Make healthy Thin Mints at home with this easy recipe! These crispy cookies are made with almond flour and maple syrup and coated in dark chocolate. Vegan + gluten-free.
My top 3 favorite Girl Scout cookies are Samoas, Thin Mints, and Tagalongs – in that specific order. It’s funny because I’m such a peanut butter and chocolate fan, you’d think that Tagalongs would be my #1, but Samoas are just so good . . . they win! With this in mind, I’ve been on a journey of making a healthy version of these iconic classics. First, I made homemade energy balls that were inspired by Samoas and Thin Mints – see my Sinless Samoas and these Thin Mint Energy Balls – but now I’m starting a collection of actual cookie recreations.
Last year, I shared these healthy homemade 4-Ingredient Samoas and they have been such a hit! People are shocked by how easy they are to make and LOVE that they actually taste like the real deal cookies (some people say they taste even better and at least two people on Instagram have called them LIFE-CHANGING!). If you haven’t tried them yet, finish reading this post and then pop over to the 4-Ingredient Samoas and check out that recipe, too!
WATCH HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY THIN MINTS:
Given all the Samoas love, I decided I needed to recreate my other two favorites. First up, the classic Thin Mints! Lots of people have requested the Tagalongs so they’re next . . . don’t you worry!
For this Thin Mint recipe, were using almond flour for the cookie, which was actually inspired and adapted from my 3 Ingredient Almond Flour Crackers! I love using almond flour for baking because it gives everything a rich, nutty flavor that isn’t too overpowering. It works perfectly for these thin and crispy chocolate shortbread cookies! For cutting the dough into a round cookie shape, you can use a cookie cutter but I found that a shot glass makes the perfect size cookies and works just as well.
Once the cookies have baked and cooled, you’ll dip them into a delicious chocolate coating. The chocolate coating is simply chocolate chips, a little coconut oil, and peppermint extract. Dip the cookies into the chocolate coating and then place them back on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place them in the fridge or freezer to let them set.
That last step is probably the hardest . . . I know 30 minutes of waiting is painful, but it’s worth it I promise!
Are you a Girl Scout cookie fan? What’s your favorite flavor?
If you make these thin mint cookies, please be sure to leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how they turn out. Your feedback is so helpful for the EBF team and other EBF readers.
Make healthy Thin Mints at home with this easy recipe! These crispy cookies are made with almond flour and maple syrup and coated in dark chocolate. Vegan + gluten-free.
Ingredients
Cookies
1 cup almond flour
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
2 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
Pinch of sea salt
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Chocolate Coating
1 cup dark chocolate chips
2 teaspoons coconut oil
¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
Instructions
Combine almond flour, cocoa powder, maple syrup, coconut oil, sea salt and peppermint extract in a medium bowl until dough forms. The mixture might seem a little crumbly, but that’s okay. Place dough in the fridge for about 15 minutes.
While the dough is in the fridge, preheat your oven to 350°F and prep a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
Place the chilled dough on a piece of parchment paper. Cover it with a second piece of parchment. Pat it down with your hands and then use a rolling pin to roll out the dough. You’ll want the dough semi-thin— about 1/4 of an inch thick. Use a small circular cookie cutter to cut out circular cookies and place each on your prepared baking sheet. I used a shot glass for this and it worked great.
Place cookies in the pre-heated oven and bake for 13-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
Melt chocolate by adding your chocolate chips and coconut oil into a small bowl. Melt in the microwave using 30-second increments or use a double boiler. Once chocolate is melted, stir in the peppermint extract.
Using a fork, dip cookies into the melted chocolate. Let any excess chocolate drip off before placing the cookie back on the parchment lined baking sheet.
Place cookies in the fridge or freezer for the chocolate to set, about 30 minutes. Once the chocolate has set, you’re ready to enjoy! Store leftover cookies in the freezer and enjoy straight from the freezer – no need to thaw.
I LOVE these. They taste just like thin mints, with healthy ingredients. I’m a health nut, so I always have natural and healthy ingredients on hand. It’s nice to use the actual recipe instead of having to substitute for unhealthy ingredients. Also, the cookies were super easy to clean up and were quick–perfect to make in a pinch! Thank you for this recipe, it’s sure to be a family favorite!
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed these cookies, Evly. 🙂 Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. The reviews are super helpful to other readers, so I appreciate it!
I really wanted these to work, but, they just kept falling apart. I got a 30% success rate, but, when I tasted them, very grainy and “healthy”, just like the title suggests.. haha. Not for me!
Oh no!! I’m so sorry to hear that these cookies didn’t turn out for you. 🙁 I haven’t heard of them falling apart before, did you change anything about the recipe?
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Sarah!! I’m so glad you enjoyed these cookies. Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Fabulous recipe, everyone loves them! I teach vegan dessert workshops too and these will be included in my lesson plans (giving you credit for the recipe of course)! I can’t seem to get a good photo of them though – may I use one of yours when I promote my class? Thank you!
Hey Lara! I don’t, but you use an online converter and plug the measurements in to figure out what they’d be in grams. 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you think of these, definitely come back and let me know how they turn out!!
Hi Angel, I am so glad that you loved this recipe! Thanks so much for leaving a comment and star rating. Your feedback is super helpful to the EBF community.
I haven’t tested the recipe with anything besides almond flour. I bet gluten-free all purpose flour will work, but I haven’t tested it so I can’t say for sure. Let me know if you try it.
My cookies burned at 10 minutes 🙁 the only change I made Is agave instead of maple due to not having any. They tasted awesome raw though!! I am Going to try again soon
I really like these. They taste delicious after they’ve been sitting in the fridge for at least 30 min to an hour. I think the coconut oil and peppermint flavor go nicely together. I used a chocolate frosting made of cocoa powder, coco oil, peppermint oil, splash of goat’s milk, and maple syrup so they looked a little messy but overall they were great. What a simple recipe. It didn’t take long at all and barely any cleanup involved.
Love them!!!! Just finished, they are in freezer now. So perfect!!!!!! Exactly what I was craving. So awesome to have a healthier version. And because they are homemade I feel less inclined to shove the whole box in my mouth like the real thing haha. I appreciate them because of the effort. Thank you!!
If I’m a little short on almond flour do you think I couldn’t use a bit of coconut flour? Either that or for your homemade crackers with every but the bagel seasoning?! Haha..I’m making both and probably only have 1.5 cups almond flour!
Coconut flour isn’t a direct sub for almond flour and I haven’t tested the recipe with coconut flour so I don’t know if it will work or not. You can certainly try it, but it will be an experiment.
Great idea! My friends have been complaining that the Girl Scout cookies have gotten more expensive. I love the idea of making them at home AND making them healthier!
Brittany, these cookies are amazing! Your recipes are superb. I’ve made the zucchini pasta, slaw salad with almond butter dressing and now these cookies. Fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
Hi. I love your stuff. So far my face is the granola bars. Well… I tried the mint cookies and I’m waiting for them to come out of the oven and I want to tell you I was so desperate to try them I used regular flour, so far it’s a fail. Lol the dough was way to crumbly and I added a lot more oil and syrup so it might not work. I’m not giving up tho I’m going to buy some almond flour to try again. Thanks for putting your good stuff out there.
What would you recommend for a lower carb substitute for the maple syrup? Should it be liquid (lakanto maple flavored syrup or similar), or would a powdered sweetener like erythritol work?
I made these today! They are amazing. Thank you for another amazing recipe. I love so many of your recipes and enjoy your blog very much. Can’t wait until you do a tagalong recipe ?.
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I LOVE these. They taste just like thin mints, with healthy ingredients. I’m a health nut, so I always have natural and healthy ingredients on hand. It’s nice to use the actual recipe instead of having to substitute for unhealthy ingredients. Also, the cookies were super easy to clean up and were quick–perfect to make in a pinch! Thank you for this recipe, it’s sure to be a family favorite!
★★★★★
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed these cookies, Evly. 🙂 Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. The reviews are super helpful to other readers, so I appreciate it!
love this recipe – I’ve made them twice and such a hit with my family. I used cacao powder for the cocoa powder, since that is all I had in the house.
★★★★★
I really wanted these to work, but, they just kept falling apart. I got a 30% success rate, but, when I tasted them, very grainy and “healthy”, just like the title suggests.. haha. Not for me!
★
Oh no!! I’m so sorry to hear that these cookies didn’t turn out for you. 🙁 I haven’t heard of them falling apart before, did you change anything about the recipe?
I made these for my family and they were a MASSIVE hit. Thank you, you make baking so easy!!!
★★★★★
Love how simple & easy these are! Taste exactly like thin mints.
★★★★★
These were amazing!!!! My picky teens ate them up in 2 days 🙂
Yay!! I’m so glad these cookies were a hit! Thanks for trying them and for coming back to leave a comment. I appreciate it!
Finally a great way to use all the almond meal i have from making almond milk. Yumm!
★★★★
I was really excited to make these and they had a really weird texture and did not taste good:(
★
Oh no!! I’m so sorry to hear that, Sydney. Did you change anything about the recipe?
These are so delicious!! They are even better than the originals.😋
★★★★★
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Sarah!! I’m so glad you enjoyed these cookies. Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Fabulous recipe, everyone loves them! I teach vegan dessert workshops too and these will be included in my lesson plans (giving you credit for the recipe of course)! I can’t seem to get a good photo of them though – may I use one of yours when I promote my class?
Thank you!
★★★★★
Hey Angie – I’m so glad this recipe is a hit and thank you so much for asking. I am okay with that. 🙂
These turned out amazing, so delicious! Thank you for sharing, happy to have a healthier alternative.
★★★★
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear!! Thanks for trying my recipe, babe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!
So excited to make these! Do you perhaps know the measurements for the almond flour and choc chips in grams?
Hey Lara! I don’t, but you use an online converter and plug the measurements in to figure out what they’d be in grams. 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you think of these, definitely come back and let me know how they turn out!!
They’re totally gorgeous! Thank you for the recipe 🙂
★★★★★
Can I sub cacao powder for the cocoa powder? Great recipe btw!! 😁
Yes! I think cacao powder should work just fine.
I made these thin mints and they were delicious. They taste just like the girl scout’s thin mints. I love them.
★★★★★
Hi Angel, I am so glad that you loved this recipe! Thanks so much for leaving a comment and star rating. Your feedback is super helpful to the EBF community.
I need a sub for almond flour as well as Kristi. Can a gluten free flour be used 1 to 1?
I haven’t tested the recipe with anything besides almond flour. I bet gluten-free all purpose flour will work, but I haven’t tested it so I can’t say for sure. Let me know if you try it.
My cookies burned at 10 minutes 🙁 the only change I made Is agave instead of maple due to not having any. They tasted awesome raw though!! I am Going to try again soon
★★★★★
I really like these. They taste delicious after they’ve been sitting in the fridge for at least 30 min to an hour. I think the coconut oil and peppermint flavor go nicely together. I used a chocolate frosting made of cocoa powder, coco oil, peppermint oil, splash of goat’s milk, and maple syrup so they looked a little messy but overall they were great. What a simple recipe. It didn’t take long at all and barely any cleanup involved.
★★★★★
Love them!!!! Just finished, they are in freezer now. So perfect!!!!!! Exactly what I was craving. So awesome to have a healthier version. And because they are homemade I feel less inclined to shove the whole box in my mouth like the real thing haha. I appreciate them because of the effort. Thank you!!
★★★★★
Really excited to try this lovely simple recipe 😃
Could I use honey instead of maple syrup?
Thank you
I haven’t tired it with honey, but I think it should work just fine.
[…] Healthier Thin Mints from Eating Bird Food {Better than the real thing}! […]
Any sub ideas for almond flour? SO with nut allergies, and I really shouldn’t be left with a whole recipe of these for myself haha. Thanks!
These cookies are delicious! My daughter and I are gluten and dairy sensitive; these cookies were an answer to our dessert prayers! Thank you!
★★★★★
If I’m a little short on almond flour do you think I couldn’t use a bit of coconut flour? Either that or for your homemade crackers with every but the bagel seasoning?! Haha..I’m making both and probably only have 1.5 cups almond flour!
Coconut flour does not work It will not stick together like the almond flour.
Coconut flour isn’t a direct sub for almond flour and I haven’t tested the recipe with coconut flour so I don’t know if it will work or not. You can certainly try it, but it will be an experiment.
Do you think I could use a non-nut flour like cassava?
I haven’t tried it but you could certainly experiment!
Great idea! My friends have been complaining that the Girl Scout cookies have gotten more expensive. I love the idea of making them at home AND making them healthier!
Brittany, these cookies are amazing! Your recipes are superb. I’ve made the zucchini pasta, slaw salad with almond butter dressing and now these cookies. Fabulous! Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Yay! Now I can eat a sleeve of Thin Mints without any guilt!!! Check out https://www.hungerpass.com/ for some healthy dessert ideas!
Hi. I love your stuff. So far my face is the granola bars.
Well… I tried the mint cookies and I’m waiting for them to come out of the oven and I want to tell you I was so desperate to try them I used regular flour, so far it’s a fail. Lol the dough was way to crumbly and I added a lot more oil and syrup so it might not work. I’m not giving up tho I’m going to buy some almond flour to try again.
Thanks for putting your good stuff out there.
What would you recommend for a lower carb substitute for the maple syrup? Should it be liquid (lakanto maple flavored syrup or similar), or would a powdered sweetener like erythritol work?
I’d recommend a liquid low carb sweetener for sure!
Hi Brittany can I use regular dates to make your recipe SAMOAS???
What do you mean by regular dates? What type do you have?
This came at just the right time!! My husband recently polished of TWO boxes of thin mints and I’m over jealous because I’m GF. Thank you!!
I don’t bake cookies often but these look great! Might have to try them.
I made these today! They are amazing. Thank you for another amazing recipe. I love so many of your recipes and enjoy your blog very much. Can’t wait until you do a tagalong recipe ?.
★★★★★
Ahhh!!! I’m so glad that you hear that you liked them, Chelsie. I’m so pumped to share the tagalong recipe soon! 🙂
Tagalongs are my absolute favorites!!! I cannot wait to try the recipe.
I was wondering if I could order peppermint essential oil to sub the extract.
I was wondering the same, Ashley. Let me know if you try it out how many drops you used! I know it’s a LOT stronger than extract =)
You can use peppermint oil instead of the extract. I would start with 1/4 of what the recipe asks for, so 1/8 teaspoon of the oil. 🙂