Grown-Up Girl Scout Hot Chocolate

It happens every year. We're met with doe-eyed, sweet innocence and asked if we would like to buy cookies. Whether we'd feel guilty about turning down such apple-cheeked youngsters or we've got a slight obsession with the thin, crispy cookies we all know by name (even if we're reluctant to call them by their newer, more politically-correct names), we buy them. The ordering of a box of Girl Scout cookies is one of the most exciting, anticipatory events of the year - we are assured that, in just a few short weeks, we will be receiving sweet goodness.... which will undoubtedly disappear within the span of a day or two.


Last week, whispers of receiving boxes of GS cookies floated around Twitter. I was jealous. "When are you getting the cookies???" A question I'd pester Eric with at least twice daily for about five days straight. And finally, they came. They came last Friday, and let's just say there was already a missing row of Samoas (excuse me, "Carmel DeLights"....) by the time the box arrived home.


Now, it takes everything I've got not to tear into those boxes and polish them off in one sitting. Don't judge - I know a few of you out there have done the same. But this year, I wanted to do something different. I wanted to enjoy my cookies, but with a new twist.


Obviously the only rational thing to do was to take these symbols of youthful innocence and goodwill and slather them with a little adult beverage.

Just look at those happy little girls, having the time of their lives climbing a tree or whatever they're doing. And look what I've done - I've gone and slapped a bottle of Irish liqueur right by their pristine little faces.

I am horrible.

OK, so I've got the cookies, I've got the totally necessary alcohol, how do I combine the two? When it's nearing the end of February and the temperatures are still barely climbing out the 20s, the answer is easy: Grown-Up Girl Scout Hot Chocolate.


I could've easily made this recipe for Girl Scout Cookie Irish Coffee, but then I wouldn't really be able to justify making my own whipped cream - so hot chocolate it was.


Pull up a chair and listen to a story of how I made Girl Scout cookies buzzworthy.


First, you mix up some cocoa powder, sugar and just a dash of salt.

Then, ad a bit of water and stir, stir, stir, until it boils.

Mmmm.... boiling chocolate....

Next, stir in four cups of milk, a little vanilla extract and a little mint extract. The result will look like the vat of chocolate Agustus Gloop fell into in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Try not to dive in, yourself.

Now that the hot chocolate portion is finished, make sure you go ahead and dump some Irish liqueur in the mix.

Voila! The hot chocolate portion is complete! Now, on to the fresh cookie whipped cream.


Take some whipping cream and, well, whip it! And whip it good!

Continue whipping until peaks just begin to form. Then, add in confectioner's sugar and vanilla extract. Continue to whip that until stiff peaks have formed.

And now to the good part: Take about 8-10 Thin Mint cookies and send them on a whirl through a food processor so they end up nicely ground.

Then, add the ground cookies to the whipped cream and stir until well combined. It should look a bit like cookies 'n cream ice cream.

Finally, plop a nice ol' lump of mint cookie whipped cream on top of your hot chocolate. Sprinkle with additional cookie crumbles, and garnish with a whole Thin Mint cookie.

Kick back and enjoy all the creamy, cookie, boozy goodness.

You know, I guess you don't HAVE to lace your hot chocolate with Irish liqueur - if that's not your bag, leave it out! But for a saucy twist, I definitely recommend it.

Grown-Up Girl Scout Hot Chocolate


For the hot chocolate:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
dash of salt
1/3 cup hot water
4 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon mint extract
one shot Irish liqueur (or more if you're feeling feisty... or none if you're not!)


For the whipped cream:
1 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies, crushed


Mix sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a saucepan, add hot water and begin stirring constantly. After the mixture boils, continue stirring while boiling two additional minutes. Add the milk and continue stirring until hot chocolate reaches desired heat level. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract and mint extract. Mix in shot of Irish liqueur.
In a cold metal bowl, whip whipping cream on high until peaks begin to form. Add confectioner's sugar and vanilla extract and continue whipping until stiff peaks form. Finally, add in crushed cookies and whisk until combined. Be sure not to overwhip, as the consistency will become buttery, rather than fluffy.
Spoon whipped cream on top of hot chocolate, top with additional cookie crumbles and garnish with a full Thin Mint cookie, if desired.