Christmas Cookies: Chocolate Mint Creams

Skill Level: Beginner

Skills Attained: Drop Cookies

Supplies/Ingredients:

• Cookie Sheet
• Spatula (for removing hot cookies)
• Electric mixer 
• Mixing bowl
• Microwave-proof bowl
• Rubber spatula
• Butter knife
• 3/4 cups butter (softened)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 16 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (or baking chocolate bars)
• Melt Away Mint Candies - approximately 48 (and a few extra to nibble on while you bake:) These can be tricky to find in the store sometimes. Hickory Farms makes these, but I have also found the "off-brand" in Target and Walmart. The recipe calls for the larger size (1" diameter), but you could also use the "minis"; you would just need to use multiple mints on each cookie. Here is a picture of them:

 This post is in honor of my wonderful mother-in-law! She is an extremely talented homemaker, and I aspire to be as joyful and self-sacrificing as she is in serving her family. Last year, she shared with me the recipe for one of my husband's favorite holiday treats: Chocolate Mint Creams. I am sure you will enjoy these little bits of chocolate goodness as much as our family enjoys them!

Beat together the following ingredients in an electric mixer until the ingredients are combined:

• 3/4 cups butter (softened)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar

If you forget to leave the butter on the counter to soften, you can put it in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to soften it. 

Then, beat in: 

• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

In a separate bowl, combine the following ingredients: 

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Using the electric mixer, mix the flour mixture into the sugar/egg mixture that is in the electric mixing bowl until they are just combined (don't over-mix).

In the microwave-proof bowl, melt the 16 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate in the microwave. Do this in 30 second intervals; stirring after each 30 seconds until the chocolate is melted.

Mix the chocolate into the cookie batter using a rubber spatula.

 

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. When the 30 minutes is almost finished, begin preheating the oven at 350 degrees. 

Remove the batter from the refrigerator, and drop rounded tablespoons of batter 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. You can use a spoon to drop the cookies, but you may need to use your hands a little bit to form the balls. Bake in the oven for 8 - 10 minutes.

Immediately after pulling the cookies out of the oven, place one Melt Away Mint Candy in the center of each cookie. Wait a few minutes until the mint has begun to melt. Then, take a butter knife and spread the mint over the top of the cookie like icing.

Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and allow to cool on a cooling rack.

Yields approximately 3-4 dozen cookies. 

I hope you have a very merry Christmas! Enjoy the season we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

~Isaiah 9:6~

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