Chocolate Mint Snowcaps Food

CHOCOLATE MINT SNOWCAPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• With a spoon, mix dry cake mix, oil and eggs in a large bowl until dough forms. Work out any clumps of mix with spoon.
• Stir in mint chocolate chips.
• Using a tablespoon, scoop dough and shape into 1 inch balls. Roll in confectioner's sugar.
• Place cookies about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes until set. Tops will appear cracked.
• After one minute, remove cookies from baking sheet and place on a wire rack to cool.

CHOCOLATE COVERED SNOW PEAKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites on medium speed with the whisk attachment until the whites become foamy. Add the cream of tartar and turn up the speed to medium, beating until just fluffy. Add the sugar gradually, while whisking, so it incorporates into the whites slowly without collapsing them. Once all the sugar has been added, add the vanilla and increase the speed to high, whisking until the meringue is firm and glossy, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Place the meringue into a piping bag with a medium-size round tip attached. Pipe 48 bite-size tear-drop-shaped meringues onto the sheets and place in the oven. Bake for 1 hour undisturbed, and then turn off the heat and leave in the oven overnight to really dry out.
• Melt the chocolate over a double-boiler or in the microwave on medium power for 30 seconds. Holding each meringue by the peak, dip the bases in chocolate so the bottom half of the meringue is coated. Let any excess chocolate drip off before placing on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Allow to set at room temperature; do not put in the fridge. Once set, store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE MINT SNOW TOP COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine flour, baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt, set aside.
• In a saucepan heat 1 cup of chocolate pieces over low heat until melted, stirring constantly.
• Beat butter with a mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in granulated sugar until combined. Add in melted chocolate, eggs, vanilla, and mint flavoring. Mix until combined.
• Stir in flour mixture and remaining chocolate pieces.
• Wrap dough in plastic wrap.
• Freeze 30 minutes or until firm enough to shape.
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Shape dough into 1" balls; roll balls in powdered sugar. Place balls about 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops are crackled.
• Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet.
• Transfer to wire racks; cool.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN SNOWCAPS

Steps:

• Melt white chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until chocolate is smooth.
• Beat butter and 1 cup sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer 5 minutes or until fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended. Add vanilla, beating well. Add melted chocolate, and beat 30 seconds.
• Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in walnuts. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets.
• Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Freeze, if desired.

CHOCOLATE-ESPRESSO SNOWCAPS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, sift the flour, espresso, cocoa, baking powder and salt.
• Don't skip the sifting process.
• If you are using instant coffee, be sure to press the coffee pieces through the sieve so they become smaller grains that are totally incorporated into the cookies.
• With an electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
• Beat in egg until combined; mix in cooled chocolate.
• With mixer on low, add flour a little at a time.
• Then beat in milk until just combined.
• The dough will be very wet-- flatten it into a disk and wrap it in plastic wrap, then freeze until firm.
• That takes about 45 minutes, but you can freeze it longer if you want to make the cookies the next day.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees farenheit.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment or foil.
• Shape dough into one-inch balls.
• The dough is still messy, so it helps to roll very fast, and sprinkle a little powdered sugar on your hands between cookies.
• Pour powdered sugar (about 1/2 cup) into a medium bowl.
• Working with a few cookies at a time, roll the balls in sugar two times.
• Make sure they are completely coated and no dark dough is visible.
• Place on baking sheets 2 inches apart, and bake until cookies have spread and coating is cracked, about 12 minutes.
• Cookies will still be soft to the touch, but do not overbake.
• Cool cookies on a wire rack.

CHOCOLATE MINT MUFFINS

Steps:

• Sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt into medium bowl; stir to mix.
• In another bowl, combine egg, milk and butter, beat to mix well.
• Pour egg mixture into flour mixture; mix until moistened.
• Be careful not to overmix.
• Gently fold in candies.
• Lightly grease 12 muffin cups or line with cupcake liners.
• Place about 1/4 cup batter into each cup.
• Bake in a pre-heated 375°F oven for 15-18 minutes, or until top of muffins are slightly firm.
• Remember toothpick won't necessarily work because of the melted chocolate.
• Cool in pan for 5 minutes.
• Place on wire rack to cool completely.