Homemade Peppermint Patties

This may end up being one of my favorite recipes to date. and even better, it was so simple. I am not sure about you, but I always feel like real peppermint patties can be overtly strong. And, as much as I adore peppermint, I have to be in a particular mood to enjoy them. and they usually need to be frozen. As must any chocolate I am gonna enjoy. I mean, have you had the pleasure of enjoying a frozen twix? Life altering goodness. and to this day, the only milk chocolate treat I enjoy! but moving on...

When I was in Target prepping for my little cookie madness gathering, I spied this huge bag of peppermint marshmallows. I already had a bag of miniature peppermintallows in my cart. All ready to head on home with me and take my hot cocoa to the level of what some people refer to as  (pinky raised as they drink, I'm sure;) "drinking chocolate"...but when I saw these giant ones, I took a pause and knew that they were destined for even greater purposes. Ergo, back the smaller bag went. 

and funny how great minds think alike...because Kraft had my idea already on the bag. Way to one up my inferred genius, Kraft. Rude. But I digress...

Dark chocolate turned these into a work of art. and you can use any kind you want, but I will stand firm that quality chocolate makes a quality product. So for not that much more, I used ghiradelli.  and then my Christmas cheer lollipop sticks took them to another level. But I will let you be the judge;)

Ingredients

12 large marshmallows

1 cup melting chips 

crushed peppermint pieces(optional)

Melt the chocolate. You can use a microwave or double broiler. All I can say is WATCH YOUR CHOCOLATE. a few seconds is the differential between perfection and scorched chocolate. and once it is burned, there is no going back!

Using a skewer, give the marshmallows a thorough dunking. Like a teenage boy throwing his crush in the pool. We are talking full immersion here. Then, before you take out, lightly tap the skewer on the edge to rid excess chocolate. 

Place on wax paper. This is when you would add the peppermint if you wanted. Let harden before slowly peeling off. You can package these in cute cellophane and give them as a sweet gift. or you can eat almost all of them yourself and beg your husband to hide them from you. and then, when you must have one, demand he give up his hiding spot, no matter the threats you leveled if he did such earlier in the night. 

If you can't find these peppermint marshmallows, regular giant ones will do. Just add a little mint extract to the chocolate, before you melt it so not to seize. and I mean a tiny drop. and then sprinkle the peppermint on top for added flavor. 

Enjoy!

Peppermint Oreo Trifle

My last peppermint recipe of the season. This is sad. But I am still whipping them up at my house and will continue to do so through Valentines. You best believe it.

I made this for a gathering. I had some friends over to watch movies and be girls and so giggly gossip and catching up happened more than the movie...but I like that part even better. We were all nibbling and I brought out the trifle, one of my besties got up to take a bite and then quipped "this is terrible, so I am just gonna eat the whole thing to save everyone else" and she acted like she was gonna sit in the corner and hold it hostage. Pretty funny...but it really was that good.

In case you haven't gathered it from these posts: peppermint oreo whoopie pie or peppermint oreo mudslide....I am kinda a fan of the peppermint oreo combo thingy. and I am not one bit sorry.

Ingredients

1 box choc cake mix(and ingredients to make cake)

2 box oreo pudding mix

1 1/2 cup peppermint mocha creamer

1 1/2 cup whipping cream

1 package peppermint crunch(or 1 cup crushed candy canes/peppermints)

8 oz cream chhese(softened)

optional

1 packet peppermint hot choc packet

1 cup peppermint marshmallows

crushed oreos

see notes for quicker cool whip version.

This may seem more daunting than it is, due to the amount of ingredients, but it really only takes about 20 min to make the whole thing(not including baking cake) and the end result is so worth it, promise!

Bake cake according to directions, adding half a pack of oreo pudding to batter. Once it has cooled, cut in small, bite size chunks and place a layer in the bottom of a trifle bowl. In a separate bowl, Make the pudding(and remaining half of other packet) using the mocha creamer, put in fridge to set up for 5 minutes. Add in cream cheese and beat together till fluffy, add in a cup of peppermint crunch, mix till combined. Then add in the whipping cream and beat til peaks form. Add a layer of the oreo peppermint mix on top of the cake layer, add some more peppermint crunch and continue layering to top of bowl. Then top w/crushed oreos, peppermint and or peppermint marshmallows.

Cover and keep in fridge for at least an hour or until ready to serve. 

Notes*

the second time I made this, I added hot cocoa mix to the cream mixture. I also made the pudding w/peppermint kahlua and baileys. If you want to make a quicker version, make the pudding using 2 cups of the creamer and after it set up for 5 minutes, fold in peppermint crunch and a tub of cool whip.

I hope you get to make this and I hope you live near me and want me to come taste it. you know, just to make sure it tastes like it should;)  

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:Gingerbread Eggnog Whoopie Pie & Peppermint Eggnog Mudslide

Doesn't this just scream Christmas time? I should think so! I will admit that I am not the first person in line when someone brings out gingerbread cookies, I love the little houses , yet I have no interest in snapping a bite off one. I have never been a fan of crisp cookies, I know some people love it, I've just never been that girl. These however....so soft and chewy and the eggnog balances off the spice so well. I used pre made "spiked" eggnog, but you can always use non alcoholic...should be easy to locate in the dairy aisle.

Ingredients

cookies

1 bag of gingerbread cookie mix(I found mine at target)

ingredients listed on bag

filling

1/3 cup eggnog

1 packet cheesecake pudding

4 oz cream cheese, softened

Bake according to directions, let cookies cool. In a mixing bowl, mix together pudding pack & eggnog, mix till fully combined. Add in cream cheese and beat till fully incorporated. Slowly add in whipping cream, turn speed on high until stiff peaks begin to form. Place filling in fridge for at least an hour.

Place a dollop of frosting in center of cookie, top w/another and press down till filling spreads to edges.

and then you could always pair this w/ a peppermint eggnog mudslide.

Ingredients

1 large scoop peppermint ice cream

1 oz eggnog

1 oz baileys

1 oz vodka(I used vanilla)

1 cup ice

place all ingredients in blender and blend till desired consistency.

 pour in a peppermint sugar rimmed glass, top w/some whipped cream and get yourself out a straw and sit back and say "aaahhh" then enjoy it w/the cookie while you perhaps watch your favorite holiday movie;)
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Whoopie Pie Wednesday:Peppermint Hot Cocoa

Yessssss, now that it is December I can fully indulge in my absolute addiction love of all things peppermint(don't you worry, I am still eating pumpkin & caramel, as I've stated over & over, Fall is still on for another 15 days) Anyhoo, I found these mini peppermint marshmallows at Target and was confounded as to how to work them into a recipe and not just use them as a finisher for my hot chocolate. but hot chocolate IS my favorite, thus this flavor combo. And it was better than I hoped!

Ingredients

1 box chocolate cake mix

1/3 cup veggie oil

2 eggs

1/4 cup water

3 packs peppermint hot chocolate mix

1 cup whipping cream

4-6 oz chocolate cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup marshmallow fluff

1 cup mini peppermint marshmallows 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine cake mix, oil, eggs, 1 packet of hot choc & water in bowl, slowly mix in 1 cup of the peppermint marshmallows.(if it's way too dry, you may want to add a tsp of water)  

Drop by  tablespoon onto lined cookie sheet (leave about an inch between each cookie)

Bake 8-9 minutes

Cool on pan 5 minutes, move to wire rack and cool 15 more minutes

Beat softened cream cheese & fluff on low for a min or until fluffy, add 2 hot choc packets & 2 tbsp of whipping cream, beat on low till hot choc is fully incorporated into cream cheese and add remaining whipping cream, turn speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form. Let set in fridge for at least an hour before frosting. 

Place a dollop of frosting in center and top w/another cookie.

Notes***

if you can only find the cans of peppermint hot choc, 3 tbsp would equal one packet. And I just happened to have chocolate cream cheese on hand, regular should work fine too. You can forgo the marshmallow fluff in the filling, I made it that way too and it was tasty...but this just gives it a more "genuine" hot cocoa taste. If you can't find the mini marshmallows, just use andes peppermint pieces or even crushed candy canes. You could also just use the peppermint frosting that is out now and crush in the peppermint pieces.

You could make this so many ways. Can't really go wrong.

and as usual, I had some filling left over, I added a tsp of coffee extract, 2 more oz cream cheese and a little more whipping cream, whipped for a few minutes, put in freezer for an hour, placed in dip bowl and topped w/the mini marshmallows. 

Voila, Peppermint Mocha Dip

Served w/ apples, pretzels & graham crackers.

These are so good and pair perfectly with, what else, a peppermint dunkachino, or if you're one of those people and you love mochas, that works too;)

and today...six years later, I miss you, Jeremy, as much now as I did then. 24 years wasn't enough time, yet the mark you left upon our family will always be felt.

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