Chocolate Peppermint Sweets Recipes

CHOCOLATE-COVERED PEPPERMINT CANDIES

Steps:

• Combine powdered sugar, sweetened condensed milk, butter, salt and vanilla in a large bowl and blend thick and combined. Gently mix in 1 ½ cups of crushed peppermint candy until fully incorporated.
• Roll filling into ¾-inch round balls. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill or freeze for at least 30 minutes.
• When you're ready to dip the candies, melt 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate in a double boiler over low heat or in a microwave. If using a microwave, heat chocolate for 30 seconds at 50 percent power, then stir. Continue microwaving in 15-second increments at 50 percent power until the chocolate is completely melted.
• Be careful not to overheat the chocolate or it will seize and clump, and you'll be unable to use it for dipping. If necessary, thin the chocolate with vegetable oil, a teaspoon at a time, until it's a good dipping consistency.
• Working in small batches, dip chilled candies in chocolate. The best way to do this is to lay a candy on the tines of a fork. Lower the fork into the warm chocolate, until the candy is submerged. Then, raise the fork, allowing the extra chocolate to drip through the tines. Tap the fork on the edge of the dipping bowl to remove any excess chocolate. Then gently slide the dipped candy onto baking sheet lined with parchment.
• Before the chocolate has time to cool and set, sprinkle candies with remaining peppermint pieces.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT SNAPS

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment and mix the sugar with the peppermint essence. When the chocolate has melted, cool for 1 min, mix with the sugar, then pour into the tray. Spread to a very thin layer and chill until completely firm. Snap into shards to serve. Perfect as a garnish for puddings or with an after-dinner coffee.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT CHEESECAKE BITES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line 18 muffin cups with foil baking cups.
• Combine chocolate wafer crumbs and butter in a medium bowl; divide mixture evenly among the prepared muffin cups, pressing firmly to form crusts.
• Bake in the preheated oven until set, about 6 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Keep oven on.
• Beat cream cheese in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in sweetened condensed milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract into a smooth filling. Divide filling evenly over the cooled crusts.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is set, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Remove foil baking cups gently.
• Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 15-second intervals, stirring after each melting, 1 to 3 minutes. Drizzle melted chocolate over cheesecake bites and sprinkle with peppermint candies. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing 2 inches of paper to hang over the sides.
• Make the shortbread: In a food processor, pulse together flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Add butter and process until a smooth dough forms. Press dough evenly into the bottom of prepared baking pan. Bake until firm to the touch, and sides of the crust are beginning to pull away from the pan, about 25 minutes. Cool completely.
• Make the filling: In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine confectioners' sugar, butter, cream and peppermint extract. Beat until mixture forms a thick, smooth paste. Press filling evenly over shortbread. Chill to set the filling for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Use parchment paper overhang to lift the shortbread and peppermint out of the baking pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares (there should be 36 squares). Place squares on a rack placed over a parchment-lined sheet tray, and let them come to room temperature for about 15 minutes.
• In the top of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt 7 ounces chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Remove from heat, add remaining 2 ounces chocolate and let sit for 2 minutes.
• Add coconut oil, if using, and stir the chocolate until smooth. Spoon 1 teaspoon chocolate on top of a cut peppermint square, using the back of the spoon to spread chocolate to the edges. Be sure to fully cover the top of the square with chocolate. (Leave the sides exposed, though it's O.K. if some of the chocolate drips down.) Repeat with remaining squares.
• Let squares sit at room temperature until chocolate is set, at least 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT SWEETS

Steps:

• Whisk the egg white until frothy. Sieve in the icing sugar and mix well. Add the peppermint essence and the colouring and mix well.
• Sprinkle icing sugar onto your hands. Roll teaspoon-sized amounts of the mixture into small balls and place onto a baking tray.
• Flatten each ball with a fork to form flat discs. Place in the fridge for 1 hour until firm.
• Put the chocolate pieces into a heatproof bowl. Place the bowl onto a pan of simmering water (about 5cm deep).
• When the chocolate has melted, remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Allow to cool a little.
• After 1 hour, take out the peppermint sweets. Dip each sweet into the chocolate until half covered. Place the sweets on the non-stick paper to set. Keep in a cool place or a fridge until needed.