Thin Mint Cocoa Food

THE BEST THIN MINTS (V/GF)

Steps:

• To a food processor add almond flour, tapioca flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and pulse to combine.
• Add solid refined coconut oil (place coconut oil in the fridge if it has liquified) to the food processor and pulse until small crumbs are achieved. Add maple syrup and peppermint extract. Pulse until dough starts to form. Form the cookie dough into a disk and wrap in a piece of parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (you can use the same paper you used for chilling).
• Lightly dust a separate sheet of parchment paper with tapioca flour. Remove dough from the fridge and place on the flour-dusted parchment. Also lightly flour the top of the dough. Roll the dough out until it is about 1/8-inch thick.
• Using a 1 ½ - 2 inch cookie cutter (or similar-sized object such as a spice jar lid) cut out 14 circles. If you have excess dough, roll it into a ball and reroll/cut out the circles until all of the dough is used.
• Lightly flour a metal spatula with tapioca starch and use it to carefully transfer the cookies to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Space the cookies at least 1-2 inches apart to allow for slight spreading.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies are slightly fluffy and expanded and they appear a little dry. Once baked and slightly cooled, remove the cookies from the tray and place them on a cooling rack.
• Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips and 2 tsp of coconut oil (amount as recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) in a small saucepan over low heat stirring constantly, until the chocolate has melted halfway. Once halfway melted, remove the pan from the heat and stir until completely smooth. Now add in the 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract (amount as recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). NOTE: This can also be done in the microwave in 30-second increments. Stop microwave and stir every 30 seconds.
• Make sure your cookie sheet will fit in the fridge (otherwise, transfer cookies to a large plate lined with parchment paper).
• Once the cookies are cooled, dip each one into the chocolate mixture until fully coated. A fork is helpful for dipping and gently shaking off excess melted chocolate. Then place each cookie back on the parchment-lined cookie sheet (or plate) and refrigerate for 15 minutes or until set. If there is extra melted chocolate, you can transfer it into mini muffin liners to make mint chocolate cups (or wait until your cookies are cooled and drizzle the extra chocolate over the top).
• Once set, cookies can be enjoyed straight from the refrigerator or at room temperature. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer up to 1 month.

THIN MINT COCOA

Steps:

• Mix the sugar, cocoa mix, and salt into the water in a saucepan until completely dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil; cook and stir at a boil for 2 minutes. Stir the milk, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract through the mixture. Continue cooking until hot, but do not bring to a boil. Serve hot.

HOMEMADE THIN MINT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, beat butter for about 30 seconds with an electric mixer at medium speed. Add sugar and beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add egg, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract and beat until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until just combined.
• Divide dough into two equal parts and use your hands to form each part into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. It may be tempting to skip the chilling time, but chilling the dough is essential to keeping the cookies from spreading while baking.
• Working with one disc at a time, remove from the refrigerator and roll to 1/4-inch thickness. When rolling the dough, sprinkle cocoa powder on your work surface and rolling pin instead of flour to avoid creating white spots on your cookies.
• Use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut the dough into circles. Transfer cut circles to a baking sheet with a small spatula. Re-roll the remaining dough scraps and continue to cut circles until all the dough is used.
• Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. The cookies will still appear soft. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Place chopped chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Add canola oil. Heat, stirring frequently, until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in peppermint extract.
• One at a time, dip each cooled cookie in chocolate. Place each cookie in the melted chocolate, push down with a fork to submerge completely, and use the fork to lift the cookie out. Gently tap the fork on the side of the bowl to allow excess chocolate to drip off. Place dipped cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment or waxed paper.
• Allow cookies to stand until chocolate is completely set.