Crisp Peppermint Patties Food

PEPPERMINT PATTIES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine condensed milk and peppermint extract. Beat in enough confectioners' sugar, a little at a time, to form a stiff dough that is no longer sticky. Form into 1 inch balls, then place on waxed paper and flatten with fingers to form patties. Let patties dry at room temperature two hours, turning once.
• In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate with shortening, stirring often. Remove from heat. Dip patties, one at a time, into chocolate by laying them on the tines of a fork and lowering the fork into the liquid. Let cool on waxed paper until set.

PERFECT PEPPERMINT PATTIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine first four ingredients.
• Add milk and mix well.
• Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
• Chill for 20 minutes.
• Flatten with a glass to 1/4".
• Chill for 30 minutes.
• In a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and shortening.
• Dip patties and place on waxed paper to harden.

PEPPERMINT PATTIES

Steps:

• Combine the sweetened condensed milk and peppermint extract.
• Slowly add the powdered sugar and beat.
• Knead on a surface sprinkled with more sugar until dough is stiff.
• (The stiffer the better when it come to the dipping part!) Add more sugar while kneading if the dough is sticky.
• Roll 1/4 inch thick.
• Cut into approximately 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch circles. If they are much bigger than that they fall apart when you dip them.
• My girlfriend said she uses a screw-off wine bottle cap!
• Let the cut patties dry for at least 2 hours on *each* side. They need to be really dry.
• Melt chocolate & shortening it a double boiler; stirring constantly until smooth. Using 1 Tbls of shortening for every 6 oz. of chocolate. Keep chocolate hot for dipping.
• Dip patties in melted chocolate. The method my friend has found to work best: she places them on a long 3-tined fork, puts them in the chocolate (it should be no more than 1 1/2 inches deep), flips them over to coat the other side, lifts them out again with the fork underneath the patty, shakes the fork to shake off the excess chocolate & then places the patty on waxed paper to harden.

PEPPERMINT PATTIES

Steps:

• Sift confectioners' sugar into bowl of a standing electric mixer or a large bowl. In a small bowl stir together water, corn syrup, lemon juice, and extract and add to sugar. With a standing or hand-held electric mixer beat together sugar mixture until combined.
• On a work surface knead mixture into a ball (mixture will be very stiff). With a rolling pin, applying pressure, roll out mixture between sheets of wax paper into a 9-inch round (about 1/4 inch thick). Remove top sheet of wax paper from round and replace it loosely. Flip over wax paper-enclosed round and remove and discard sheet of wax paper now on top (this process prevents round from sticking to wax paper). Let round stand at room temperature until edges are firm, about 4 hours. Round may be made 1 week ahead and chilled on a tray, both tray and round wrapped together in plastic wrap. Bring round to room temperature before proceeding with recipe.
• Oil a large baking sheet and line with wax paper. With a 1 1/4-inch cutter cut out patties from round, transferring them as cut to baking sheet.
• Temper chocolate . (Alternatively, chop chocolate and, in a double boiler or a small metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, melt chocolate, stirring until smooth.)
• Balance 1 patty on a fork (do not spear) and submerge in chocolate (if necessary, spoon chocolate over patty to evenly coat). Holding patty on fork over chocolate, shake off any excess chocolate from patty and return patty to baking sheet. Submerge and coat remaining patties in same manner. Chill peppermint patties on baking sheet, uncovered, until firm, about 1 hour. Peppermint patties keep, layered between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container and chilled, 1 month.