Peppermint Meltaways Food

PEPPERMINT MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. In another bowl, whisk flour and cornstarch; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes or until firm enough to handle., Preheat oven to 350°. Shape dough into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in milk, extract and, if desired, food coloring. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over cookies; sprinkle with crushed candies. Store in an airtight container.

PEPPERMINT MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, combine 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar and the butter and mix until light and fluffy. Add the peppermint extract and mix to combine. Next, slowly add the flour and salt, mixing until just combined.
• In a separate mixing bowl, combine remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the peppermint candies.
• Roll the dough into twenty-four 1 1/2-inch balls. Insert 1 chocolate morsel into each ball and re-roll to ensure that the cookie dough encases the chocolate. Next, transfer to the bowl with the powdered sugar and crushed candies rolling each to coat.
• Place the balls on an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them about 1-inch apart. Bake until they start to turn golden brown on the bottom, about 20 minutes. Remove and transfer to wire cooling rack. Cool until they are just cool enough to handle, 5 minutes. Return the cookies to the bowl with the powdered sugar and crushed candies and toss gently until each cookie is coated.
• Store in an airtight container.

PEPPERMINT MELTAWAYS MELTAWAY COOKIES

Steps:

• FOR COOKIES, combine sugar, butter and 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract in large mixer bowl.
• Beat at medium speed until creamy (1 to 2 minutes).
• Reduce speed to low; add flour and cornstarch.
• Beat until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes).
• Cover; refrigerate until firm (30 to 60 minutes).
• Heat oven to 350°F Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls.
• Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
• Let stand 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets.
• Cool completely.
• FOR GLAZE, combine 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and enough milk for desired glazing consistency in small bowl.
• Stir in food color, if desired.
• Drizzle over cooled cookies.
• Immediately sprinkle with crushed candy.
• (I have found it is easier to put the crushed candy in a bowl and"dip" the top of cookies in them right after I frost them).