Peppermint Stick Pie Food

CLEAR PEPPERMINT MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• For the chocolate crust: Pulse the flour, cocoa powder, confectioners' sugar, oil and salt in a food processor until the texture of fine meal. Add the butter and pulse until pea-size pieces form. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough begins to come together. If the dough doesn't hold together, add up to 2 more tablespoons ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse again.
• Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and pat into a disk. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Roll out the dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate. Fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edges with your fingers. Freeze 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and coat a sheet of aluminum foil with nonstick spray.
• Pierce the bottom of the chilled dough all over with a fork. Line the dough with the foil, sprayed-side down, and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges are set, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and continue baking until the crust is no longer glossy on the bottom, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Add the chocolate and coconut oil to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until the mixture is melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Paint a thin layer of chocolate all over the bottom and sides of the crust. Let set at room temperature until the chocolate is hardened, about 15 minutes.
• For the filling: Put 1 1/2 cups water in a medium saucepan and sprinkle over the gelatin. Let sit until the gelatin is absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and heat over medium heat, whisking occasionally, just until the gelatin and sugar are dissolved, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the peppermint extract.
• Pour the gelatin mixture into a large bowl and stir in 2 cups cold water. Use a spoon to scoop away any bubbles at the surface. Refrigerate, stirring every 10 minutes, until the gelatin just begins to thicken and is the consistency of thin fruit jelly, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Pour the gelatin mixture into the crust and refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• For the meringue: Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a heatproof stand mixer's bowl above the water.
• Add the granulated sugar, lemon juice, salt and egg whites to the mixing bowl and whisk together by hand. Set the bowl above the boiling water and whisk until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar is completely dissolved (about 150 degrees F).
• Transfer to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the peppermint extract and beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is cool and the whites hold stiff peaks, about 5 minutes.
• To assemble: Arrange the crushed peppermints around the edge of the pie. Cut into slices and top each with meringue, chocolate curls and more crushed peppermint.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT WHOOPIE PIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Sift into another large bowl.
• Beat the granulated sugar and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Beat in the vanilla. Alternate adding the dry mixture and the milk, beginning and ending with the dry mixture. Mix until just incorporated. Refrigerate the dough until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Adjust the oven racks to the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment and lightly coat with cooking spray.
• Drop tablespoonfuls of batter about 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets (about 6 cookies per baking sheet). Keep the remaining batter chilled while working.
• Bake until the cookies puff up and the tops are no longer glossy, about 7 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour. Let the baking sheets cool, then reline with parchment, lightly coat with cooking spray and bake the remaining batter in batches (cool, reline and spray the baking sheets each time).
• For the filling: Beat the confectioners' sugar and shortening in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add the marshmallow creme, milk and peppermint extract and beat until light and airy, about 5 minutes.
• Spread a heaping tablespoon of the filling on half of the cookies. Sandwich with the remaining halves, pushing down slightly to move the filling to the edge. Put the crushed candy canes on a plate and roll the sides of the whoopie pies in the candy.
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PEPPERMINT WHOOPIE PIES

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Beat 6 tablespoons butter and the granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk and vanilla, until just combined.
• Arrange mounds of batter (about 1 heaping tablespoonful each) about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets; shape into rounds with damp fingers. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the tops of the cookies spring back when pressed, 9 to 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, beat the remaining 6 tablespoons butter, the peppermint extract and the remaining pinch of salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread 1 1/2 tablespoons filling on the flat side of half of the cookies; sandwich with the remaining cookies. Roll the edges in the crushed candy canes.