Friday, December 19, 2008

Peppermint Bonbon Cookies

Darlene at Our Creative Life is hosting a cookie recipe exchange, and I'm also going to hook up with Melissa @ The Inspired Room's holiday linky. This recipe comes from Christmas with Southern Living 2007. I made them last year, and while a little time consuming, they were mmm, mmm, good! Firstborn has requested them again this year, so next week when he's out of school, we'll make them.
(Tip: do not use your Pampered Chef chopper to crush up starlight mints. It will dull the blades. Not the smartest idea I've ever had.)


Yield 2 1/2 dozen
Ingredients
  • 8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 1/2 cup finely crushed hard peppermint candies
  • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
  • Additional coarsely crushed hard peppermint candies, divided
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar (optional)
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons milk (optional)
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate morsels, melted (optional)

Preparation

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large saucepan; cook over low heat until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and stir in 1/2 cup crushed peppermint and 6 Tbsp. sugar. Let cool 30 minutes.

Add eggs to melted chocolate, 1 at a time, stirring well. Stir in extracts.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to chocolate mixture, stirring until combined. Stir in chocolate morsels. Cover and chill dough 2 hours or until firm enough to shape.

Shape dough into 1 1/2" balls; place on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake at 325° for 12 to 13 minutes or until cookies are puffed and cracked on top. Sprinkle coarsely crushed peppermints onto cookies; press candy lightly into cookies. Let cookies cool 5 minutes on baking sheets. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Whisk together powdered sugar and milk; drizzle over cooled cookies, if desired. Drizzle with melted chocolate, if desired. Sprinkle cookies again with chopped peppermint, if desired. Let cookies stand until glaze and chocolate are firm.


6 comments:

Melissa Miller said...

Hello,

They sound really delicious! I love chocolate amd peppermint together. I've always enjoyed SL'S magazines.

Thanks for sharing. :)
~Melissa

Amanda said...

YUM! Im drooling already! what a great receipe! Merry Christmas

gina said...

Those look pretty! And yummmmmmy!!!

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

Oh those seem so incredibly good! I am a sucker for peppermint and chocolate. I really want to try these!

Kim @ Forever Wherever said...

Well, they seem like they would taste great and look great! Sounds like a winner! Merry Christmas!

Darlene - Our Creative Life said...

Those look amazing! Thanks for participating in my First Christmas Cookie Recipe Exchange!