12 Days of Christmas Cooking-Peppermint Patties 12 Days to Christmas

Image from All You Need Is Pug on Etsy

When I was a dog deprived kid I used to imagine my fantasy dog, a sweet little girl pug Peppermint Puggy, named after my favorite candy, the Peppermint Patty.   Years passed and I acquired a family of wonderful pugs (and non pugs) none of whom I named Peppermint.  I still love the candy though, even though I don't like most grocery store candies.   Then a few years ago I discovered a recipe for home made peppermint patties and they are so much better then the store bough version, plus they are easy, keep forever and make a perfect Holiday gift.  

You do need one specialty ingredient to make them: food grade peppermint oil, 
which you can buy on Amazon.  You need peppermint oil, not extract, in order to give the patties that cool, zingy flavor that they were talking about in those old commercials.

 Peppermint Patties from the Joy of Baking

• 4 cups confectioners sugar (plus extra for rolling)
• 3 tbsp butter, softened
• 1/2 tsp food grate peppermint oil, do not use peppermint extract
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 tbsp evaporated milk
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp shortening

In an electric mixer beat the sugar and butter, extracts, and evaporated milk until creamy and well combined.  Cover the bowl and refrigerate for about 1 hour.  

Remove the batter from the fridge and line a baking sheet with foil and sprinkle it  with confectioners sugar.  Scoop the dough out by spoon fulls and roll into a ball and then flatten into patty shape.  Place on the sugar lined pan.   Refrigerate the patties for at least one hour.

Once the patties are firm melt the chocolate and shortening in a sauce pan over very low heat and whisk until smooth (be careful not to burn it). Dip the patties in the melted chocolate using two forks.   Place them on a second foiled lined baking sheet (minus the confectioners sugar).  Refrigerate until the chocolate is hard, about one hour.   Store in the fridge for up to a month.