in the glass jar.
• Pour vodka over the leaves, ensuring they’re covered.
• Seal the jar and store it in a dark place for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake gently every few days.
• Strain the liquid into a dark bottle, discarding the leaves.

Best Recipes Using Mint Extract

1. Mint Chocolate No Bake Cookies

These stove-top cookies are soft, bite-sized, and filled with mint chocolate flavor. The recipe is straightforward and takes less than 10 minutes to make.

2. Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft, chewy, and filled with chocolate. They use mint extract and green food coloring, making them ideal for Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

3. Mint Chocolate Pudding Pots

This dessert features mint chocolate pudding servings, topped with a chocolate wafer ‘soil’ and a ‘seedling.’ Perfect for spring events, the stove-made pudding is egg-free, and the ‘soil’ combines ground wafers with melted butter.

4. Mint Chocolate Chip Cake In Jars

The classic ice cream inspires this Mint Chocolate Chip Cake. It layers chocolate cake with mini chips and mint frosting in mason jars. Ready in 60 minutes, they can be eaten now or chilled for later.

5. Andes Mint Cupcakes

These cupcakes, inspired by Andes Mint candy, combine chocolate with minty buttercream. Their flavor favors chocolate, reminiscent of the actual candy.

6. Grasshopper Cake

This minty green cake, inspired by the 80’s Grasshopper drink, is adorned with chocolate fudge, whipped cream, and Andes Creme de Menthe. It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any occasion. 

7. Mint Chocolate Chip Cake

This cake combines rich chocolate layers with mint chip buttercream. It contrasts beautifully with the minty frosting, making it a top pick for mint-chocolate lovers.

8. After Dinner Mints

These After Dinner Mints feature cream cheese and mint extract. They have a crunchy sugar exterior but are soft and minty inside, making them great gifts that can be stored in the fridge.

9. Double Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies

The Double Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies are a festive twist on classic chocolate chip cookies. They’re ideal for cookie exchanges, preparing in advance for surprise guests, or simply indulging.

10. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

This creamy ice cream features a custard base made with heavy cream, milk, and egg yolks. It’s enhanced with chocolate chips for a homemade dessert that outshines store-bought options.

11. Mint Fudge

This light green dessert is ideal for Christmas, offering a rich, chocolatey, and minty flavor reminiscent of an Ande’s mint. The recipe is straightforward, needing only six ingredients and 20 minutes to make.

12. Peppermint Mocha

This mocha recipe is a quick, 10-minute homemade take on the popular Starbucks drink. It’s finished with whipped cream and chocolate shavings for added luxury.

13. Mint Ganache Cookies

These cookies have a pastel green tint and a unique minty flavor, topped with a smooth mint ganache made with butter. After three recipe tweaks, the result is a light cookie with a minty ganache core.

14. Mint Oreo Bark

This holiday dessert requires four ingredients. The process includes breaking Oreos, melting morsels, adding mint and food coloring, mixing in the Oreos, and freezing for two hours before serving.

15. Mint Chocolate Candy

This Mint Chocolate Candy is ideal for anyone who loves the classic flavor combination. With just five ingredients, you can make soft, minty centers coated in rich chocolate for a treat that’s sure to please.

Tips For Using Mint Extract

Here are some helpful tips for using mint extract in recipes:

• Start small. Mint extract is potent; use sparingly and adjust as needed.
• Complementary flavors. Pair with chocolate, lamb, citrus, berries, and peas.
• Storage. Keep in a cool, dark place for longevity.
• Use in desserts. Enhance chocolate treats, cookies, and frostings with a drop or two.
• Beverages. Elevate drinks like hot chocolate, smoothies, and cocktails with a tiny amount.
• Avoid high heat. Add towards the end of cooking to preserve flavor.
• Taste as you go. Continuously taste to avoid overpowering mintiness.
• Savory dishes. Use sparingly in sauces, dressings, and meat marinades.
• Alternative to fresh mint. Use extract in small amounts as a substitute, but adjust for its concentrated flavor.
• Natural vs. artificial. Choose between authentic flavor (natural) and budget-friendly options (artificial).

The bottom line

As food lovers continue to explore and innovate, the possibilities with mint extract are limitless. It serves as a poignant reminder that sometimes, a simple drop or two of flavor can make all the difference in crafting memorable dishes. 

Whether you’re an amateur baker or a seasoned chef, embracing the power of mint extract in your recipes can lead to delicious and refreshing results.

More About Mint

• Mint Cocktails
• Mint Substitute
• How To Dry Mint