Peppermint Patties
Cookies, do we have a treat for you. Er well, yes, we do always have treats for you, (this being a baking blog and all) but today’s treat is an extra special treat.
Yup, we made you candy. Homemade candy! You know, boiling sugar, tempering chocolate, hours and hours of back breaking labor. All to make you lovelies these delectable homemade peppermint patties.
Ok fine. So there was no boiling sugar.
And the chocolate tempering was more like placing the chocolate in a glass bowl and then microwaving.
And yes, ok, fine, the hours and hours of back breaking labor was more like minutes and minutes of labor. Ugh, geez, fine, it was minutes and minutes of standing. But still, sometimes we get tired standing.
Thank goodness for the all important candy quality control which required taste tests at the beginning, middle and end of the candy making process. Got to keep the energy up muffins! This is no walk in the park!
Actually, it was easier than a walk in the park. No bikes, no horse drawn carriages, er and no walking.
Just a quick mix, roll, slice and dunk. And you get these gorgeous little patties. And you made them! You made candy! Hurrah!
And since nothing is more holiday-ish-y than chocolate and mint, wrap a few up and give them away so everyone knows about your candy making prowess. Play up the back breaking labor part. And the chocolate tempering (microwaving shhh) part. No one has to know it’s this easy.
Peppermint Patties
Makes 16 patties
2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
8 ounces 70% cacao bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup peppermint candies, crushed
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 2 1/4 cups of confectioners sugar together with corn syrup, water, peppermint extract and vegetable shortening until just combined. The mixture will be very crumbly. Dust a work surface with remaining 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar. Empty contents of bowl onto work surface and knead until smooth (this will take a few minutes). Shape dough into a log, about 2 inches by 8 inches long. Wrap tightly in parchment paper and freeze until very firm, about 20 minutes.
Remove dough and slice into rounds using a sharp knife. Place rounds onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and freeze again until firm, for at least 15 minutes.
While dough is chilling, melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals. Cool slightly. Chocolate should be warm but not so hot that you cannot put your finger into it.
Cover another baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove patties from freezer one at a time and submerge into melted chocolate (we just used our hands). Coat quickly and allow excess chocolate to drip off. Place on parchment paper lined pan and sprinkle with crushed candies. Repeat, covering all patties with chocolate and candy.
Let patties stand until chocolate is set, about 1 hour. Store in fridge, between wax paper in an airtight container. Bring to room temperature before serving.
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Reader Comments (56)
I can't believe that it's so easy to make one of my favorite candies ever. Yours look delicious and they'd probably make a fantastic gift. By the way, I'm holding a giveaway on my blog for Orglamix Organic makeup and you're welcome to come by and enter. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2010/12/orglamix-organic-mineral-makeup-review.html
You girls are awesome! These patties look amazing.
I just might have to make these for my coworkers :) Thanks for the delicious holiday idea!
Oh wow! Thank you for this recipe!! These can be pretty hard to find over here, so a homemade version is awesome!
Ooooooh - I LOVE these, and I've been looking for something wonderful and impressive but not too time-consuming to take to a party on Saturday. Yay! This is it. Thanks for sharing!
You make this look very easy! It took me two tries to get this right. ha ha. But, it finally worked! And, they taste delish!!! My 4 yr and 2 yr old sons are attacking them. And, they were meant for a Christmas gift to give tonight. Oh well, I will just make another set of these for tomorrow. Thanks a bunch! It was a lot of fun making these peppermint patties! =)
Wow...I am totally making these this year...can't wait!
I think I've seriously died and gone to heaven. Why oh why did I stumble upon this blog? It's going to be the death of me... very soon. But not before I ingest about 20 of this little balls of peppermint fury.
- Katie at www.ohshineon.com
I made these little treasures over the Thanksgiving holiday. Such a treat. Feedback from all, has been extremely favorable. Great recipe. Thanks for posing! I will make again!
T
These seriously look evil. Which is why I'm going to immediately bookmark the recipe so I can try them!
Very cute! I can't wait to give them a try. :)
Rachael
Wonderful recipe, really beautiful pictures!
Do you happen to know how many calories, sugar and etc are in each serving or total? Just wishful thinking that you do. I would like to try making these! Very creative! Thanks for sharing! : )
These look fabulous! Can they be frozen? If so for how long? How long will they keep just in the fridge?
Many thanks!
How long can you store these and do you know how they would hold up to shipping? I have a ton of family up north and would love to mail some back home for the holidays. Thanks so much and I love your blog!
Hi Houston Housewife - These will keep chilled in the fridge for a few weeks - but unfortunately do need to be cold so we don't think would hold up well to shipping.
This looks super easy!! I'm definately gonna try these for Christmas this year!!!!
These are so easy to make. I made a batch of the peppermint flavor, but also altered the recipe and removed the peppermint and add strawberry flavor and a itty bitty dot of no taste red gel food color for strawberry cream chocolates. The cream tasted yummy without the chocolate can't wait until they are dipped
Will these be OK to freeze?
Yes these candies freeze great!