Chocolate Peppermint Marshmallow Sandwiches Food

PEPPERMINT-CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Break rounded portion off top of each candy cane, leaving a straight peppermint stick. Reserve sticks for later use. Place tops in resealable plastic bag; pound with meat pounder or rolling pin until coarsely crushed.
• Cover baking sheet with parchment. Melt chocolate as directed on package. Dip marshmallows, one at a time, 3/4 the way into chocolate; sprinkle immediately with crushed candy. Place on prepared baking sheet.
• Refrigerate 30 min. or until chocolate is firm.
• Insert 1 of the reserved peppermint sticks into center of each marshmallow just before serving.

PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Line a 9x9 inch baking dish with lightly greased foil or plastic wrap. Grease another piece of foil or plastic wrap to cover the top, and set aside.
• Place 1/2 cup of water in the bowl of an electric mixer, and sprinkle gelatin on top of water to soak.
• While gelatin is soaking, combine 1/4 cup of water, corn syrup, and sugar in a saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil the mixture hard for 1 minute.
• Pour the hot sugar mixture into the gelatin mixture and beat on high for 12 minutes with electric mixer, until the mixture is fluffy and forms stiff peaks. Add vanilla and peppermint extracts, and beat just until blended.
• Pour the marshmallow mixture into the prepared baking dish, using a greased spatula to smooth the top of the candy. Cover the candy with the reserved greased foil or wrap, and press down lightly to seal the covering to the top of the candy.
• Allow the marshmallow candy to rest for 4 hours or overnight. Mix together cornstarch and confectioner's sugar in a shallow dish. Using oiled scissors or an oiled kitchen knife, cut the marshmallow candy into strips, then into 1 inch squares. Dredge the marshmallows lightly in the cornstarch mixture and store in an airtight container.

MALT CHOCOLATE AND MARSHMALLOW SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Prepare the cookies: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, malted chocolate powder and baking powder.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter, brown sugar, honey and salt. Mix with the paddle attachment on low speed until completely incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the flour mixture and heavy cream. Mix on low speed until it comes together in a smooth dough. Transfer to a work surface and pat into a 1-inch disk. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Wash and dry the mixing bowl and set aside.
• Prepare the ganache topping: Transfer the chocolate pieces to a small bowl. In a small pot, heat the cream gently over low heat until it just begins to steam, about 4 to 5 minutes. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate pieces. Allow the chocolate and cream mixture to sit for 5 minutes. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the ganache is smooth. Set aside.
• Position oven racks near the center and heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Once the dough is chilled, unwrap and place the dough in the center of a sheet of parchment. Place the second sheet of parchment on top and roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Peel off the top layer of parchment and use it to line one of the baking sheets. Line a second baking sheet with parchment. Using a 2-inch round biscuit cutter, cut out cookies and transfer them to the lined baking sheets, spacing them about 1 ½ inches apart. Press scraps together, and fold the remaining parchment over the dough. Reroll and cut out rounds. (You can reroll the dough up to 2 times.) Bake until the cookies are set and the tops lose their shine, about 12 minutes, rotating the pans and switching racks halfway through baking. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 to 10 minutes before moving the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the marshmallow filling: In a small pot, combine the sugar, honey, salt and 1/4 cup water. Stir to incorporate and cook over medium-high until the sugar dissolves and the temperature of the syrup reaches 240 degrees, about 5 minutes.
• Add 1/4 cup water to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Sprinkle in the gelatin and gently stir to moisten the grains. Allow the gelatin to bloom, about 3 minutes, while the sugar mixture cooks.
• When the sugar reaches 240 degrees and the gelatin has bloomed, turn the mixer on low, and slowly add the syrup in an even stream. Increase the speed to high and whip the mixture until the meringue is thick and doubled, about 5 to 7 minutes. Scoop the mixture into a piping bag, seal the top by twisting, snip the end and set aside.
• Assemble the cookies: Pipe a 1-inch mound of meringue on the flat side of half the cookies, leaving a 1/8-inch border. Allow to set for 2 to 3 minutes, then top each with another cookie. Thoroughly stir the ganache until smooth. Spoon a tablespoon of ganache in the center of each top cookie and spread evenly over the surface, allowing the ganache to drip down the sides. (If your ganache is completely cooled and set at this point, you can stir and spread it like frosting, or see Tip below for loosening.) Once all the cookies have been topped with ganache, allow the ganache to set slightly, about 5 minutes, and top each with gold leaf accents or luster dust, if using. Allow the cookies to set before serving, about 15 minutes.

EASY PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Line a 9x9 pan with plastic wrap, leaving enough overhang to cover the top. Spray plastic wrap lightly with cooking spray. Place the 6 tablespoons of warm water in a large bowl, and sprinkle gelatin on top. Let gelatin soften in the water for 5 minutes.
• Combine the white sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a tall saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for one full minute, 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Pour the hot syrup over the softened gelatin, and add the salt. Beat at high speed with an electric mixer until the mixture increases in volume and holds a peak, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the vanilla and peppermint extracts.
• Pour into prepared pan, add several drops of red food coloring, and swirl with a toothpick. Cover lightly with plastic wrap, and let stand at room temperature for 4 hours. Cut into 18 squares, using a knife sprayed with cooking spray. Combine cornstarch and powdered sugar in a bowl. Toss cut marshmallows in the reserved powdered sugar mixture. Store in airtight container or resealable plastic bag.

MINT-MALLOW SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg white and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda; gradually add to sugar mixture, and mix well., Shape into 3/4-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 7-9 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, combine the marshmallow creme, extract and, if desired, food coloring. Spread on the bottoms of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies. Store in an airtight container.