Merry Chocolate Peppermint Martini Food

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT MARTINI

Steps:

• Crush the candy cane with a kitchen mallet or rolling pin and place in a small bowl that is wide enough for the rim of your martini glasses to dip into. Melt your chocolate in the microwave in a small bowl, heating for 30 seconds, then stirring, then reheating as needed in 30 second increments. Delicately swirl your martini glass edge through the melted chocolate. Immediately run the martini glass rim through the crushed peppermint to allow it to stick to the rim of the glass. Set aside for the chocolate to dry as you prepare your cocktails.
• In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add your chocolate liquor, cream, peppermint vodka, cocoa powder and chocolate syrup. Shake well and then taste to adjust the flavoring, as needed.
• Pour the cocktail into your decorated martini glass.
• If you'd like a little swirl on top, carefully pour some cream in a swirl shape overtop of the martini and then drag a toothpick or skewer through the design to make it even more decorative.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT MARTINI

Steps:

• Mix cold liquor together and shake with ice.
• Strain into a martini glass.
• Drop 2 Junior Mints into bottom of glass.

MERRY CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT MARTINI

Steps:

• Coat rim of glass in white chocolate and dip in crushed peppermint.
• Mix all liquids into a martini shaker with ice and shake.
• Make sure to shake hard enough to mix the almond butter into the liquids.
• Strain and serve!

PEPPERMINT STICK MARTINI

Steps:

• Moisten the rim of a chilled martini glass and dip the wet rim into the pummeled peppermint.
• Combine the vodka, schnapps, Triple Sec and ice in a cocktail shaker.
• Shake it like Santa knows you've been bad.
• Carefully strain the mix into the martini glass and garnish with the candy cane.
• Ho, ho, ho, and away we go.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT REINDEER CAKE

Steps:

• For the reindeer, make this cake recipe twice back to back.
• FOR THE CAKE:.
• Heat oven to 350. Place 3 cups of water in a saucepan and set on the stove with a high heat.
• In a stand mixer, blend sugar, milk, oil, eggs and vanilla. In a large mixing bowl combine dry ingredients. Slowly mix into wet and when just incorporated pour in one cup of boiling water. Pulse until thoroughly mixed and pour into two parchment lined Loaf tins. Bake 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Wrap and chill well before cutting and assembling cake.
• TO ASSEMBLE:.
• Slice your loaves into two layers. Mix buttercream frosting and spread generously between each layer. Sprinkle with chopped candy cane before stacking each new layer. Chill continuously to ensure cake keeps a firm shape. Once stacked, using a serrated blade, carve out general reindeer shape. Once desire form is taken do a smooth crumb coat using additional frosting. Do final coat using clean fresh frosting. Chill when it looks how you want it and use a fork to create added grooves and dimension.
• FOR THE ANTLERS:.
• Slightly melt candy canes in a 300 degree oven and bend into desire shapes (Watch your fingers, it's hot!). Adhere to one another by placing an end under a flame for a moment and sticking to a larger piece (They burn very quickly so be stealthy and don't be devastated if any are ruined). Once done pierce the top of you cake with a pointed end and coast delicately with white candy melts.
• FINISHING TOUCHES:.
• Finish by spraying with edible pearl spray and placing a bed of coconut around your reindeer. (If you're a terrible person and don't like coconut, you can also use powdered sugar or crushed candy canes instead. Paint on a glittery red nose for an extra festive touch!

PEPPERMINT BARK MARTINI

Steps:

• Rim a martini glass with crushed candy canes or crushed peppermint bark.
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add drink ingredients, shake and pour into rimmed martini glass.

PEPPERMINT PATTY MARTINI

Steps:

• I prefer Absolute Vodka (actually I prefer Grey Goose or Level, but I can afford Absolute). 1 1/2 ounces equals 1 jigger.
• Combine all ingredients in shaker.
• Strain and serve in chilled martini glass (easy way to chill a martini glass is to let it sit a couple of minutes with ice water in it).
• You will not get closer to a peppermint patty flavor than this.
• Enjoy.