Chocolate Mint Cooler Recipes

CRISPY CHOCOLATE-MINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt together in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract if using, and beat until just combined. Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until combined. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead several times with your hands to bring the dough together. Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate to chill slightly, about 10 minutes (or refrigerate half the dough and freeze the other half for later use).
• Generously dust a work surface with flour. Place one half of the dough on top and dust with more flour. Roll out into a round slightly less than 1/4-inch thick and about 14 inches in diameter, adding a little more flour as necessary to prevent sticking. If the dough cracks, press it back together with your fingers and smooth with the rolling pin. Use a 2 1/2- to 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Transfer the cookies one of the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1/2 inch between each cookie. Gather the scraps and refrigerate. Repeat with the second half of the dough.
• Bake, rotating the position of the baking sheets halfway through, until slightly puffed and a shade darker on the underside, about 10 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely (the cookies will crisp as they cool).
• Gather all of the dough scraps together and roll out in the same manner. Cut out cookies and bake. Discard any remaining scraps.

CHOCOLATE MINT BITES

Steps:

• Heat the cream in a medium saucepot over low heat. Smack the mint between your hands to help release the oils; add the mint to the cream. Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat, cover and let steep for 30 minutes.
• Heat the cream back to a simmer. Place the bittersweet and semisweet chocolate chips in a large bowl and strain the hot mint cream over the chocolate. Let sit for 2 minutes to let the chocolate melt. Add the salt and whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and blended into the cream. Pour into a baking dish. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and set, 2 hours.
• Using a small round scoop, melon baller or tablespoon measure, scoop out tablespoon-size balls of the chilled chocolate and place on a baking sheet. You'll need some rubber gloves for the next part. Roll each ball in your hands so that it is uniform and smooth, then place back on the baking sheet.
• Place the crushed cookies, chopped nuts and chopped semisweet chocolate in 3 separate dishes. Roll each chocolate ball in one of the coatings, making sure it is completely covered. Place on a baking sheet, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Remove from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving.

CHOCOLATE MINT COOLER

Steps:

• Put hot chocolate powder in a sml pan & stir in 1/2 cup milk. Heat gently (stirring) till almost boiling. Remove pan from heat.
• Put hot chocolate milk in heatproof bowl or lrg pitcher & whisk in the remaining milk.
• Add the yoghurt & peppermint extract & whisk again.
• Pour the mixture into 4 tall glasses, filling them no more than 3/4 full. Top ea drink w/a scoop of ice cream. Garnish w/fresh mint leaves to get fancy. YUM!
• VARIATIONS: For "Chocolate Vanilla Cooler", use light cream instead of yoghurt + 1 tsp vanilla extract instead of peppermint extract -- or -- For "Mocha Cooler", dissolve the chocolate in 1/2 cup strong black coffee & reduce milk to 1 1/4 cups. Use cream instead of yoghurt & leave out the extract.

MINT COOLER

Steps:

• Reserve 4 mint leaves for garnish. Place the remaining mint leaves and lime cordial into the container of a blender, and process until mint is finely ground. Stir in the club soda. Serve in tall glasses over ice. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and lime slices.

CHOCOLATE-MINT ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Make the mint cream: With an electric mixer, beat heavy cream, sugar, and mint extract until stiff peaks form.
• Line a serving platter with two sheets of wax paper side by side. Assemble the cake: Spread each wafer with about 1/2 tablespoon mint cream, forming stacks. Lay stacks horizontally along seam of paper, pressing gently to form a log. With small spatula or knife, cover log with remaining mint cream. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 2 days.
• To serve, gently remove wax paper from underneath cake (holding cake in place with a metal spatula, if necessary), and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Slice cake diagonally with a serrated knife.

CHOCOLATE MINT WAFERS

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until completely smooth, about 3 minutes. Add egg, and continue mixing until well combined.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and flour.
• Add flour mixture to butter mixture; mix on low speed until combined, scraping down sides of bowl once. Divide dough in half; wrap each half in plastic. Flatten each half into a disk; chill until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpat baking mats or parchment paper. Set prepared pans aside.
• Lightly sprinkle a clean work surface with confectionersâ?? sugar. Roll out dough to an 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch cookie cutter, cut out cookies, and transfer to prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies 1/2 inch apart. Chill any trimmings, and roll out again.
• Bake the cookies until you can smell chocolate, about 12 minutes. Transfer the baking sheets to a wire rack to cool.
• Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add chocolate to hot cream. Stir with a rubber spatula until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth. Add peppermint oil. Remove from heat; let ganache cool slightly, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer chocolate to a resealable plastic bag; seal, and cut off one corner at an angle. Pipe about 1 teaspoon onto the center of half of the wafers. Top with the remaining wafers. Chill the assembled cookies until firm, about 10 minutes. Store in an airtight container up to 2 days.

CHOCOLATE MINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk flour, cocoa powder, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Beat in peppermint extract and vanilla extract. Beat in sugar in 3 additions. Add egg and beat until blended. Add dry ingredients and beat just until blended (dough will be sticky).
• Divide dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Using plastic wrap as aid, form dough on each into 2-inch-diameter log. Wrap with plastic and refrigerate dough until well chilled, at least 2 hours. (Dough can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Position 1 rack in center and 1 rack in top third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Unwrap cookie dough logs; roll briefly on work surface to form smooth round logs. Cut logs crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place rounds on prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake cookies until tops and edges are dry to touch, about 15 minutes. Transfer baking sheets with cookies to racks; cool completely. Stir chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove from over water. Cool melted chocolate until slightly thickened but still pourable, about 10 minutes. Dip fork into melted chocolate, then wave fork back and forth over cookies, drizzling melted chocolate thickly over cookies in zigzag pattern. Refrigerate cookies on baking sheets until chocolate is set, about 10 minutes. (Cookies can be made 1 week ahead. Refrigerate in airtight container between sheets of parchment paper or waxed paper.)

CITRUS MINT COOLER

Steps:

• Place first five ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cover; remove from heat and let steep until cool. Strain. Cover and refrigerate. , To serve, fill chilled glasses or a pitcher with equal amounts of fruit juice, ginger ale and water. Add ice and serve immediately.