When I think of Peppermint Patty, I think of the Peanuts Gang. She is one of my favorite characters, even though she doesn’t show up very often. She’s got attitude, and I love that. And she is one of the only characters who is nice to Charlie Brown (at least sometimes) and that’s pretty cool in my book.
Speaking of Peppermint Patty…peppermint and chocolate together make one of the happiest combos in chocolate land. I never really thought about making them myself until I came across a recipe one day. And even then I may not have made them right away but I was fortunate enough to be asked to mentor a lovely girl in her candy making project for school. Funny how events coincide. You find a great recipe, and then somebody asks you to do something that involves making that very thing. Wonderful.
I liked these so much that I have made them twice this week. These are more of an inside out peppermint patty. It makes for a pretty presentation. Could you dip them in chocolate instead of putting the chocolate in the peppermint? Well, sure. If you want to, go right ahead. Me? I’ll go for the option that’s easier to execute. I love the way they look, and I also like to eat the white part around in a circle and get the little chocolate center at the end. Life’s little pleasures.
Inside Out Peppermint Patties
Peppermint Patties
(from She Wears Many Hats)
1 pound powdered sugar (about 2 cups)
4 oz. cream cheese (1/2 package)
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
6 oz. semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
In a mixer, blend the powdered sugar and cream cheese on low to medium speed. Once the mixture is started you can toss in the peppermint extract and continue blending until you have a cohesive ball of stuff. If you don’t have a blender, you can do this with a spoon or your hands. You want a mixture that is about the consistency of play dough. Not crumbly but not sticky either. If you need to add a little extra sugar or cream cheese to get the right consistency, do so. Roll into 1 tsp. size balls. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Make a depression in the ball so it looks like a little bowl. Work quickly so the mixture doesn’t dry out (it helps to have more than one pair of hands). Put in the fridge to cool off and set up (at least 30 minutes).
Making the peppermint molds. A little cooking spray on your hands helps if the mixture is sticking to you.
In a small bowl, microwave chocolate chips for 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Put in a ziplock bag and push down into one corner. Snip off the corner and pipe into the peppermint molds.
Filling the peppermints. Start out with a very small snip because it comes out pretty fast! You can always make the opening bigger if you need to.
Put back into the fridge to set up for at least an hour. Remove from trays and keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat them.
3hungrymonkeys 