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I hate cooking but I enjoy baking, especially during the holidays. There’s no better flavor combination than chocolate and peppermint which seems to be a common theme during the winter months as Christmas approaches. Me? I always have McCormick Peppermint Extract on hand because my taste buds don’t care what season it is. I’m always up for a peppermint treat! Here’s the most recent recipe I tried from McCormick:
Ingredients:
8 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate (two boxes)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup sugar, divided
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Peppermint Extract
2 cups flour
36 milk chocolate kiss-shaped candies, unwrapped (I used the white chocolate candy cane ones)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwavable bowl on HIGH 1 to 2 minutes or until butter is melted. (It took almost the full 2 minutes for me and I stirred halfway through) Let stand 10 minutes to cool slightly. Add 1/2 cup of the sugar, egg and peppermint extract. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gradually beat in flour on low speed until well mixed.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Press a chocolate candy into the center of each ball, forming dough around the candy to completely enclose it. Roll in remaining 1/2 cup sugar to coat. Place 1 inch apart on greased baking sheets.
- Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until cookies are set. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
And viola! Delicious and fancy looking treats that are actually easy to make!
Just one little note — be sure to carefully measure your flour. I think I mis-measured and the dough was a bit dry and crumbly at first. I just added a couple teaspoons of water and it did the trick!
McCormick has a ton of yummy holiday recipes on their website. I’ve already booked marked several that I HAVE to try this year! You’ll probably see a few of them here on the blog in the coming weeks!