Tingle Mints Food

TINGLE MINTS

Steps:

• Melt butter.
• Place powder sugar in bowl along with flavoring and melted butter.
• Knead with hands until mixture is in a solid non-sticky dough mixture.
• If powder sugar is left in bowl, add very little water to mix in mixture.
• Shape and enjoy.

FROZEN CHOCOLATE "FRANGO" MINTS

Steps:

• Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Add melted chocolate and continue beating until thoroughly mixed.
• Add egg yolks and beat again until fluffy.
• Beat in peppermint extract.
• Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon cookie crumbs into candy liners and top with chocolate mixture.
• Freeze for at least 1 hour. Serve straight from the freezer and re-freeze leftover. You can top these with maraschino cherries, crushed candy canes, even whipped cream, but not necessary. (For a more decadent dessert, serve in pre-made chocolate shells instead of candy liners.

SOFT CREAM CHEESE MINTS

Steps:

• With an electric mixer, combine cream cheese & peppermint extract. Mix in powdered sugar gradually until smooth. Knead in the last of the powdered sugar with hands. Add food coloring if desired & knead until easily rolled into balls.
• Roll into 3/4" balls. Then, you can roll in sugar if desired. Or -- you can flatten with a juice glass that has a pretty bottom. Or -- you can press them into candy molds. You can then leave them as is, or dip them in chocolate or whip up some frosting & pipe some small flowers & leaves onto them. The possibilities are endless.
• Cover with paper towels & let dry overnight (obviously, you'll have to figure something out for covering them if you piped a frosting design of sorts onto them). Store tightly covered in refrigerator until serving, or store in freezer for up to 1 month.

AFTER DINNER MINTS

Steps:

• Lightly spray baking sheet. Place sugar, water, corn syrup, butter and salt in a large saucepan. Cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until it reaches 270 degrees F. (When a small amount is dropped in ice water it will form threads that will bend.) Take off heat, let stand until it stops bubbling.
• Pour the mixture onto prepared cookie sheet and let stand for 5 minutes, or until cool. Drizzle peppermint flavoring and food coloring over candy. Dip fingers in cornstarch and pull candy straight without twisting. Keep on folding and stretching until it looks creamy. Stretch candy into a 1/2 inch rope.Pour powdered sugar into the baking pan. Cut the candy into 1/2 inch pieces and toss in sugar to coat. let stand overnight.