The flavors of mint chocolate chip ice cream meet cookie dough in this creamy frosting that mint lovers will adore.
Food is more than a pastime for me—it’s my job and my passion—so recipes and flavor combinations are always on my mind. I keep an ongoing list of things I want to try in the kitchen: new techniques, cookbook recommendations, and tweaks to classic desserts. Sometimes those ideas sit on the list for months before I finally test them.
One of those ideas started as a simple curiosity while browsing online. I found a cream cheese cookie dough frosting I wanted to make, and then a new thought popped into my head: what if I married that cookie dough frosting with the bright, refreshing flavors of mint chocolate chip ice cream? The result was a creamy, slightly chewy, mint-forward frosting studded with mini chocolate chips that tastes like a scoop of mint chip folded into a cookie dough cloud.
December was a busy month, so the idea waited until St. Patrick’s Day when green desserts are suddenly everywhere. I used the cream cheese cookie dough frosting as the base and added mint extract and green food coloring for both flavor and color. The mint extract can be adjusted: 1/2 teaspoon gives a noticeable mint note, while 1/4 teaspoon keeps the taste subtle. I loved the 1/2 teaspoon balance—bright but not overpowering.
I piped (actually scooped) the frosting onto plain chocolate cupcakes, and the combination was a hit with my family. If you prefer a more classic pairing, this frosting is lovely on vanilla, chocolate, or even coffee cupcakes. Because the frosting is rich and generous, it can cover 9 to 12 cupcakes depending on how lavishly you apply it. If you spoon it on like an ice cream scoop you may have enough for about nine, but if you frost more sparingly you should frost a full dozen.
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting
Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 5 oz unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4–1/2 tsp mint extract, depending on how strong you want it
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- green food coloring, to tint the frosting
- 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together until light and creamy. Scrape the sides as needed for an even texture.
- Add the brown sugar and beat until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Add 2 tablespoons of milk, the vanilla extract, and the mint extract. Beat to combine.
- Mix in the flour until blended, then add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, beating until smooth between additions. If the frosting becomes too stiff, add up to 1 additional tablespoon of milk to reach your desired consistency.
- Add green food coloring a little at a time until you reach the shade you want, then beat the frosting for 30–60 seconds to fully combine.
- Fold in the mini chocolate chips by hand so they distribute evenly throughout the frosting.
- Use immediately to frost cupcakes, cookies, or bars, or store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Bring to room temperature and rewhip briefly before piping if chilled.
Recipe Notes
This recipe makes enough frosting to generously top 12 cupcakes if you pipe a typical mound. If you mound the frosting with an ice-cream scoop, you may have enough for about 9 cupcakes. The mint extract amount is adjustable to taste.
Adapted from a cream cheese cookie dough frosting recipe originally shared online.
More Mint Favorites
Mint Cookies and Cream Brownies — a brownie with mint cookie pieces and a mint frosting for a layered chocolate-mint treat.
Homemade Junior Mints — a simple homemade candy version of the classic mint chocolate bite.
Chocolate Mint Cupcakes — chocolate cupcakes topped with a smooth mint Swiss meringue buttercream for an elegant mint-forward dessert.
Around the Web
Chocolate Mint Fudge Crumb Bars; Mint Chip Cake Roll; Mint Chocolate Chip Frosted Brownies — a few inspired mint desserts to explore if you’re looking for more mint-and-chocolate combinations in your baking.