Spinning stories
“What’s a record?” asked a niece.
Finally, something I know about. Not kidding here. I’ve been helping with homework for the past couple of months and here’s what I’ve learned: I am NOT smarter than a fourth grader. Lattice multiplication? Honestly.
We headed to the basement for a trip back in time. Before too long, I started waxing nostalgic about unusual food that my mom used to make. She also had a thing for Girl Scout cookies and would buy hundreds of boxes each year. Hundreds. Mostly thin mints that promptly went into a basement freezer. Of course, that was back in the day before BOTH of us were diagnosed with celiac disease.
Regular Girl Scout cookies are off limits now, but before anyone starts thinking, “poor you for missing out” – I was very lucky to get diagnosed. Stayin’ Alive is awesome. My mom, however, is suffering the consequences of decades of undiagnosed celiac disease – severe osteoporosis, arthritis, thyroid issues, etc. . . . but she’s glad to get her mint cookie fix once again. And she still enjoys the Bee Gees. Must run in the family because one of the nieces just said:
“I want to listen to The Bee Gees over and over for the rest of my life.”
I’m sorry/you’re welcome
Adding natural peppermint oil to the cookie dough will make your cookies even better than the real thing. Unless you want to share these gems, you should definitely hide your finished cookies in the freezer.
Gluten Free Thin Mints
Combine the following ingredients in a large bowl:
1 and 1/2 cups gluten-free flour*
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 and ½ teaspoons xanthan gum
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
Then add in and mix until crumbly:
½ cup Spectrum organic shortening
In large cup combine the following, then add to large bowl:
1 egg
½ cup sugar
½ teaspoon each pure vanilla extract and natural peppermint oil
Let dough rest in fridge for about an hour. Then roll out using powdered sugar to keep dough from sticking to work surface. Cut into shapes as needed. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
*From rice blend: 6 cups rice flour, 2 cups potato starch, 1 cup tapioca starch
Mint cookies waiting for a dip to finish.
Now for the good stuff.
Melt good quality chocolate in a microwave safe bowl or over a double boiler. Remove from heat. Keep stirring until chocolate has cooled to the touch but is still warm enough to melt two large handfuls of additional chocolate chunks. Stir until new chunks are melted and combined. This is the easiest way to fake-temper chocolate. Add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil per 12 ounces of chocolate. If you like your cookies extra minty, add a bit more peppermint oil.
Working quickly, dunk cookies into chocolate, using a fork to turn and completely coat each cookie. If you must heat chocolate again, do it gently. Not too hot, okay? Knock off excess chocolate by gently tapping the edge of bowl before placing cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cooling completely at room temperature will give you the best finish.
Hand dipped chocolate mint cookies take time. But they’re much more satisfying than the mass produced, partially hydrogenated version.
Still here? Today’s Let’s Lunch on twitter features music inspired posts from a band of talented writers and cooks. Take a look at the delicious posts rounded up by host Cheryl Tan from A Tiger in the Kitchen. Special thanks to Corey Woodruff for taking the cookie pics above.
Thin mints
- The Kitchen Trials: Coconut Cake
- Hot Curries & Cold Beer: A Song and Recipe of Remembrance for Rashda’s Dad
- Cowgirl Chef: “Teach Me Tiger” Cakes
- Monday Morning Cooking Club: Hukilau and Coconut and Macadamias
- ShowFood Chef: Jazzy Blues and Chicken and Dumplings
- Beyond the Plate: Django Reinhardt & Pear Frangipane Tart
- GeoFooding: Singing the Blues over Just One Meatball
- Spicebox Travels: Buena Vista Social Club, Frijoles, Platanos and Mojitos
- Burnt-Out Baker: Rockin’ Chili Burgers
- The Asian Grandmother’s Cookbook: Purple Rice Pudding with Rose Water Dates
- Patrick G. Lee: Exeter College Organ Music and the Munchies
How deep is your love?
– Linda 
Free Range Cookies 
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These look wonderful. I am also familiar with having to explain what a record is and having to pretend I understand how 4th grade math is taught. Sigh.
Sad when you have to google during homework sessions. But I sneak away and do it when no one is looking.
These look delicious!
Great story — and the BeeGees are always worthy of inspiration, aren’t they? They just don’t make ’em like that anymore…
Looks like an amazing recipe, too — thank you! 🙂
It is nice to know that some of the best things in the world spring from inspirational people like the BeeGees. I still have to get started on desserts but this is wonderful!
I’ve spent the last few weeks hunting the internet for a Thin Mint recipe — and then yours drops, Freshly Pressed, into my lap. Thank you so much!
oh this awesome! And perfectly in time for valentine’s day!
In the last year or so, I’ve move to a gluten free baking style. I’m now in the process of applying that to all foods – not just sweets 🙂 Can’t wait to try this recipe!!! Thanks for sharing
THIS is amazing!
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Very clever title and post!
I thought the tag line read “Free Range Cooties” and wanted to see what that was about. Happily I discovered a recipe (without cooties) I can pass along to a family member who has Celiac. Thanks!
LOL! No cooties here.
I really enjoyed seeing two of my favorite things in one post !
You’re my hero… I’ll have an answer when those Girl Scout cookies show up in my office next year!
Reblogged this on eleventyeleven.
I imagine that these are a welcome addition to the daily cookie routine. (Homemade) Thin Mints are so good.
So tasty! I am glad the Bee Gees inspired you to do them. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
This isn’t “Jive Talkin”, is it? These look amazing! This is “Too Much Heaven”. I gotta try these out!
Hilarious!
those are some beautiful cookies! and i consider myself a cookie connoisseur 😉
Awesome recipe!!! Mint and chocolate are an amazing combo. Can’t wait to try this out!
Mmmm, looks good. When I was in highschool, somebody asked me if I knew what a record was. I said, “Yes, they look like giant pieces of disc camera film”. Don’t ask how I know what those look like.
I freakin’ love thin mint cookies and now I can have my cookie and eat it too. Thank you for the recipe
val
http://valentinedefrancis.wordpress.com
I love finding new gluten free recipes. Thanks for reminding me about the Bee Gees! http://www.thisblogisforwomen.com
Thank you thank you thank you…I must eat gluten free and I feel like Christmas now that you have posted a gluten free thin mint cookie!!!! Thank you.
You’re welcome. It was nice of wordpress to feature it!
The Bee Gees was my favorite.
Thank u for the recipes I have to try them .
Looks amazing! Will definitely give this a try!
Love the recipe, thank you so much. I will try this out. My daughter is highly allergic to Wheat/gluten, sesame and nuts, she is very picky with sweets – a good thing, but every now and then I would like to bake her something nice. I am trying to be gluten and dairy free as well and I feel so much better from it, none of that horrid bloating either 🙂 anytime I find a new gluten free recipe I want to try it. Will let you know how I go.
Always glad to find a tasty well-put-together gluten free recipe.
Thanks for sharing.
I’m a math teacher and lattice multiplication is utterly ridiculous! Some middle school teacher thought they were being a hot shot when they really just made kids take longer to do a multiplication problem then they used to. It’s crazy!
I apologize for my mini rant there. It just makes me so mad! But anyways thanks for the recipe it looks really good and I can’t wait to try it!
No apologies needed. I was wondering about that lattice multiplication. Mostly, why? Made my brain ache to “help” with a whole page of homework. And, it gave me the oddest dreams/nightmares ever.
I can only imagine those dreams asI have had quite a few myself! I cringe every time I see my freshman using it!
So fun! Love thin mints and I can’t wait to try.
These look delicious! 🙂
It looks delicious, i think i can try it at home
Oh, I am in heaven. My life is a barren wasteland of gluten free ness. Oh I hope I can make this recipe half this good. The world must begin to reshape itself without so much gluten.
Well, I do like mp3 players, but how I miss vinyl.
Wow! Yummy, yum, yum!
thanks for this recipe hope i would make this cookies…its very helpful to me by seeing this i get hungry oh
Wow what a recipe! it is always good for health and maintains constant energy in body………
A taste recipe!
A recipe which we can use in times of celebrations…………
Going to try these using Splenda instead of sugar to semi keep within my Dukan diet rules 🙂 It was SO hard being the grandma to a Girl Scout the past few weeks!
yum ! i am going to show this to my friend who is celiac – she is also on the Paelo diet – makes for tricky decisions!
It is good to apply these principles to your beauty regimes too
check out my blog to see a DIY CREAM MASK
Hi,
I am new to the Gluten free flour.I am told it is good for health, but for blood glucose, I do not know.
The recipe looks new and it is making me curious to try it out. Many of the ingredients are unheard of in India, wish we get them here.
Thanks. I will continue to check for healthy recipes..
really an amazing recipe. I just loved it.its too YUMMYYYYYY>>….
That’s a very helpful post, thank you! 😀
I just checked some other of your past entries, and found that there are some glutten-free snack recipes… That’s inspirative. Keep up the good work on posting inspirative stuffs 🙂
On another note, I also recently made a blog and I aim to post inspirational entries too like yours (although it isn’t cooking! LOL), I’d greatly appreciate it if you want to pay a visit and leave a comment or two in my blog. 🙂
Have a good day!
Wow, glad your page was up on Freshly Pressed, will pass this onto my Mum for trying out!
hi ……… really i tried this stuff…….. this is cool to have
Thank you
Awesome post! Currently undergoing testing for Celiac’s….and I just ordered a bunch of thin mints, oh well, my neighbor will love them. 😦 I have always loved the idea of organic but the idea of processed foods causing health issues?…Last night was my first post on making Simple Changes for the better…I’ll be back for more inspiration!
Reblogged this on bitzandpiecesoflife and commented:
This is a really good blog that I follow. Awesome news about the Gluten Free Thin Mint Recipe. I have two grand-daughters and a son-in-law that have celiac disease, in varying degrees.
Looks yummy! I will have to try it.
and all the gluten-free peeps (like me) in our group say thanks!! 🙂
Awesome blog. I am actually going out to buy some mint chocolate. I am highly impressed.
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My hero! THANK YOU!! I’ve been missing these things ever since I was told no more gluten. 🙂
Reblogged this on Kmareka.com and commented:
In my attempt to get a little more vegan, I came across this great post and recipe which sounds totally delish…
Thin Mints and the Bee Gees are two of my favorite things. I am also in St. Louis, Gluten Free and feel your Lattice Multiplication pain! My kids can’t do regular multiplication with digit placement and it irks me to no end! I have tried teaching them and they say Lattice is so much easier. ???
I live in SoCo and don’t get north very often. I will have to make a point to come visit you and soon!
Oh wow. Misery loves company. I’d love to see you up in north county sometime!
yum! this is genius. thanks for sharing!
Reblogged this on WordPress Trends.
I am going to have to give these a try – they sound really good!
thank you a. for recognizing & sharing the greatness of the beegees b. for making my favorite girl scout cookie.
will these be available to the public?
as much as i know i want to make these, i am not sure when! and i must have at least a dozen to shove in my face, like now.
What a great idea! My mom used to buy thin mints too, but we never had the patience to freeze them all. We always would have them all in about 1- 2 sittings haha. But, seriously, what a great idea! My roommate tries to eat gluten free and happens to have a sweet tooth…I’ll have to try this recipe!
O wow! These look really really delicious! I will have to try these. Thank you.
wow superb.looking so delicious yummie.i would like to taste it………..
Oh wow, this looks so good…
They look nice! I wish I could bake, but my Grandma makes some amaaazing cakes and things so I guess I don’t really have to 😉
On another note, I’ve just discovered how to put hyperlinks in my blog after looking at yours, so thanks! (even though you didn’t know too much about it!)
It’s always nice to learn new things!
they look great!
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Reblogged this on Kiara Lane and commented:
so cool
I am so stoked. My 5 year old was recently diagnose with anxiety. I also have anxiety. My husband and I both have ADHD (mine is pretty severe). My daughter and my son both show signs of ADHD. We hit the interwebz hardcore after the psychiatrist put my daughter on Zoloft and she had a BAD reaction to it. We wanted to figure out something we can do that doesn’t require medication. After extensive research, we decided to try going gluten and casein free. So, today, I went to the commissary and stocked up on all things GFCF. I had no effing clue what to do with it. Now, I know. GF Thin Mints, FTW!
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I’ve got to try these! They look so, SO good! 😀
I always need a new gluten free recipe especially for desert. Thank you!
OMG, I can’t thank you enough for posting this recipe. I haven’t tried it yet, but anyone who listens to BeeGees, can’t eat gluten like me, love girl scout cookies and has managed to find a way to make the best of them without wheat is honorable in my opinion. Any idea how to make the caramel delites? Good luck!
Looks like I’ll have to find out what a caramel delite is . . .
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