Chocolate Mint Crisps Food

CRISPY CHOCOLATE-MINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt together in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract if using, and beat until just combined. Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until combined. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead several times with your hands to bring the dough together. Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate to chill slightly, about 10 minutes (or refrigerate half the dough and freeze the other half for later use).
• Generously dust a work surface with flour. Place one half of the dough on top and dust with more flour. Roll out into a round slightly less than 1/4-inch thick and about 14 inches in diameter, adding a little more flour as necessary to prevent sticking. If the dough cracks, press it back together with your fingers and smooth with the rolling pin. Use a 2 1/2- to 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Transfer the cookies one of the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1/2 inch between each cookie. Gather the scraps and refrigerate. Repeat with the second half of the dough.
• Bake, rotating the position of the baking sheets halfway through, until slightly puffed and a shade darker on the underside, about 10 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely (the cookies will crisp as they cool).
• Gather all of the dough scraps together and roll out in the same manner. Cut out cookies and bake. Discard any remaining scraps.

CHOCOLATE MINT CANDY

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips with 1 cup milk. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Spread half into a waxed paper-lined 8-in. square pan; chill for 10 minutes or until firm. , Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan over low heat, cook and stir candy coating with remaining milk until coating is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in peppermint extract and food coloring. Spread over bottom layer; chill for 10 minutes or until firm. , Warm remaining chocolate mixture if necessary; spread over mint layer. Chill for 2 hours or until firm. Remove from pan; cut into 1-in. squares.

MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, extract, food color and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in creme de menthe baking chips and chocolate chunks.
• Using small cookie scoop or teaspoon, drop dough 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Serve warm or cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat over to 375 degrees F.
• Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in a large bowl until creamy.
• Add eggs; beat well.
• Stir together flour, cocoa and baking soda.
• Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture beating until well blended.
• Add chocolate chips to batter.
• Drop by rounded teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
• Cool completely.

ENGLISH CHOCOLATE CRISPS

Steps:

• Chop the two chocolates and place 3/4 of them in a heat-proof bowl. Place the bowl in a microwave on high heat for 30 seconds, remove the bowl, and stir the chocolates vigorously with a wooden spoon. Continue heating and stirring the chocolates in 30-second intervals, switching to 15-second intervals as the chocolates start to melt, continuing to stir vigorously with a wooden spoon in between each heating. Heat only until the chocolates are just melted. Add the remaining quarter of the chocolates and stir vigorously until melted and smooth. (If the chocolate isn't completely melted, microwave it for another 5 or 10 seconds.)
• Place the cornflakes in a medium bowl, pour the chocolate mixture over the cornflakes, and immediately fold them together with a rubber spatula, being careful not to break up the cornflakes. You'll want to work quickly so the chocolate doesn't harden. Fold in the cranberries.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Working with 2 soup spoons, spoon 8 mounds of chocolate crisps onto the paper. Set aside at room temperature to cool completely until hardened. Peel the crisps off the paper and serve.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT SNAPS

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment and mix the sugar with the peppermint essence. When the chocolate has melted, cool for 1 min, mix with the sugar, then pour into the tray. Spread to a very thin layer and chill until completely firm. Snap into shards to serve. Perfect as a garnish for puddings or with an after-dinner coffee.