Peppermint Cream Puffs Food

PEPPERMINT COOKIES-AND-CREAM COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the vanilla, peppermint extract and eggs, then continue to beat until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
• Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Fold in the peppermint puffs, cookie crumbs and candy-coated chocolates until evenly dispersed throughout the dough.
• Divide the dough into 3-tablespoon portions and roll into uniform balls (there should be about 25 dough balls). Transfer to a large plate or baking sheet and refrigerate until chilled through, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment.
• Arrange the chilled cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each ball. Bake one sheet at a time on the center rack until the cookies have puffed, the centers are just set and the edges have just turned golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

PEPPERMINT PUFF PASTRY STICKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Unfold pastry sheet. Cut in half to form 2 rectangles. Cut each rectangle crosswise into 18 strips, about 1/2 in. wide. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Place crushed candies in a shallow bowl. In a microwave, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip each cookie halfway in coating; allow excess to drip off. Sprinkle with peppermint candies. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.

CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. In 2 1/2-quart saucepan, heat water and butter to rolling boil. Stir in flour; reduce heat to low. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball; remove from heat. Beat in eggs, all at once; continue beating until smooth.
• On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls about 3 inches apart. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until puffed and golden. Cool away from draft, about 30 minutes.
• Make one of the fillings (directions below). Cut off top third of each puff and pull out any strands of soft dough. Fill puffs with filling; replace tops. Cover; refrigerate until serving. Store covered in refrigerator. Eggnog Fluff Filling: In large bowl, beat pudding mix, milk, rum extract, nutmeg and ginger with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Add whipping cream; beat on high speed 1 to 2 minutes or until soft peaks form. Fill puffs. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 3 hours. Just before serving, sprinkle with powdered sugar or brush tops with light corn syrup and sprinkle with colored sugar or nonpareils. Peppermint Whipped Cream Filling: In large bowl, beat ingredients with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fill puffs. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.

CREAM PUFFS WITH ICE CREAM AND HOT FUDGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the dough: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. with racks in upper and lower thirds. Butter two large rimmed baking sheets.
• Combine butter, 1 cup water, and salt in a 2-quart heavy saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until butter melts. Reduce heat to medium.
• Add flour; cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and forms a ball, 30 seconds to 1 minute (see Cook's Note). Remove from heat; cool 1 minute.
• With an electric handheld mixer, beat in eggs, a little bit at a time, until completely incorporated (dough should look shiny and be soft enough to slowly fall off a spoon).
• Bake the puffs: Drop heaping tablespoons of batter onto baking sheets (you should have 24 to 28), about 2 inches apart. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush puffs with egg wash (do not let it drip on sheets).
• Bake, rotating sheets between racks halfway through, until puffed and brown, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven; turn oven off.
• With a toothpick, poke a hole in each puff. Return to oven (still off) for 10 minutes (this helps puffs dry out).
• Fill the puffs: When cool, halve each puff horizontally with a serrated knife.
• Working in batches (to prevent ice cream from melting), place a small scoop of ice cream (2 to 3 tablespoons) in each bottom half. Replace tops; press gently. Arrange on one rimmed baking sheet; freeze until firm. Cover with plastic wrap; freeze up to 2 days.
• Arrange 3 filled puffs in each of eight shallow bowls; drizzle with warm Hot Fudge Sauce. Serve immediately.

PEPPERMINT PUFFS

Steps:

• Stir together flour and salt in medium bowl.
• Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until smooth and creamy. Beat in egg. Beat in peppermint and vanilla extracts. On low speed, beat in flour mixture. Shape dough into a ball; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Heta oven to 375. Coat baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
• Shape dough into 1 inch balls for a total of 36 cookies; place on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake at 375 for 10 to 12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely. When cool, brush with melted white chocolate; dip in chopped candy canes. Let harden on wax paper.