Amazing Chocolate Mint Cookies

3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 tsp mint extract (optional)

2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Box Andes Mints, unwrapped and cut in half


1. In a large pan over low heat, cook butter, sugar and water until butter is melted. Add chocolate chips and stir until partially melted. Remove from heat and continue to stir until chocolate is completely melted. Pour into a large bowl and let stand 10 minutes to cool off slightly.

2. At high speed, beat in eggs, one at a time into chocolate mixture. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients, beating until blended. Then stir in mint extract*. Chill dough about 1 hour.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Roll dough into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes. When cookies are brought out of the oven, put 1/2 mint on top of each cookie. Let the mint sit for up to 5 minutes until melted, then spread the mint on top of the cookie. Let them set in the fridge or counter top until the mint has cooled and set. Eat and enjoy!

Courtesy of Allrecipes.com

*A variation I do to appease my son (who thinks mint is yucky and too spicy) as well as the rest of the family is: I set aside some of the plain chocolate dough before I add the mint extract. I stir M&M's into the dough. The colors against the rich dark brown is beautiful. Then with the remaining half of the dough I proceed as normal. Both kinds are yummy.