Chocolate-Peppermint Shortbread Cookies

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We had a fun little treat with green to help us be in the mood. We all wore some green today. Can you spot Alexander's green? He was more in the mood to support BYU than to wear a green shirt.

So, the recipe--these yummy gems came from Diana's Desserts and we are going to have them again. Who wouldn't love chocolate-mint cookies with mini chocolate chips with a green mint frosting, drizzled with chocolate? Okay, Sabrina, but besides a picky, but cute 8-year old?

Chocolate-Peppermint Shortbread Cookies

Cookie:

3/4 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 t. peppermint extract
2 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled slightly
1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. semi-sweet miniature chocolate chips

Frosting:
1 c. powdered sugar
2 T. butter, softened
1 T. milk
1/4 t. peppermint extract
1 drop green food color

Drizzle:
1/2 c. semi-sweet miniature chocolate chips
1/2 t. vegetable shortening

Preheat oven to 375º. Combine all cookie ingredients except flour and 1 cup mini chocolate chips in large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy (1 to 2 minutes).

Reduce speed to low. Add flour; beat until mixture forms a dough (1 to 2 minutes). Stir in 1 cup mini chocolate chips by hand.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten to 1 1/2-inch circle with bottom of glass dipped in flour. Bake in preheated oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until set. (DO NOT OVER BAKE.) Let stand 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely on wire rack.

Combine all frosting ingredients in small mixer bowl. Beat at low speed, adding milk, 1 teaspoonful at a time, if necessary until frosting is smooth. Frost cooled cookies. Place on waxed paper.


Place 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth (60 to 90 seconds). Drizzle thin lines of chocolate over frosting with teaspoon. Let stand until chocolate is set (at least 30 minutes).


If desired, place melted chocolate in small resealable plastic food bag. Cut tiny tip off one corner of bag to drizzle chocolate (or be lazy like me and drizzle it from a spoon).


Yield: 3 1/2 dozen cookies

Here Spencer Glenn's video to Love & Life, the first song on the player above. I just wanted to include it because it has photos of him and his beautiful wife and I think it's sweet. I'm in the mood for sweet right now. He is new to the music scene so check him out at Reverbnation and watch more of his videos on YouTube (I like The Bottom too) and then make sure you give him some feedback so he keeps making good music.