Hello, Good News! If you are looking for a delicious and easy recipe to make frango mint cookies at home, you have come to the right place. Frango mint cookies are chocolate cookies with a minty filling that melt in your mouth. They are inspired by the famous frango mints, which are chocolate truffles with a mint flavor that were originally created by a department store in Seattle and later popularized by another department store in Chicago.
In this article, we will show you how to make frango mint cookies from scratch, using simple ingredients and a few steps. You will also learn some interesting facts about frango mints, their history, and their nutrition. By the end of this article, you will be able to impress your friends and family with these homemade frango mint cookies that taste just like the original ones.
What are Frango Mints?
The Origin of Frango Mints
Frango mints are a type of chocolate truffles that have a mint flavor and a smooth texture. They were first created in 1918 by the Frederick & Nelson department store in Seattle, Washington. The name frango comes from the combination of “Fr” from Frederick’s and “ango” from tango, which was a popular dance at the time. The frango mints were originally sold as a frozen dessert in the store’s tea room, and they came in different flavors such as maple and orange.
In 1929, the Chicago-based Marshall Field & Company bought Frederick & Nelson and acquired the frango mints recipe. They started making their own version of frango mints in their candy kitchen on the 13th floor of their flagship store on State Street. They also introduced new flavors such as dark chocolate and raspberry. The frango mints became a signature product of Marshall Field’s and a beloved treat for many Chicagoans.
The Popularity of Frango Mints
Frango mints gained popularity across the country as Marshall Field’s expanded its stores and distribution. They were especially popular during the holidays, when they were sold in elegant boxes and tins as gifts. Many people also enjoyed visiting the store’s window displays, which featured piles of frango mints and other festive decorations. Frango mints became a symbol of Chicago’s culture and tradition.
In 2005, Marshall Field’s was acquired by Macy’s, which caused some controversy among loyal customers who wanted to preserve the store’s name and identity. Macy’s continued to sell frango mints under its own brand, but also licensed them to other retailers such as Garrett Popcorn Shops. In 2017, Garrett Popcorn Shops bought the rights to sell frango mints from Macy’s and started producing them in its own facilities. Today, frango mints are still available in various flavors and sizes at Macy’s, Garrett Popcorn Shops, and online.
How to Make Frango Mint Cookies
The Ingredients for Frango Mint Cookies
To make frango mint cookies, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of butter
- 1/2 cup of shortening
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup of frango mints, grated or finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 3/4 cup of nuts, chopped (optional)
- 1 1/2 cup of frango mints, chopped
- 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
You can use any type of frango mints for this recipe, such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or mint chocolate. You can also use regular chocolate chips instead of frango mints if you prefer.
The Steps for Making Frango Mint Cookies
To make frango mint cookies, you will need to follow these steps:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and grated frango mints and beat until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.
- Fold in the nuts and chopped frango mints.
- Drop heaping teaspoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between them.
- Bake for 8 to 11 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy your frango mint cookies or store them in an airtight container for up to a week.
A Table Breakdown of Frango Mint Cookies
To help you understand the nutritional value and cost of making frango mint cookies, we have prepared a table breakdown for you. The table shows the amount, calories, and price of each ingredient, as well as the total for the whole recipe and per cookie. The prices are based on the average online prices as of December 2021 and may vary depending on your location and source. The calories are based on the USDA FoodData Central database and may vary depending on the brand and type of ingredient.
| Ingredient | Amount | Calories | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butter | 1/2 cup | 814 | $0.75 |
| Shortening | 1/2 cup | 908 | $0.50 |
| Brown sugar | 1 cup | 720 | $0.40 |
| White sugar | 1/2 cup | 387 | $0.20 |
| Eggs | 2 | 144 | $0.30 |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon | 12 | $0.10 |
| Frango mints (grated) | 1/4 cup | 210 | $1.00 |
| Baking soda | 1 teaspoon | 0 | $0.01 |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon | 0 | $0.01 |
| Nuts (optional) | 3/4 cup | 530 | $2.00 |
| Frango mints (chopped) | 1 1/2 cup | 1260 | $6.00 |
| All-purpose flour | 2 1/4 cups | 990 | $0.30 |
| Total for recipe (makes 64 cookies) | 5975 | $11.57 | |
| Total per cookie | 93 | $0.18 |