Halloween Peppermint Patties

This is one of those recipes that I knew I had to try as soon as I saw it. But that didn’t make sense. I am not a huge fan of peppermint patties. We usually have them at Christmastime. I  eat way too many get my fill and don’t think about them again until the next Christmas. But they just looked too fun to pass up. They tasted just like the real thing!

My original idea was to roll the “dough” out then cut it with mini pumpkin cookie cutters then fully dip them in chocolate. I was sadly defeated by the sticky, uncooperative mixture. It just wasn’t stiff enough to cut with a cookie cutter. But I think I will try them again and just keep kneading in powdered sugar until it is stiff enough. I didn’t want to go there this time as I wanted to be able to report to you what the real recipe tasted like. I’m thinking green Christmas trees will be my experiment. Speaking of Christmas, you could make these in red and green and sprinkle them over cookie trays for friends and neighbors. Or make them in pastel colors for the kiddos Easter baskets. I always love giving and receiving handmade treats, they radiate love.

You don’t expect peppermint when you bite into something orange so that makes them even more fun for Halloween. They would be great for any Halloween themed party. Give them a try, you won’t regret it!

3  1/2 cups powdered sugar, plus extra, as needed
1/4 cup pasteurized liquid egg white product
1 teaspoon water, plus extra, as needed
1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
Orange food coloring, as needed, optional
2 (4-ounce) bars 53 percent cocoa dark chocolate, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (recommended: Nestle Chocolatier)
1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1.Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the powdered sugar, egg white product, 1 teaspoon water, peppermint extract and 1 to 2 drops of food coloring, if using. Mix on low speed until smooth. Increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture forms a stiff dough (if the mixture becomes too stiff, add extra water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time and beat until smooth). Put the mixture on a work surface dusted with powdered sugar and roll it into a log about 12-inches long and 1 1/4-inches in diameter. Slice the log into 1/4 to 1/2-inch pieces, form them into balls and flatten into discs. Arrange in single layers on the prepared baking sheets. Let the candies dry, uncovered, at room temperature for 3 hours.

3. Put the chocolate and vegetable oil in a small bowl and set it over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate is smooth and melted. Dip 1 half of each candy into the melted chocolate and return them to the parchment paper until the chocolate has set, about 3 hours.

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