Copycat Junior Mints

Yay, movie theater candy! For some kids, the promise of a special sweet treat when the lights turn low is the best part of movie night. And while there’s nothing like dressing up and heading out to the theater, it’s amazing what you can do to transform an ordinary dinner at home around the TV into an evening of movie magic.

We love this Copycat Junior Mints recipe because it does a great job recreating that iconic burst of minty chocolate we always cherished as kids. Plus, this version is a lot healthier than the original and pretty easy to whip up with no extra sugar and just 4 ingredients! You can use refined or unrefined coconut oil for this recipe. Just know the unrefined oil will have a coconut taste. Make sure to get an early start on the prep work — these cool candies will need to chill in the fridge a bit before showtime.

Makes:

60 mints

Hands-on time:

30 minutes

Start-to-eat time:

2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

6 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
3 tablespoons honey
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Kids kitchen skills:

mixing
shaping
dipping & setting

Tools:

measuring cups & spoons
small bowl & spoon
tray(s) & parchment
plastic wrap (optional)

Step-by-step

Grown-up steps

In a small mason jar, add the melted coconut oil, honey, and mint extract. Shake hard for 30 seconds, or until the mixture looks smooth. Cover and chill for 2 hours to help it firm up.
Use a strong ¼ teaspoon to measure out small round pieces of the coconut oil mixture. Shape and place each ball on a parchment-lined tray. Cover and chill for 1 more hour.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and heat them in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until melted. Let the mixture cool a bit before you move on so it doesn’t melt the mint balls.
Take the mint balls out of the fridge. Use a small spoon to dip each one in the chocolate and set it back on the tray. Then freeze the covered mints for another 15 minutes, and serve!