Chocolate Mint Surprises Food

MINT CHOCOLATE BONBONS

Steps:

• Spray a 24-count mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place an approximately 20-inch-long piece of plastic wrap over the muffin pan, leaving about 4 inches of excess plastic hanging over the ends of the pan. Press the plastic into each cup of the pan, making sure the cups are completely lined with the plastic wrap.
• Using a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon measure, scoop about 1 1/2 tablespoons ice cream into each muffin cup so they are filled to the top. Place a chocolate cookie on top of each ice cream-filled muffin cup and gently press down. Freeze until the ice cream hardens, about 3 hours.
• Place a wire rack over a baking sheet. Line a second baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Carefully remove the plastic wrap from the muffin pan to release the bonbons from the muffin cups. Place the bonbons cookie-side down on the baking sheet lined with the wire rack. Slowly pour some of the chocolate shell ice cream sauce over about 1 to 2 bonbons at a time to cover completely. Before the sauce hardens, sprinkle the top of the bonbon with the chopped mint candies. The sauce will harden in about 30 seconds, so continue to coat 1 to 2 bonbons at a time before topping them with the chopped candies, until all 24 are coated and topped.
• Transfer the bonbons from the rack to the parchment-lined baking sheet with an offset spatula or butter knife. If needed, dip the offset spatula in hot water, then use it to remove the bonbons from rack. (The hot spatula will help prevent the chocolate shell from cracking when you remove them.) Store in a resealable container in the freezer until ready to serve, for up to one week.

MINT SURPRISE COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift flour, soda, and salt.
• Cream butter and sugar well.
• Add eggs, water, and vanilla.
• Blend in dry ingredients gradually; mix thoroughly.
• Shape dough into rolls 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap in wax paper. Chill at least four hours.
• Meanwhile, melt chocolate and cut into small, round wafers (the shape isn't so important -- just enough to fill the center of the cookie).
• Cut dough in slices 1/8" thick. Place on cookie sheet. Top one slice of dough with chocolate wafer. Cover with second slice and seal edges.
• Top with walnut half.
• Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

HIDDEN CHOCOLATE MINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix the shortening, sugars and egg.
• Stir in water and vanilla.
• Stir together the dry ingredients then mix into the batter.
• Chill the dough.
• Enclose each wafer into about 1 tablespoon of dough.
• Place each on a greased baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree oven for 8-10 minutes, or until no imprint remains when touched lightly.

SURPRISE PACKAGE COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and eggs, one at a time. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate, covered, until dough is firm enough to shape, about 2 hours. , Preheat oven to 375°. With floured hands, wrap tablespoonfuls of dough around mints (about 42) to form rectangular cookies, covering completely with dough. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets., Bake until edges are golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely., In a microwave or saucepan, melt remaining mints; drizzle over cookies.

CHOCOLATE MINT SURPRISE CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Steps:

• Using a medium sized ziploc bag, crush the candy canes in little pieces. Cut the hershey kisses in half. I found that a whole hershey kiss was too much for the cookies, but a half one is perfect!
• Heat your oven to 375.
• Add the butter to a stand or hand-held mixer and mix well until smooth. Add the sugars and mix well. Add the almond and vanilla extract and mix well. Add the flour and mix very well on low speed until well mixed.
• With a wooden spoon mix in the crushed candy canes and the mini chocolate chips well.
• Scoop out a teaspoon of dough and add one half of a hershey kiss. Roll up the dough in a ball to keep the kiss inside! Place the dough balls on a parchment covered cookie pan and bake for 10-12 minutes and golden. Allow them to cool for about 2 minutes before removing from the pan and allow to cool. I have found having a sheet of tin foil on your table or counter works great in cooling cookies!
• In a medium sauce pan, add the white chocolate chips and the 6 tablespoons of shortening. Melt slowly on medium/low heat as not to burn the chocolate.
• Divide the melted chocolate into 3 cups. In the first two cups, add a bit of green and a bit red food coloring seperately to the shades that you like. Using a fork, drizzle the colored chocolate over the cookies to decorate. The kids will love this part! Enjoy!