Chocolate Mint Meltaways Food

CHOCOLATE MINT MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• Place a roughly 9- by 9-inch sheet of parchment or wax paper on a cutting board. Set it aside. Lightly grease the baking pan with the cooking spray, and line it with a piece of parchment or wax paper that extends a few inches over two ends of the baking pan (you'll use these ends as handles to lift the candy out after it's set). Set aside.
• Combine the chocolate and coconut oil in a medium-size heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a small saucepan of simmering water and stir frequently with the heatproof spatula until melted and completely combined. (Alternatively, place the chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high for 30 seconds. Stir, then microwave in 10-second intervals, stirring with the spatula between intervals, until the chocolate and coconut oil are melted and combined.)
• Add the peppermint oil and salt to the chocolate mixture and stir well with the spatula to combine. Pour the mixture into the lined baking pan, spreading it evenly with the spatula. Allow it to sit until firm to the touch, about 2 hours.
• Once the meltaways have set, run a sharp chef's knife along the unlined edges of the pan and lift the slab of candy out of the baking sheet. Gently turn it out onto the parchment-lined cutting board and cut it into 1-inch squares.
• Place the confectioner's sugar, in a small bowl and dredge the candy pieces in it until evenly coated on all sides.
• Store the meltaways in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Excerpted from The Liddabit Sweets Candy Cookbook (Workman) by Liz Gutman and Jen King. Looking for more dessert ideas? Check out our homemade chocolate chip cookie recipes, apple pie recipes, and chocolate cake recipes.

PEPPERMINT MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. In another bowl, whisk flour and cornstarch; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes or until firm enough to handle., Preheat oven to 350°. Shape dough into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in milk, extract and, if desired, food coloring. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over cookies; sprinkle with crushed candies. Store in an airtight container.

FUDGE MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• Melt 1/2 cup butter or margarine and 1 square unsweetened chocolate in saucepan. Blend granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, egg, crumbs, coconut and nuts into butter-chocolate mixture. Mix well.
• Press into ungreased baking dish, 11 1/2 x 7 1/2 inch or square 9 x 9 inch pan. Refrigerate.
• Mix 1/4 cup butter, milk, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Spread over crumb mixture. Chill.
• Melt 1-1/2 squares sweetened chocolate and spread evenly over chilled filling. Chill again. Cut into small squares before completely firm.

CHOCOLATE MINT MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• For cookies: Preheat oven to 350°F Butter 2 heavy large cookie sheets. Using electric mixer, cream butter and extracts in medium bowl until light. Beat in sugar. Beat in half of flour. Stir in remaining flour. Roll the dough into small balls and flatten them slighty. Bake until golden brown on edges, about 12 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and cool.
• For ganache: Bring cream and butter to simmer in heavy small saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate and stir until smooth. Mix in extract. Refrigerate just until firm enough to spread, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Line 2 cookie sheets with foil. Using small metal icing spatula, spread 1 teaspoon ganache over flat side 1 cookie. Arrange ganache side up on prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ganache is firm, about 30 minutes.
• For coating: Melt bittersweet chocolate and vegetable shortening in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from over water.
• Grasp cookie on sides and dip ganache side into bittersweet chocolate; shake cookie to remove excess chocolate. Place cookie on same sheet, chocolate side down. Repeat with remaining cookies. Chill until chocolate sets, 30 minutes. Remove cookies from foil.
• (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Refrigerate in single layers in airtight containers. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.).

MINT MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• With electric mixer cream butter till light and fluffy.
• Add mints; mix well.
• Add flour; blend well at low speed.
• Cover and chill for 1 hour.
• On waxed paper, pat chilled dough to a 9-inch square.
• Sprinkle dough with sugar.
• Cut into 1-1/2" squares.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Using small cookie cuter or floured thimble, lightly press a design on the surface of each cookie.
• Bake at 325 for 15-18 minutes, or until pale golden brown.
• Do not overbake.
• Cool on cookie sheet 3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.
• Store tightly covered.

CHOCOLATE CHIP MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• Combine first five ingredients in a large bowl. Beat until smooth.
• Combine flour, soda, creams of tarter, and salt.
• Add to butter mixture. Beat until smooth. Stir in vanilla and chocolate chips.
• Shape mixture into 1" balls. Roll in granulated sugar.
• Put 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 395 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
• Cool.

BAVARIAN MINT FUDGE

Steps:

• Line an 11x7-in. baking pan with foil. Grease the foil with 1-1/2 teaspoons butter; set aside. , In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, milk and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Microwave on high 1 minute; stir. Microwave on high stirring every 30 seconds until chips are just melted, 1-2 minutes longer. Stir in extracts (fudge mixture will not be glossy). Spread into prepared pan. Refrigerate until set., Using the foil, lift fudge out of the pan. Discard foil; cut fudge into 1-in. squares. Store in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE MINT MELT-AWAYS

Steps:

• For cookies:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 2 heavy large cookie sheets. Using electric mixer, cream butter and extracts in medium bowl until light. Beat in sugar. Beat in half of flour. Stir in remaining flour. Spoon half of dough into pastry bag fitted with no. 4 star tip. Pipe 2 1/2-inch-long ovals with solid centers on prepared cookie sheet, spacing cookies 1/2 inch apart. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake until golden brown on edges, about 12 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and cool.
• For ganache:
• Bring cream and butter to simmer in heavy small saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate and stir until smooth. Mix in extract. Refrigerate just until firm enough to spread, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Line 2 cookie sheets with foil. Using small metal icing spatula, spread 1 teaspoon ganache over flat side 1 cookie. Arrange ganache side up on prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ganache is firm, about 30 minutes.
• For coating:
• Melt bittersweet chocolate and vegetable shortening in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from over water.
• Dip 1 end of 1 cookie into bittersweet chocolate. Grasp cookie on sides and dip ganache side into bittersweet chocolate; shake cookie to remove excess chocolate. Place cookie on same sheet, chocolate side down. Repeat with remaining cookies. Chill until chocolate sets, 30 minutes. Remove cookies from foil. (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Refrigerate in single layers in airtight containers. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.)

CHOCOLATE MINT MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• COOKIES:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt over hot (not boiling) water, 1 cup of mint chocolate chips; stir until smooth.
• Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, and egg yolk.
• Beat until creamy.
• Add melted chips and flour; beat until well blended.
• Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake at 350 degrees F. for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Allow to stand for 3 minutes before removing from cookie sheets.
• Cool completely on wire racks.
• GLAZE:
• Combine over hot (not boiling) water the remaining 1/2 cup of mint-chocolate chips and vegetable shortening.
• Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.
• Drizzle each cookie with 1/2 t of the glaze; sprinkle with almonds.
• Chill until set.
• Stor in airtight container in the refrigerator.