Peppermint Mocha Cookies Food

PEPPERMINT MOCHA COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 4 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Whisk flour, cocoa, espresso, and salt together in a bowl.
• Cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract; beat to combine. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed until well combined.
• Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Dip the tops of the cookies into the crushed candy canes. Place candy-side up on the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm, 14 to 16 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

PEPPERMINT MOCHA COOKIES -- HOLIDAY CONTEST WINNER

Steps:

• For the cookies: Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large (18 by 12-inch) baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt together into medium bowl. With electric, beat butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Add cooled espresso and vanilla and beat at medium-low speed until combined. Scrape down bowl. With mixer on low speed, gradually add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
• Roll dough into thirty 1-inch balls. Place 15 balls on each prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake until just set, rotating sheets from front to back and top to bottom halfway through baking, 8 to 9 minutes. Cool cookies on sheets for 2 minutes; transfer with metal spatula to wire rack to cool completely, at least 30 minutes. (Cookies can be stored in airtight container for up to 4 days.)
• For the frosting: With an electric mixer, beat butter at medium-high speed until smooth, about 20 seconds. Add confectioners' sugar and beat at medium-low speed until most of the sugar is moistened, about 45 seconds. Scrape down bowl and beat at medium speed until mixture is fully combined, about 15 seconds. Scrape down bowl. Add milk, peppermint extract, and food coloring and beat at medium speed until incorporated, about 10 seconds, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down bowl once or twice. Frost cooled cookies and immediately sprinkle each with crushed mints. (Once frosted, cookies are best served within 1 day.).

MINT MOCHA COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine 3/4 the chocolate chips with coffee in a small, heavy saucepan over low heat. Melt, remove from heat, and stir. Repeat this process, stirring until smooth, 4 to 6 minutes total. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.
• Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
• Beat butter, white sugar, brown sugar, peppermint extract, and vanilla extract in a large bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the melted chocolate. Beat in the flour mixture gradually. Stir in the remaining chocolate chips and creme de menthe chips. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until sides are set but centers are still soft, 8 to 12 minutes. Let cool for 2 minutes. Press your thumb into each cookie; top thumbprints with crushed candy canes.
• Melt white chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 15-second intervals, stirring after each melting, 1 to 3 minutes. Drizzle over cookies.