Peppermint Fried Dough Food

MINI PEPPERMINT ROLLS

Steps:

• For the rolls: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square cake pan with cooking spray or butter.
• Mix the granulated sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract and peppermint extract in a bowl. Unroll the crescent dough sheets and coat each sheet in half of the butter mixture, spreading it to the edges of the sheets. Roll each sheet tightly, starting with the longer side, and place the seam side down. Cut each roll into 8 equal pieces, making a total of 16 pieces. Arrange the pieces in the prepared cake pan.
• Bake until golden and cooked through, 22 to 24 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• For the glaze: Meanwhile, make the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, milk and peppermint extract, Add the melted butter and red food coloring, whisking until completely combined.
• Remove the cooled rolls from the pan and top each one with the glaze. Sprinkle over the crushed candy canes and serve.

PEPPERMINT FRIED DOUGH

Steps:

• For the coating and dough: Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract in a resealable plastic bag and rub together until coated; spread on a baking sheet and let dry 1 hour. Mix the peppermint sugar with 3 tablespoons red sanding sugar in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk 2 eggs, 3/4 cup ricotta, 3 tablespoons sugar and 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract. Stir in 1 cup self-rising flour.
• To fry: Working in batches, deep-fry tablespoonfuls of the dough in 350˚ vegetable oil in a large dutch oven, turning, until golden, about 4 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon and let drain 10 seconds, then toss with the peppermint sugar.

PEPPERMINT MUFFIN-TIN COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Beat the sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer, or in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and peppermint extracts and the egg. Turn the mixer to low speed, add the flour mixture and mix until completely incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove half of the dough and set aside. Add 5 to 6 drops of the red food coloring to the remaining dough in the mixer bowl and mix on low speed until completely incorporated.
• Alternating between the red and white doughs, spoon 8 heaping 1/4 teaspoon-sized pieces of dough (4 red and 4 white) into the bottom of each of the 12 cups of a standard muffin tin. Press to flatten the dough so the red and white pieces intermingle and form a slight tie-dye look. Place 1 frozen peppermint patty on top of and in the middle of each dough round, pressing very gently into the dough but making sure it does not break through and touch the bottom of the pan. Spoon 8 more heaping 1/4 teaspoon-sized pieces of dough (4 red and 4 white), alternating the colors, on top of each peppermint patty and press to flatten and completely cover the peppermint patties.
• Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the red and white sprinkles on top of the dough in each muffin cup to completely cover it. Refrigerate until the dough is firm, about 1 hour (or freeze until firm, about 20 minutes).
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake until the edges are just starting to turn golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then use an offset spatula to remove the cookies from the pan to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.

FRIED DOUGH

Steps:

• Preheat the oil to 350 degrees F. Dust the dough with the flour. Pound out the dough as thin as possible with your hands or with a rolling pin. Cut the dough into 2 pieces. Carefully place the dough into the hot oil. Cook until the dough is browned, 1 to 2 minutes, then repeat on the other side. Carefully transfer the dough from the oil to a paper-towel-lined plate.
• Place the dough on a clean plate. Drizzle the chocolate sauce over the dough and dust with the powdered sugar.

FRIED DOUGH

Steps:

• Pour some oil into a heavy-bottomed pot and heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer registers 400 degrees F.
• Cut the pastry scraps into thin strips. Drop the strips into the hot oil, in batches if necessary, and fry for about 30 seconds, flipping. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.