Chocolate Mint Hearts Recipes

CHOCOLATE-PEPPERMINT HEARTS

Steps:

• Stir together confectioners' sugar, corn syrup, 1 tablespoon water, peppermint extract, and butter until a dough forms. Transfer to a work surface lightly dusted with confectioners' sugar and knead until smooth, dusting dough with more sugar as necessary, until no longer sticky. Form into a flat disk, place between two pieces of parchment, and roll out to a 1/4-inch-thick round. Remove top piece of parchment and generously dust with confectioners' sugar. Replace parchment and flip. Remove parchment from other side and generously dust with confectioners' sugar. Stamp out shapes with a 1 1/2-to-2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter. Transfer cutouts to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gather scraps, reroll, and stamp out more hearts. Let stand, uncovered, until hard and dry, about 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• Balance one heart on a fork, with tip of heart facing end of tines. Dip into chocolate until fully submerged; lift up and gently shake fork back and forth to remove excess chocolate. Scrape bottom of fork against side of bowl to remove any remaining excess chocolate. Tilt handleof fork upward and allow heart to gently slide onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining hearts and chocolate. Let stand until chocolate is hard and dry, about 1 hour. Serve, or store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 month.

CHOCOLATE-MINT HEARTS

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips; stir. Cool slightly. In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, vanilla and melted chocolate. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well., Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until easy to handle. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 7-10 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., In a microwave, melt shortening and remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Dip each cookie halfway into chocolate mixture; allow excess to drip off. Sprinkle chocolate with sprinkles if desired. Place on waxed paper; refrigerate until set.

DARK CHOCOLATE MINT TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Put entire bag of cookies in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to a fine crumb consistency. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Add cream cheese and mix until well combined. Roll into 1-inch balls. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high power for 1 minute. Stir, then repeat in 1-minute increments until melted and smooth. Mix in peppermint extract.
• Drop chilled balls in the chocolate to coat, let any excess drip off, and place on waxed paper. Sprinkle crushed candy canes over wet chocolate. Return to the refrigerator until chocolate sets, about 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE MINT HEARTS

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 1/2 cup mint chocolate chips; stir. Cool slightly.
• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar.
• Beat in the egg, vanilla and melted chocolate.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until easy to handle.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Cut with a floured 2-1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter.
• Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 to 10 minutes or until set.
• Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
• In a microwave, melt shortening and remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth.
• Dip each cookie halfway into chocolate mixture; allow excess to drip off. Sprinkle chocolate with sprinkles if desired.
• Place on waxed paper; refrigerate until set.

MERINGUE HEARTS WITH MINT ICE CREAM AND FUDGE SAUCE

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Melt butter with corn syrup in heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add chocolate, sugar and cream. Whisk until chocolate melts and sugar dissolves. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover; chill.)
• For Meringues:
• Preheat oven to 225°F. Line 2 baking sheets with foil; butter foil. Place 3 3/4-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter on foil-lined sheet. Using electric mixer, beat whites in large bowl to soft peaks. Gradually add 1 cup sugar; continuing beating until stiff and shiny. Spoon 1/4 cup meringue inside cookie cutter on sheet. Using back of spoon spread meringue evenly. Lift up cookie cutter; place on another section of foil-lined sheet. Repeat with remaining meringue, forming 6 hearts on each sheet.
• Bake meringues until crisp and dry, about 1 hour. Cool meringues on sheets 10 minutes. Peel meringues off foil. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Store airtight at room temperature.)
• Mix ice cream, 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy and extract in medium bowl. Cover and freeze until almost semi-firm, about 2 hours.
• Place meringues flat side up on baking sheet and freeze 15 minutes. Spoon 1/2 cup ice cream atop 1 meringue. Top with another meringue, flat side up. Press gently to flatten, forming sandwich. Run spatula around sides of ice cream to even sides. Freeze. Repeat with remaining meringues and ice cream. Cover and freeze at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
• Stir sauce over medium-low heat just until warm. Sift powdered sugar over tops of meringues, coating completely. Place on plates. Spoon sauce around. Sprinkle chopped candy over sauce.