Creamy Chocolate Mint Melts Recipes

Steps:

• Cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add chocolate, egg and vanilla; mix well. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, beating well. Divide dough in half; shape each half into a 2-in.-diameter roll. Wrap in waxed paper; refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour., Preheat oven to 400°. Unwrap dough and cut crosswise into 1/8-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until edges are firm, 7-8 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Combine all frosting ingredients; beat until smooth. Spread over cookies; let dry completely. Store in airtight containers.

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips with 1 cup milk. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Spread half into a waxed paper-lined 8-in. square pan; chill for 10 minutes or until firm. , Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan over low heat, cook and stir candy coating with remaining milk until coating is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in peppermint extract and food coloring. Spread over bottom layer; chill for 10 minutes or until firm. , Warm remaining chocolate mixture if necessary; spread over mint layer. Chill for 2 hours or until firm. Remove from pan; cut into 1-in. squares.

Steps:

• Line bottom and sides of a 8x12 inch glass dish with waxpaper.
• Combine 2/3 of candy coating and the chocolate chips in a 4 cup glass measuring cup.
• Microwave on high uncovered, 2 1/2-3 minutes or until mixture is softened.
• Stir until smooth.
• Spread 1/2 of the chocolate in bottom of baking dish.
• Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes. (allow remaining chocolate to stand at room temp.).
• Place remaining candy coating in 2 cup glass measuring cup.
• Microwave on high uncovered, 1 1/2 -2 minutes or until softened.
• Stir in peppermint extract and food coloring. (mixture will become very stiff).
• Mix in cream until spreading consistency.
• Spread over chilled chocolate mixture.
• Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.
• Spread remaining chocolate mixture over mint layer.
• chill until set.
• Before serving, allow to warm to room temperature, then, holding onto waxed paper edges, lift mints from pan.
• Cut into serving pieces, about 1 inch or smaller as desired.
• Mints need to be at room temperature to cut without the chocolate breaking.

Steps:

• For cookies:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 2 heavy large cookie sheets. Using electric mixer, cream butter and extracts in medium bowl until light. Beat in sugar. Beat in half of flour. Stir in remaining flour. Spoon half of dough into pastry bag fitted with no. 4 star tip. Pipe 2 1/2-inch-long ovals with solid centers on prepared cookie sheet, spacing cookies 1/2 inch apart. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake until golden brown on edges, about 12 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and cool.
• For ganache:
• Bring cream and butter to simmer in heavy small saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate and stir until smooth. Mix in extract. Refrigerate just until firm enough to spread, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Line 2 cookie sheets with foil. Using small metal icing spatula, spread 1 teaspoon ganache over flat side 1 cookie. Arrange ganache side up on prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ganache is firm, about 30 minutes.
• For coating:
• Melt bittersweet chocolate and vegetable shortening in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from over water.
• Dip 1 end of 1 cookie into bittersweet chocolate. Grasp cookie on sides and dip ganache side into bittersweet chocolate; shake cookie to remove excess chocolate. Place cookie on same sheet, chocolate side down. Repeat with remaining cookies. Chill until chocolate sets, 30 minutes. Remove cookies from foil. (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Refrigerate in single layers in airtight containers. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.)