9 Mint Chocolate Treats, Ranked Worst To Best
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Mint paired with chocolate has been a slightly controversial flavor combination. Much like pineapple with pizza, there are social media and message board posts galore debating the merits of mint and chocolate. According to Iowa State Daily, mint chocolate naysayers tend to associate the flavor pairing with toothpaste, which we're sure we can all agree isn't the most ideal culinary experience. Whether you love it or hate it, there are definitely some mint chocolate treats that are better than others. From candy to ice cream to cake, the dessert world has been forever impacted by mint.
There are, of course, the classic mint chocolate offerings that tend to hurt feelings less than others. York Peppermint Patties, for example, have been gracing candy aisles since 1940. Mint Oreos have been kicking since 1985. And, according to the LA Times, Mint Chocolate Chip was one of Baskin-Robbins' original 31 flavors when it first opened its doors to the public. However, over the past few decades, mint chocolate pairings have gotten bolder — and occasionally downright strange.
Whether you're a fan of mint chocolate treats or would like to expand your flavor horizons, here are a few treats to try, ranked from least to most mouthwatering.
9. Andes Mints
Andes mints are synonymous with fine dining in America, as they are often offered as an after-dinner palate cleanser. They are also notable for their presence in your grandmother's purse. From family tradition to highbrow restaurants, Andes mints have successfully weaved their way through the tapestry of our lives, and there aren't many people who don't recognize them straight away — which is exactly why they aren't particularly high on our list. They must be mentioned due to practically being responsible for mint and chocolate getting together in the first place, but at the end of the day, they're pretty boring.
First introduced in 1950, Andes today is part of Tootsie Roll Industries, which is run by — you guessed it — a grandma. Per Fortune, Ellen Rubin Gordon is in her 90s and is CEO of the company, which produces the Andes mints as well as many other famous candies.
Andes also makes Andes Mint Cookie Crunch Thins, which, according to The Impulsive Buy, taste exactly like Andes mints. We suppose if you've got a decent thing going, why change?
8. Dairy Queen Mint Oreo Blizzard
Dairy Queen is known for its Blizzards — an ice cream treat that lands somewhere in between a milkshake and an ice cream cone. First launched in 1985, the Blizzard stays in demand by offering both permanent flavors and rotating ones to keep things interesting. Some flavors of the past include Cotton Candy and Pumpkin Pie. But one of the stars of the seasonal menu is the Mint Oreo Blizzard, which tends to show up in the spring in time for St. Patrick's Day and usually hangs around for a while. It was a crowd favorite until Dairy Queen announced its departure in 2015. Thankfully, it was brought back to bring a little saccharine hope to the masses in 2018 and has come back every year since.
According to the Impulsive Buy, the Mint Oreo Blizzard is a bit lackluster despite its cult following. The creme de menthe that is held responsible for the mint flavor is too subtle to really qualify as a prominent flavor of this dessert, which leaves you with, well, an Oreo Blizzard. But there is a subtle bite of mint, and the Oreo chunks tend to be generous throughout. So while you shouldn't expect to be slapped in the taste buds with a strong flavor, it's still a satisfying treat. After all, can anything ever really top a Blizzard when it comes to fast food ice cream fare? What say you, McDonald's McFlurry?
7. Chick-fil-A Peppermint Milkshake
Chick-fil-A rules the fast food milkshake kingdom. From its year-round vanilla to its summer peach milkshake, both the fast food chain's permanent and seasonal flavors are thick, delicious, and memorable. When the holidays hit, Chick-fil-A releases the Peppermint Milkshake, and it's definitely not something to be mad at. While other franchises have tried to up their milkshake game, they just can't keep up with both the quality and flavor of Chick-fil-A's efforts.
According to a reviewer for the LHS Statesman, the milkshake contains a sharp peppermint flavor and is generous on the peppermint bark, which is chipped and hand-spun into the shake. The end result is a festive red-pink shake that smells as minty and delicious as it tastes. Like all Chick-fil-A shakes, it's topped with whipped cream. The seasonal shakes always cost slightly more than the run-of-the-mill chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. However, it's worth the higher price tag for the minty chocolate magic.
6. Planet Oat Mint Fudge Swirl
The dawn of dairy-free ice creams has been a total game changer for those who avoid dairy, with soy, coconut, and almond milk being used as substitutes. One of the newer options for dairy-free ice cream is oat milk, with one of the leaders in the industry being produced by Planet Oat. As one reviewer stated on Go Dairy Free, "[Planet Oat's ice cream] is the closest thing I have found to real ice cream. It is amazing." Planet Oat features a variety of flavors, including Vanilla, Coffee Fudge Swirl, Cookies & Crème, Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl, and, of course, the reason why we're mentioning it in the first place, Mint Fudge Swirl.
Planet Oat's Mint Fudge Swirl is one of the "white" mint chocolate ice creams, which tend to be the ones responsible for being called "toothpaste-y" by critics. This is because it leans more toward a spearmint flavor, while the green varieties tend to taste more like wintergreen or peppermint. That being said, if you are a spearmint fan, chances are you'll like this ice cream. The mint flavor isn't overpowering, thanks in part to the fudge swirl that offsets it, and the chocolate pieces are generous. It's also gluten free — a win for those with gluten sensitivities.
5. Goodie Girl Mint Cookies
Goodie Girl Cookies was founded in 2010 (via Forbes), and mint is one of several flavors of gluten-free cookie available from this company that was started by a New York mother in her own home kitchen. Other popular flavors include Chocolate Creme, S'mores, Animal Crackers, and even two flavors of breakfast biscuits.
But back to the mint chocolate situation: According to The Celiathlete, the one main difference between authentic Girl Scout Thin Mints and Goodie Girl's Mint Cookie is the type of chocolate — Girl Scouts uses dark chocolate, and Goodie Girl uses milk chocolate. Chances are, if you are a thin mint connoisseur, you will immediately notice this and have an opinion. On the other hand, thin mints are thin mints, and we'll take what we can get.
The Girl Scouts have attempted gluten-free cookies in the past, and they honestly haven't been great. Gluten-Free Living described Girl Scouts' Caramel Chocolate Chip cookie as dry and cakey with a salty aftertaste. Yum. So until the Girl Scouts wise up and produce a gluten-free Thin Mint — which Goodie Girl has proven can absolutely be done — then this is a worthy contribution to your cupboard.
4. Trader Joe's Mint Chip Ice Cream
There's just something so darn likeable about Trader Joe's. From clever marketing to creative products, the grocery chain always seems to have some of the best ideas paired with quality ingredients. Trader Joe's Mint Chip Ice Cream is no exception to this rule and is a delicious treat worth picking up.
Unlike most other mint chocolate chip ice creams, Trader Joe's variety isn't bright green. It looks more like a cool vanilla with scattered chocolate pieces. And about that chocolate — according to Freezer Meal Frenzy, this ice cream contains some legitimate chocolate chips. Many mint chocolate chip ice creams contain thin pieces or shavings of chocolate, but this brand delivers chunks that would stand on their own in terms of size, flavor, and texture if the ice cream were to melt away.
As per usual, Trader Joe's Mint Chip Ice Cream has whole ingredients and avoids artificial anything. It's made with cane sugar, coconut oil, peppermint extract, and several other ingredients that have familiar, pronounceable names and won't leave you wondering what you're putting into your body.
3. Keebler Fudge Shoppe Grasshopper Cookies
Keebler has been enticing customers with sweet commercials of busy baker elves in their cozy treehouse for decades. Those elves are actually pretty smart businesspeople, as Keebler is owned by the Ferrero Group — a huge corporation that makes everything from Mother's to Famous Amos cookies and owns Little Brownie Bakers — one of the official makers of Girl Scout cookies. Keebler also makes Grasshopper Cookies — a combination of mint and fudge that results in a soft, patty-like treat.
Those old enough to have been cookie eaters in the 1980s may recall the original version of Keebler's Grasshopper Cookies, which, according to In the 80s, resembled Mint Oreos. Today's version is dipped in a fudge coating and is free of green filling — it is dark in color throughout. Some consider these Grasshopper Cookies to be the closest thing to a Girl Scout Thin Mint that you can get year-round, as evidenced by reviews on Amazon that mention the famous cookie repeatedly. This makes sense due to the aforementioned fact that Keebler is under the same corporate umbrella as Little Brownie Bakers. Could it be that Thin Mints have been readily available all year long under the guise of some treehouse elves?
2. Baskin-Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Baskin-Robbins is simply the boss when it comes to ice cream, and this includes the controversial but ever-available Mint Chocolate Chip. If you ever peruse the ice cream section of your local grocery store, there is no shortage of mint chocolate chip ice cream options, as every manufacturer seems to have some skin in the game. But Baskin-Robbins is consistently one of the best.
Mint Chocolate Chip was one of the original 31 flavors that were sold when Baskin-Robbins debuted in 1945. Decades later, it's still for sale at every single shop. One of the reasons it's such a big win? Texture. The strong majority of mint chocolate chip ice creams use chocolate chips, flakes, or shavings. According to the chain's official website, Baskin-Robbins does things a little differently by using what the company refers to as Liquid Chip. This is melted down chocolate that is poured into the mint ice cream and then hardens as it mixes in. The end result is the assurance of chocolate in every bite. The same process is used for Baskin-Robbins' Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.
There are many frozen treats available using Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Besides the grocery store pints available, most Baskin-Robbins shops offer Mint Chocolate Chip milkshakes, Polar Pizzas, and ice cream cakes.
1. Kit Kat Duos Mint and Dark Chocolate
Kit Kats have been around longer than most of us can remember, and this famous shareable candy is undoubtedly delicious with its crispy wafer cookie and milk chocolate. However, in recent years, Kit Kat has upped its game with some new candy flavors known as Kit Kat Duos. These include three different varieties — Mocha and Milk Chocolate, Strawberry and Dark Chocolate, and Mint and Dark Chocolate.
The Mint and Dark Chocolate Kit Kat is already different in flavor from a traditional Kit Kat simply because it uses dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, which helps to offset the strength of the mint. According to Junk Banter, this candy also places the mint creme on the top of the cookie, instead of in the center as many mint chocolate treats do. The wafer is placed between the mint and chocolate, and this layering method just really works. They taste great, as the mint and chocolate aren't battling it out for dominant flavor.