Chocolate Snowflakes From Wisconsin Recipes

CHOCOLATE SNOWFLAKE COOKIES (CHOCOLATE CRINKLES / CRACKLES)

Steps:

• Combine sugar, oil, and melted chocolate in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until blended.
• Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
• Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Add about one-fourth of dry mixture at a time to chocolate mixture, mixing after each addition.
• Cover and let chill at least 2 hours.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls, and roll in powdered sugar.
• Place cookies 2 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheets.
• Bake at 350 degrees F.
• for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Cool on wire racks.

CHOCOLATE SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips., Shape dough into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until set and bottoms are lightly browned, 15-20 minutes. Cool on pans 2 minutes. Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar. Cool completely on wire racks. If desired, reroll cookies in confectioners' sugar.

MARSHMALLOW SNOWFLAKES

Steps:

• Coat a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; line with parchment paper. Spray parchment; set aside. Pour 1/3 cup cold water into the bowl of an electric mixer. Sprinkle with gelatin; let mixture soften, about 5 minutes.
• Place sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan. Cover; bring to a boil. Remove lid; cook, swirling pan occasionally, until syrup reaches 238 degrees (soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes.
• With mixer on low speed, whisk gelatin mixture, and slowly pour the syrup in a steady stream down the side of the bowl (to avoid splattering). Gradually raise speed to high; beat until mixture is thick, white, and has almost tripled in volume, about 12 minutes. Add vanilla, and beat 30 seconds to combine.
• Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet; smooth with an offset spatula. Let stand at room temperature, uncovered, until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Coat a 1- or 2-inch snowflake-shaped cookie cutter with cooking spray to prevent it from sticking. Cut out as many individual marshmallows as possible; coat cutter with more spray as needed. Use marshmallows immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

CHOCOLATE SNOWFLAKES (FROM WISCONSIN)

Steps:

• In a double boiler or in the microwave, melt the chocolate and butter together. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and chopped walnuts.
• Transfer the cooled chocolate-butter mixture to a large mixing bowl. Using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer on low speed, beat for a few minutes to mix well. Add the sugar, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs 1 at a time, mixing to incorporate after each addition. Add the flour-cocoa mixture and combine until incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners. Place the confectioners' sugar in a small, shallow bowl.
• Form the dough into 1-inch balls; roll them in the confectioners' sugar and place them, spaced about 2 inches apart, on the baking sheets. (The cookies will spread.) Bake for 15 minutes, until the cookies are cracked on top and slightly firm to the touch. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.