Recipes using Thin Mints are so good! If you agree, you'll make this minty Key lime custard in a Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie crust. This fresh, creamy dessert is beautiful, unique and oh-so-tasty! As far as girl scout cookie recipes go, this one is a must try! 
UPDATE (March 11, 2017) -- This recipe won 1st place in the Greater Los Angeles Girl Scout Cookie Contest in conjunction with Melissa’s Produce. I guess recipes using thin mints are winners. 😉 You can see a few more of the entries here.
Girl Scout Cookie Season
I have a problem with Girl Scout cookies. I can’t stop eating them. I love them. The struggle is real!
Twice now I’ve had to send a text to my friend whose daughter sold us our first batch. The text asks that she please sneak a new box of Tagalongs into my mailbox, because my son is going to be so mad I ate them all! And I'm afraid I'll have to do this a third time!
Between the Tagalongs and Samoas — sheesh, I must get control of myself! Oh, and Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies are right up there, too. I mean, who doesn’t love a Thin Mint!? (You can check out all of the Girl Scout cookie recipes here.)
Meanwhile, I’m still a pretty healthy eater.
It's just a matter of balancing Girl Scout cookie season with my regular diet. 😉 
Melissa’s Produce is partnering with Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, and asked a handful of food bloggers if they wanted to create girl scout cookie recipes using their produce — um, of course!
I don't say no to too many delicious culinary requests or challenges.
This ultra delicious Thin Mint Key Lime Tart is what I came up with, and I love it!
The mint flavor with the fresh lime is bright and lovely, and comes to you in an incredibly creamy, rich custard that rests in a crisp crust made from the Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies. It's a perfect blend of flavors and textures.
And a couple more Girl Scout cookie recipes:
And another amazing tart recipe you don't want to miss is this Chocolate Tart with Pistachio Crust.
From the Girl Scouts of Los Angeles
Girl Scout Cookies are the ultimate feel-good treat because of what you support when you buy them! The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-run business in the world where girls gain leadership and business entrepreneurial skills. In fact, more than half of women in business are Girl Scout alumnae and say that the Girl Scout Cookie Program was beneficial to the development of their skills today.
- 2017 marks 100 years of Girl Scouts selling cookies to fuel their dreams!
- Girl Scout Cookies are on sale in Greater Los Angeles through March 12. Find a cookie sale near you by going to girlscoutcookies.org. Cookies are $5/box, except for the two specialty cookies: gluten-free Tofeetastic and non-GMO Girl Scout S'mores, which are $6/box.
- Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles social media -- Twitter & Instagram: @GirlScoutsLA / Facebook: facebook.com/GSGLA
This is not a sponsored post. I was sent Girl Scout cookies from the Girl Scouts of Los Angeles to test recipes using Thin Mints, and Key limes from Melissa's Produce for more recipe testing.
Thin Mint Key Lime Tart Recipe
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1 ¼ boxes Thin Mints Girl Scouts cookies (2 dozen cookies)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- zest of 2 Key limes
- 3 tablespoons Key lime juice, from about 5 Key limes
- 2 tablespoons green Crème de Menthe
- 6 large eggs
For the garnish
- 1 tablespoon Thin Mints Girl Scouts cookies, finely ground (saved from above)
- a few thin Key lime slices
- a few small mint leaves
Instructions
- Add the Thin Mints to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until they’re a fine powder. Remove 1 tablespoon and set it aside for garnish. Then add the rest to a medium-sized mixing bowl and stir in the melted butter. Mix until it’s evenly blended. Then using your hands, evenly press the mixture into a 9 ½-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Set aside.
- In a large, heat proof, medium-sized mixing bowl (stainless steel is great), whisk the cream cheese with the sugar. It’s best to use an electric mixer — for the smoothest possible result. Add the Key lime zest and juice, and Crème de Menthe. Mix again until smooth. Then, gradually add the eggs, one at a time, mixing between each addition.
- Place the bowl over a pot it fits snugly into, with a couple of inches of water in it. (Be sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.) Turn the heat to medium and whisking almost constantly, cook until the mixture is creamy and thick, like custard. This should take about 20 minutes. Remove it from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
- Pour the cooled custard into the prepared tart crust and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
- Sprinkle the reserved 1 tablespoon on top and add a few Key lime slices and mint leaves. Place the tart in the freezer for 30 minutes before slicing — it will be easier to cut this way.
NUTRITION
Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash
Yum! Valentina, I think you have a winner. It looks beautiful. Two of favorite things - mint and key lime pie together. Kowabunga!
valentina
You're so sweet, Patricia. And from you, the winner herself, I'll take that as a huge compliment. 🙂 Thank you. xo
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
The struggle against those evil Thin Mints is ENTIRELY REAL!
valentina
I know, right!?
sippitysup
We all know how good this will be! GREG
valentina
Oh it is! (IMHO!) 😉
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
I love pie more than I love girl scout cookies and it would be hard for me to control myself around this pie! Scrumptious!
valentina
I love that! 🙂
Luci's Morsels
This looks amazing! Thin mints! Key lime! Pie! Yum, yum, yum!
valentina
Thanks, Luci! I agree. 🙂
Brian Jones
That looks really good, mint and lime is a great combination, any room for white rum 😉
valentina
But of course! ;-). Thanks!
Pretty
I love key lime pie and the addition of mint is brillant.
valentina
Thank you! 🙂
Molly Kumar
OMG, you combined 2 of my fav things - Girls Scout Thin Mints + Key Lime !!! Its such an awesome match and I totally see myself making these as I do have 4 packs of Girl Scout cookies lying at home.
valentina
Thanks, Molly! I don't know how you have cookies you haven't eaten. Doesn't happen in my house. 😉 Enjoy!
David
What a fun recipe, Valentina! I actually did sort of the same thing... but completely different! My local troop sold me my cookies, and I created a tart shell using Trefoils. And the filling? You'll just have to wait till next January when I post it (to help promote sales in our area). Look forward to trying the mint/lime combination!
David
PS - I have to say that I think the Girl Scouts is one of the best and most empowering organizations on the planet! I am so glad Melissa's did this partnership!
valentina
Me too, David! My kids' friends who are Girl Scouts are quite independent and strong little women. 🙂
valentina
Oooh, can't wait to see what you made, David! My problem is always not eating all of the cookies before they make their way into a crust! ;-). xx
Cheryll Birnbaum
Key limes are so heavenly, my favorite dessert. This Key lime tart with mint crust -- I think the combination of Key lime tart and mint crust is so awesome. I want to try this. Thank you!!
valentina
Thank you so much, Cheryll! I hope you try it and love it!
Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash
Congratulations to the 2017 winner, Valentina. This Minty Chocolaty confection is brilliant. Now you need to enter the national Girl Scout Cookie contest with this winning recipe.
valentina
From you, that's a HUGE compliment. THANK YOU, Patricia! XOXO
Tara
Congratulations on winning first place! I can see why you won. This tart looks absolutely incredible!
valentina
Aww, thanks so much Tara! 🙂
K.C.
I can't wait to try this! A minty chocolate crust sounds WOW for the key lime. I have to have gluten free, so I use Goodie Girl Mint Slims. Maybe next year GS will come out with a gluten free thin mint.
valentina
Hi there! My son has Celiac and is GF, too. I'm so happy you mentioned the Goodie Slims -- I'm going to get them and make this for him. And thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Jere Cassidy
Well, who doesn't like those thin mints? Good use of them in this recipe.
valentina
I know, right!? Ha! Thank you. 🙂
Dannii
Big congratulations! I love a lime dessert - it always tastes so refreshing.
valentina
Thank you! I think citrus season is the best!
Chris
This looks absolutely gorgeous! Admittedly I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but think this could actually be incredibly tasty! Stunning photography too 🙂
valentina
Thanks so much Chris. I'm a bit jealous of anyone without much of a sweet tooth. My rules my life. 😉
Deb|EastofEdenCooking
What a winning recipe! Bravo Valentina! I also adore Thin Mints AND citrus desserts! A big fat slice of this fab tart would certainly make my day complete.
valentina
Aww thank you Deb! I've been LOVING all of the beautiful citrus on East of Eden!