Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread Cookies Recipe 455 Food

CHOCOLATE-PEPPERMINT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Grease an 8-by-8-inch brownie pan with butter and line the bottom and two sides with parchment. Set a rack in the lower-middle position of the oven and heat to 350 degrees.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and set on medium-high speed, beat the butter, brown sugar and salt until creamy, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl and paddle with a rubber spatula. Add the yolk and vanilla, and mix until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the flour and cocoa, and mix until everything comes together, about 1 minute, stopping once during mixing to scrape down the paddle and the bowl.
• Scrape the dough into the prepared pan. Using an offset spatula and your hands, press the dough into the pan as evenly as possible. Use a fork to prick the dough all over. Bake until the shortbread smells chocolatey and feels set and dry, 30 to 35 minutes. Wash and dry the mixing bowl and set aside.
• Remove shortbread from oven and cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 225 degrees. Using the parchment, lift the cookies out of the pan onto a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet.
• Make the meringue: Pour water into a medium saucepan to come 1 1/2 inches up the sides and bring to a bare simmer over medium-low heat.
• Whisk the egg whites, salt and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer just to combine. Set the bowl over the simmering water (bowl should not touch water) and heat the egg mixture, stirring and scraping constantly with a heatproof rubber spatula, until the sugar dissolves, the mixture is hot and steamy, and the temperature registers 175 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 4 to 6 minutes. (Be patient and cook the egg whites slowly so they don't curdle.)
• Return the bowl to the stand mixer, and whip the mixture until stiff and glossy, 5 to 7 minutes. Whip in the peppermint extract and scrape the meringue onto the shortbread.
• Evenly spread the meringue with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. If using liquid food coloring, add a few random drops onto the meringue. If using gel food coloring, use the tip of a toothpick to randomly dab the tiniest bit of food coloring onto the meringue. Using the tip of an offset spatula or spoon, swirl the color into the meringue, creating peaks and streaks.
• Bake on the wire rack set on the sheet pan until the meringue feels dry and crisp, about 2 hours. Turn off the oven and prop open the door with a wooden spoon. Allow the cookies to cool in the oven, about another hour. Remove from oven and transfer to a cutting board. Cut the cookies into random pieces. The cookies will keep for 1 week stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE-PEPPERMINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Make the cookies: Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla and peppermint extracts, about 30 seconds. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture until just combined. Pat the dough into a rectangle and place between 2 sheets of parchment paper. Roll out into an 8-by-13-inch rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut the dough into 1-by-2 1/2-inch rectangles. (If the dough is too soft, refrigerate 15 minutes.) Arrange 1 inch apart on the prepared pans.
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are set around the edges, 18 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the pans, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the icing: Melt the chocolate with the heavy cream and butter in a medium heatproof bowl set over a small saucepan of simmering water, stirring (do not let the bowl touch the water). Remove the bowl from the pan and let cool 5 minutes. Spread on the cookies. Sprinkle with peppermints.

PEPPERMINT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix butter, sugar, crushed candy and vanilla -- gradually blending in flour and corn starch.
• Form 1-inch balls and place on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Gently press down on each cookie to flatten.
• Bake in 300°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until bottoms start to brown.
• Cool and remove to a wire rack.
• Combine confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until frosting is smooth. Drizzle on cookies and sprinkle with crushed candy.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine all cookie ingredients except flour and 1 cup mini chocolate chips in a large bowl.
• Beat at medium speed till creamy.
• Reduce speed to low.
• Add flour, beat till mixture forms a dough.
• Stir in one cup mini chocolate chips by hand.
• Shape dough into 1" balls.
• Place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Flatten each ball to 1 1/2" circles with the bottom of a glass dipped in flour.
• Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or till set.
• DO NOT OVERBAKE!
• Let stand 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Combine all frosting ingredients in a small bowl.
• Beat at low speed till smooth.
• Add milk, 1 tsp at a time, for desired frsting consistency.
• Frost cooled cookies& place on waxed paper.
• Place 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips and shortening into a small, microwave-safe bowl.
• Microwave on high, stirring every 30 seconds, till smooth (60-90 seconds).
• Drizzle thin lines of chocolate over frosting.
• Let stand till chocolate is set (at least 30 minutes).

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a mixer beat together the butter with the sugars until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until smooth after each addition and scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add in the vanilla. On a low speed beat in the flour mixture a little at a time. Gently mix in chocolate chips.
• On an ungreased cookie sheet, drop teaspoons of the batter about 2 inches apart. Bake until just cracked on top, about 8 to10 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the cooking time. Cool completely.
• For the glaze: In a small bowl mix together the sugar; mint extract and water until smooth. Transfer mixture to a medium resealable plastic bag and snip off the corner. Drizzle glaze over cooled cookies. Let cookies stand until set, about 10 minutes.

CHOCOLATE CHIP PEPPERMINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Beat together the butter, shortening, white sugar, and brown sugar.
• Beat in the eggs, vanilla and almond extract.
• Combine the baking soda, salt and flour in a small bowl. Gradually beat this mixture into the creamed mixture.
• Beat well.
• Stir in the chocolate chips and crushed candy canes.
• Drop onto lightly greased cookie sheets by tsps; keeping 2" apart.
• Bake at 350 for 11-13 minutes or until lightly golden brown around edges.

PEPPERMINT CANDY SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F
• Cream butter, sugar, crushed candy, and vanilla thoroughly using an electric mixer. Gradually blend in flour and cornstarch.
• Form dough into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Gently press down on each cookie to flatten, either using fingers or a flat-bottomed drinking glass that has been dipped in sugar to prevent sticking.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bottoms begin to brown.
• Cool for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For frosting: combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly until frosting is smooth. Drizzle cookies with frosting and sprinkle with crushed candy.