During Christmas, I made a number of cookies that made it into the mouths of friends and family but not to the pages of the Friends Food Family blog. As I was going through photos from last year, I came upon these cookies and decided to tell you a little bit about them.
I love mint. Pair that with chocolate and I am in heaven. One of my favorite mint candies is Junior Mints, but not just the regular Junior Mints but the Peppermint Crunch Junior Mints which you can only find around the Christmas holiday season. I love purchasing a number of boxes and hiding them. Periodically, I will find a hidden box, like I did today, and enjoy the extra minty taste of these seasonal treats.
The reason I write about these Chocolate Mint Blossoms is because I didn't realize how much people liked them during the holiday. I had given my boys a few dozen to take back to Philadelphia and Missouri and then gave the rest to my parents for platters I put together for their groups of friends. Last weekend I was at their house for a Hermit Bar request as my mother was having her Ladies Card Group for lunch on Monday. She had shared a few of the hermits with her friends and they asked if I would make a batch for the group. As I was talking to my parents about the different cookies I made at Christmas, my father was saying that people were fighting over the Chocolate Mint Blossoms. I was shocked. I knew the cookies were good but didn't realize how much people liked them. When I called my boys to ask how their friends liked the cookies the response was the same. People really liked them and started taking 2-3 cookies each. The ugliness comes when the cookies are gone and people aren't willing to share. For me, I have accomplished what I set out to do...make really good cookies!
So, now I would like to share them with you with a few hints:
1. Use Candy Cane Kisses or Chocolate Mint Kisses for the best result. If you can't find the mint kisses - Dove makes a mint chocolate candy which you can use.
2. The chocolate cookie base is very good so consider using the base minus the mint flavoring if you would like to create something different. Think almond flavoring with Chocolate Almond Kisses.
3. Double the recipe - 3-4 dozen disappear fast!
Try these cookies and think about different variations. I can't wait to make them again. With my son coming home from Philadelphia next week, I should send him back with some of these Chocolate Mint Blossoms. They may cause a cookie war when he returns as his roommates know a good cookie when they taste one!
Chocolate Mint Blossoms with Mint Hershey Kisses
(Adapted from Better Homes and Garden's Chocomint Blossoms recipe)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of butter, softened
- 1/2 cup of shortening
- 1 cup of sugar
- 3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons of milk
- 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract
- 1-1/2 cups of flour
- 1 bags of Candy Cane Hershey Kisses, we used Mint Hershey Kisses
Preparation:
1. In a large mixer on medium high, cream together the butter, shortening and sugar, 1-2 minutes until well blended.
2. Add the cocoa and baking powder, once incorporated, add the egg, milk and peppermint.
3. Add half the flour and then remove the beater and mix in the last of the flour by hand. The dough will be slightly stiff. Chill dough for an hour.
4. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll one inch balls and place on cookie sheet one inch apart.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are firm.
6. Remove from oven and press a chocolate mint kiss into the top of the cookie. Remove cookies from the tray and cool on a cookie rack. Let rest until chocolate is set.
Makes between 3-4 dozen cookies. Great to freeze.
