mint

Bready or Not: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

Posted by on Dec 6, 2017 in Blog, Bready or Not, cookies, mint | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

Do you love those peppermint meltaway candies that dissolve in your mouth with such refreshing flavor? Imagine that, in cookie form. Yes. Really.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

This recipe essentially makes very lightly-textured shortbread cookies. That texture arises from the use of confectioners’ sugar and cornstarch. These are like cookie clouds.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

Then you top those small cookies with a smear of frosting and some crushed peppermint bits. The combo… yeah. These are called meltaways, and that’s exactly what they do.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

Plus, these things literally LOOK like the holiday season. Like snow and peppermints.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

If you’re searching for a recipe to wow everyone in a cookie exchange, these are your cookies, and they don’t even taste or act like cookies. They’ll blow your mind. Blow the minds of everyone there.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

Modified from Taste of Home, November 2015.

 

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Bready or Not: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

These cookies taste and act like peppermint meltaway candies! The cookies are like light little clouds, and are the perfect conveyance for the refreshing frosting with peppermint bits.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: cookies, mint
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

cookie dough

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch

frosting

  • 2 Tb unsalted butter softened
  • 2 Tb milk or half & half
  • 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar sifted
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup peppermint candies crushed

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, then add peppermint extract. Gradually beat in the flour and cornstarch.
  • Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes or so, until the dough is firm enough to work with.
  • Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Using a teaspoon scoop, dole out dough onto a cookie sheet. Use a spatula or the bottom of a glass to lightly compress the cookies, as they may not spread much while baking.
  • Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until set. Let cool on sheet for 10 minutes, then move to a rack to finish cooling.
  • When the cookies are room temperature, prepare the frosting. Mash the two tablespoons butter until creamy; add the milk and peppermint extract. Beat in the confectioners' sugar until it is smooth. Add more sugar or milk, if necessary, to reach a thick yet spreadable consistency.
  • Use the back of a spoon to frost the cookies then sprinkle with peppermint candies. Store in an airtight container with waxed paper or parchment between layers. Makes about 25 teaspoon-sized cookies.
  • OM NOM NOM!
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Bready or Not: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

Posted by on Nov 22, 2017 in Blog, Bready or Not, chocolate, cookies, mint | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

Imagine chocolate chip-flecked shortbread sticks adorned with a thin sheen of frosting with dazzling gems of peppermint.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

If you love peppermint and chocolate, these cookie sticks will bring you bliss. But do heed a rather important warning.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

If the peppermint bits sit in the frosting for more than a day or so, they’ll actually melt. Seriously. It’s some kind of chemical reaction. Puddles of red goop everywhere.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

But here’s the thing: the sticks still taste fine if that happens! They just look like they stared at the Arc of the Covenant.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

So make a big ol’ jelly roll pan of these, and hold off on adding the peppermints adornments until soon before serving. Or put them on, and use it as a kind of science experiment.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

A very delicious experiment. Did I mention these were like shortbread sticks loaded with chocolate chips and slathered with frosting? Oh yeah. These are good.

Modified from Crazy for Crust at Challenge Dairy. 

 

Bready or Not: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

These handy cookie sticks are loaded with holiday deliciousness with a perfect combination of chocolate chip shortbread, thin frosting, and crushed peppermints. Do note that the peppermint chunks will dissolve into the frosting if they sit there over a day or so, so add them just before serving.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: bars, cookies, mint
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

Cookie Sticks

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Frosting:

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar sifted
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 - 4 Tablespoons milk or cream or half & half
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup candy canes crushed; or peppermints

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Line a jelly roll pan (10x15-inches) with foil and apply nonstick cooking spray all over the surface.
  • Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in egg and both extracts, followed by the baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Add flour until just incorporated, then the chocolate chips.
  • Use your hands to press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until it's just starting to turn golden brown at the edges. Cool completely before frosting.
  • For the frosting, cream butter until smooth. Slowly mix in powdered sugar until it starts to become crumbly, then add the salt and vanilla extract. Stir in 2 tablespoons of milk, then add more until it is spreadable consistency.
  • Use the foil to lift the cookie slab onto a cutting board. Use an uneven spatula to frost the full surface. Let the frosting set for a short while. Slice cookies into sticks.
  • DO NOT sprinkle crushed peppermints on until soon before serving--the candies will actually dissolve into the frosting after a day or so, which looks bad though they still taste fine.
  • OM NOM NOM!

Bready or Not: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

These handy cookie sticks are loaded with holiday deliciousness with a perfect combination of chocolate chip shortbread, thin frosting, and crushed peppermints. Do note that the peppermint chunks will dissolve into the frosting if they sit there over a day or so, so add them just before serving.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: bars, cookies, mint
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

Cookie Sticks

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Frosting:

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar sifted
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 - 4 Tablespoons milk or cream or half & half
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup candy canes crushed; or peppermints

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Line a jelly roll pan (10x15-inches) with foil and apply nonstick cooking spray all over the surface.
  • Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in egg and both extracts, followed by the baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Add flour until just incorporated, then the chocolate chips.
  • Use your hands to press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until it's just starting to turn golden brown at the edges. Cool completely before frosting.
  • For the frosting, cream butter until smooth. Slowly mix in powdered sugar until it starts to become crumbly, then add the salt and vanilla extract. Stir in 2 tablespoons of milk, then add more until it is spreadable consistency.
  • Use the foil to lift the cookie slab onto a cutting board. Use an uneven spatula to frost the full surface. Let the frosting set for a short while. Slice cookies into sticks.
  • DO NOT sprinkle crushed peppermints on until soon before serving--the candies will actually dissolve into the frosting after a day or so, which looks bad though they still taste fine.
  • OM NOM NOM!
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Bready or Not: Peppermint Biscotti

Posted by on Nov 15, 2017 in Blog, Bready or Not, breakfast, chocolate, mint | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Peppermint Biscotti

In recent months, I have shared recipes for Snickerdoodle Biscotti and Maple Walnut White Chocolate Biscotti. Now we’re gearing up for the holidays with Peppermint Biscotti.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Biscotti

I found this recipe in a Food Network Magazine from December 2015. I made it following their instructions, wasn’t pleased with the results, and made it again with numerous changes. This one worked.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Biscotti

I love how white chocolate chips work in biscotti. Since they bake up to be extra crispy, the chips add just the right touch of sweetness to complement the crunchiness.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Biscotti

The topping is what makes these scream “Holiday season!” I love the goopy drizzles atop these sticks, with generous amounts of crushed peppermints on top.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Biscotti

As these are biscotti, they keep well for days and weeks. If you’re mailing these, of course, be wary of the temperatures the package may encounter in transit. That’s something I always must consider here in Arizona!

Bready or Not: Peppermint Biscotti

Eat these biscotti on their own, or totally bliss-out and dip them in coffee or tea.

Bready or Not: Peppermint Biscotti

These Peppermint Biscotti are infused with peppermint flavor from the flecked drizzle on through the cookies themselves. They look and taste like the holiday season!
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Keyword: biscotti, chocolate, mint
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

biscotti

  • 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

topping

  • 4 oz white chocolate
  • drizzle oil if needed
  • 2 candy canes crushed

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
  • In medium bowl, measure out the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
  • In a big bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and peppermint extract. Slowly stir in the dry mix until just incorporated, then add the white chocolate chips.
  • Divide the dough in half on the prepared baking sheet. Form each into a log about 4 inches wide and 10 inches long; make sure there is space between the two logs, as they'll grow in the oven.
  • Bake about 25 minutes, until the biscotti is lightly browned. Remove the baking sheet, but be sure to leave the oven on.
  • Let the biscotti cool for 10 minutes. Use a large knife, such as a bread knife, to diagonally slice the logs 1/2-inch apart. Use a straight-down motion to cut; don't saw.
  • Arrange the biscotti spaced out on the baking sheet. Stand them up if possible, or lay them on their sides. Bake for another 25 minutes, flipping them over halfway if necessary, to equally crisp both sides.
  • Cool completely on the baking sheet. Crush the candy canes.
  • Melt the white chocolate on the stovetop or in the microwave; if necessary, stir in a drizzle of coconut oil or vegetable oil to make the chocolate loose enough to dribble.
  • Drizzle the chocolate all over the biscotti, then immediately sprinkle peppermint chunks over them. Let them set for a few hours at room temperature or in the fridge.
  • Store in an airtight container as long as a few weeks.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

 

Bready or Not: Peppermint Biscotti

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Bready or Not: Cocoa Peppermint Cookies

Posted by on Dec 9, 2015 in Blog, Bready or Not, cookies, mint | 2 comments

I bake a wide variety of things and send the goodies along with my husband to his work. When the guys there say, “These cookies are among the best ever,” that makes me take notice.

Cocoa Peppermint Cookies

I first found this recipe on a bag of Andes Baking Chips, dubbed with the long name of “Andes Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies.” Whew. I modified it by taking out the nuts (they just don’t pair well with peppermint, I think) and compensating by adding more mint chocolate chips. Because you can’t go wrong with that.

I chilled the dough, since that often produces better cookies, and I was surprised at how much this dough still spread. Be sure you space out those dough balls!

Cocoa Peppermint Cookies

These cookies would be fantastic for a holiday cookie exchange or to give as a gift. The Andes chips look fantastically festive against the backdrop of rich dough… and you know what? They taste darn good, too.

Cocoa Peppermint Cookies

Modified from a recipe found on Andes Peppermint Crunch Chips package; also found online.

Bready or Not: Cocoa Peppermint Cookies

These chewy, mildly crunchy cookies are loaded with chocolate and peppermint goodness. [Recipe is modified from one that is printed on Andes Baking Chip bags.]
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: chocolate, coffee, cookies, holiday, mint
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks
  • 2 Tablespoons espresso powder
  • 2 cups plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup baking cocoa sifted
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 package Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips 10 oz
  • 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate or chopped candy bars
  • 1 cup mint chocolate chips

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan on low heat, melt the butter with the espresso powder, stirring often. When the two are incorporated, remove the pan from heat and set aside to cool for an hour.
  • In a medium bowl, sift together the main dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
  • Now it's time for the big mixing bowl. Pour in the cooled butter mixture, then add the white sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Beat at medium speed for a few minutes until it's all creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Gradually work in the flour mixture a bit at a time until it's just blended. Now stir in the Andes Chips and the extra chocolate.
  • Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and stash it in the fridge to chill for a few hours or days, or even freeze it.
  • When it's time to bake, preheat oven to 350-degrees.
  • Drop the dough in rounded tablespoons about two inches apart on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet; note that this dough does spread, even when the dough is chilled.
  • Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Let them rest of the cookie sheet a few more minutes to set, the transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

Cocoa Peppermint Cookies

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Bready or Not: Peppermint-Brownie Pie

Posted by on Dec 2, 2015 in Blog, Bready or Not, brownies, chocolate, mint, pie | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Peppermint-Brownie Pie

You could just make normal brownies, sure, but it’s an indisputable fact that everything is better in pie form.

Peppermint Brownie Pie

Back in March, we were in Tucson for the Book Festival on Pi Day. To my amazement, pie was hard to find. We ended up driving a good distance to a Village Inn, where they had already run out of most pies. Our selections ended up being fine, but my husband was tormented by a tabletop ad for a mint brownie pie that was not available.

“Don’t worry,” I told him. “I’ll make one for you.”

Peppermint Brownie Pie

This ended up being more of a challenge than I expected. I ended up looking at a number of recipes until I found a good base recipe to modify. I wanted a strong mint flavor and for it to not necessarily LOOK Christmassy. I wanted a pie that could be made year-round.

Peppermint Brownie Pie

I already had some York Patties stashed away, courtesy of post-holiday clearance sales, so I had the very candy to mix into my recipe, too.

Peppermint Brownie Pie

The end result was peppermint-brownie perfection. I used my homemade pie crust (shown below as well) and was pleased that the brownie contents didn’t make the crust get soggy or hard.

If you love mint brownies, if you love pie, welcome to your new bliss.

Modified from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody.

Peppermint Brownie Pie

Bready or Not: Basic Pie Crust

A basic, reliable pie shell recipe. Great for sweet pies! Reduce the sugar, and use for savory pies, too!
Course: Dessert, Main Course
Keyword: pie
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, cold, cut into cubes
  • 3/4 cup ice water

Instructions

  • Make dough hours in advance or the night before. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add in the cold butter cubes, and either use a pastry blender or pulse the ingredients in a food processor until the butter is pea-sized.
  • Pour in the cold water and pulse/mix together until the dough forms a loose ball. I like to use my hands at this point. The dough may be sticky, but it will firm up well.
  • Pour dough onto a floured surface. Divide into two balls and fallen them into discs. Wrap each disc in parchment paper, then in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least one hour before placing in pie dish, or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Roll out the refrigerated dough into a 12-inch round. Press it into a 9-inch dish, trimming the excess and pinching the edges. Wrap loosely with plastic wrap and freeze at least two hours before using, or keep frozen up to three months.

 

Bready or Not: Peppermint-Brownie Pie

Peppermint brownies in pie form! This fudgy pie is even better after being chilled for a day. It features a strong, clean mint flavor. Perfect for the holidays... or all year long!
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Keyword: chocolate, coffee, mint, pie
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter half stick, cut into pieces for quicker melting
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa sifted
  • 3 eggs room temperature
  • 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp espresso powder optional but awesome
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1 cup York Peppermint Patties chopped
  • 1 pie shell make your own or use a store bought crust

Instructions

  • Set out the pie crust atop a cookie sheet. Chop up the York patties and place half of them in the crust.
  • In a medium sauce pan, place the milk, butter, and cocoa powder. Warm on low heat. Stir occasionally so the mixture doesn't stick and scorch. Remove from heat when all ingredients are melted and mixed together fully. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven at 350-degrees.
  • In a large bowl, lightly beat the three eggs. Temper them by adding a couple spoonfuls of the chocolate mixture and mixing. Do this three times. Finally, stir the remaining chocolate into eggs.
  • Add the flour, espresso powder, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Fold in chocolate chips.
  • Pour brownie batter into the pie shell and then top with remaining chopped York Patties.
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes on the cookie sheet, until a knife in the center comes out clean. Let set to cool for several hours. Store covered with foil in the fridge.
  • OM NOM NOM!

 

Peppermint Brownie Pie

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Bready or Not: Mint Chocolate Chip Bars

Posted by on May 27, 2015 in Blog, Bready or Not, brownies, chocolate, mint | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Mint Chocolate Chip Bars

These super-easy bars are packed with chocolate and minty goodness.

Mint Choc Chip Bars

My husband’s favorite flavors include snickerdoodle, lemon, and chocolate mint. I figured I was overdue to revisit that last flavor.

Mint Choc Chip Bars

I had a bag of dark chocolate and mint chips I picked up on holiday clearance. Therefore, I used that whole bag to account for the 1 cup of dark chocolate and 1 cup of mint chips. You could easily do this with chocolate from separate bags or even use more York Patties to substitute for the mint chips.

Mint Choc Chip Bars

The basic fact is, you want a variety of dark chocolate and mint chocolate, and there are a lot of paths to achieve that. I do like the mix I used here–it’s pretty!

Not only is it photogenic, but it’s pretty darn tasty, too.

Mint Choc Chip Bars

Modified from Chocolate Chips Bars at Roxana’s Home Baking.

Bready or Not: Mint Chocolate Chip Bars

Bars loaded with minty goodness!
Course: Dessert
Keyword: bars, chocolate, mint
Author: Beth Cato

Ingredients

Chocolate Layer:

  • 2 cups chocolate chips semi-sweet or milk or mixed
  • 14 ounce sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Cookie Dough:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups mint chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Prepare the mint chocolate filling first: Place semi-sweet and/or milk chocolate chips and condensed milk in a small saucepan. Heat on low, stirring often, until everything has melted and the mix has thickened. Remove it from the burner and pour in the peppermint extract and stir. Let the pot cool until it's about room temperature.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prep a 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper (the combination aluminum foil/parchment paper works well here) and lightly butter or use nonstick spray. Have paper overhang the sides for easy lifting later.
  • Prepare the cookie dough: Place the butter and sugars in a large bowl. Mix until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix with the butter mixture. Add mint chocolate chips last.
  • Place about half the cookie dough in the prepared pan. It will be sticky, but drop it in dollops and smooth it to the edge as best you can. With a solid layer on the bottom, now dollop the cooled chocolate from the saucepan. Use an offset spatula to smooth it to the edges. Plop the rest of the cookie dough on top and don't worry if some chocolate shows through. The dough will ooze out and even as it bakes.
  • Bake until lightly browned, about 20 to 25 minutes. Set aside to cool for a few hours, then place in fridge to completely set. Cut into bars. Store in sealed container in fridge or on counter.

OM NOM NOM!

    Mint Choc Chip Bars

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