EVEN CANDY CANES!!!!!
Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies.....simply divine.
Cookies
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 large egg
Filling
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 drops (or more) red food coloring
- 1/2 cup crushed red-and-white-striped candy canes or hard
peppermint candies (about 4 ounces)
Here's how...
For cookies:Whisk flour, cocoa, and
salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in
large bowl until well blended. Beat in egg. Add dry ingredients; beat until
blended. Refrigerate dough 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment
paper. Scoop out dough by level tablespoonfuls, then roll into smooth balls.
Place balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Using
bottom of glass or hands, flatten each ball to 2-inch round (edges will crack).
Bake until cookies no longer look wet and small indentation appears when tops of
cookies are lightly touched with fingers, about 11 minutes (do not over bake or
cookies will become too crisp). Cool on sheet 5 minutes. Transfer chocolate
cookies to racks and cool completely.
For filling:Using electric mixer, beat
powdered sugar and butter in medium bowl until well blended. Add peppermint
extract and 2 drops food coloring. Beat until light pink and well blended,
adding more food coloring by drop if darker pink color is desired. Spread 2
generous teaspoons filling evenly over flat side of 1 cookie to edges; top with
another cookie, flat side down, pressing gently to adhere. Repeat with remaining
cookies and peppermint filling.
Place crushed candy canes on plate. Roll edges of cookie
sandwiches in crushed candies (candies will adhere to filling). (Cookie
sandwiches can be made ahead. Store in single layer in airtight container at
room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.)
ENJOY!!!!