Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Andes Peppermint Crunch Shortbread Cookies and Peppermint Snowball Cookies

Andes Peppermint Crunch Shortbread Cookies

Andes Peppermint Crunch Shortbread Cookies

Things have sure been crazy and busy around here!  Christmas is less than a week away.  Seems like we’ve had all kinds of activities going on and I can barely sit down, let alone share blog posts with you all.  I decided to sit down and try to get a post written up today before our next activity tonight. 

I didn’t take this picture, but how cute is this little elf who must be hiding something in his shirt?!

 

IMG_1853

Not long after Thanksgiving, which was really early this year, the boys were begging me to get all the Christmas decorations up.   Finally got that done just in time for Kevin’s department Christmas party at our house, hosting about 20 people.

We’ve had the pleasure of attending a high school band concert, since Scott plays the drums in the concert band.  Look how sharp he looks in a tux!  This kid never lets me take his picture, but I think even he was liking how he looked! ;)  The concert was great, but we were a little disappointed that all the drummers were in the back row and a tuba player and his tuba were right in front of Scott.  sigh

12-12-12 From one thing to another over the last month, I was able to get all the neighbor Christmas treats made and delivered, too.  After sharing with you such good ideas with the 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats, I decided I can’t leave out a few more that must be shared.

Andes Peppermint Bits Shortbread CookiesThese Peppermint Crunch Shortbread Cookies are one of those not to miss, especially if you love peppermint.  Have you found these in your grocery store baking aisle?

Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Bits

Andes Peppermint Bits Shortbread Cookies

I actually made them for my book group weeks ago and have been wanting to share them since then.  I just took a shortbread cookie recipe, like the Mexican wedding cookies, and instead of adding the chopped pecans, I added the peppermint candy.  I then drizzled some of the melted candy over the tops.

Andes Peppermint Crunch Shortbread Cookies, by Katrina, Baking and Boys!

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

¼ cup granulated sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

½ c to 1 cup Andes Peppermint Bits (to taste), use some to melt and drizzle on the cookies

Cream together the butter and sugar until well combined. Add the vanilla and mix. Beat in the flour and salt just until the dry ingredients are mixed in. Stir in the Andes mints.

Roll dough in to walnut-sized balls and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper spacing the balls of dough about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Let cool a few minutes on the baking sheet before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Melt some of the peppermint candies in the microwave in a small glass bowl in 20-30 second intervals on half power. When melted, put the melted candy in a sandwich-sized zip top plastic bag and snip a small hole in one corner. Drizzle the melted candy over the cookies.

We finally had a nice, big snow last week, about six inches.  After shoveling the deck and part of the driveway, I wanted to make a snowman.  The boys had already played outside sledding and didn’t really want to help, so this is what I came up with almost with no other help from the others. 

Baker Snow-Gal 12-15-12Yep, she was a baker snow gal!  Made her eyes and mouth from chocolate disks and she wore the cute knitted chef’s hat my niece made me that has chocolate chip cookies on it.  Instead of going in search of some sticks for her arms, I used some kitchen utensils.  I don’t have any aprons, which would have really been cute, but I wrapped a blanket around her and tried to make it look like an apron.  I thought she turned out pretty cute! ;)

After making the Andes peppermint shortbread cookies, I thought I’d try another recipe, but with the same idea.  Instead of drizzling melted chocolate, I rolled the baked cookies in powdered sugar. 

Peppermint Snowballs

I like this recipe a little better, but preferred the stronger peppermint taste the first cookies had with the drizzled melted candy.  That could easily be fixed by added more of the candy to the cookies or evey a little peppermint extract to the dough.  They are both good!

Peppermint Snowball Cookies 3

Perfect Christmas cookies!

Peppermint Snowball Cookies

Peppermint Snowball Cookies, by Katrina, Baking and Boys!

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

½ cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 ¼ cups all purpose flour

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups Andes Peppermint Bits (These are the same cookies where you could substitute pecans for the candy)

Powdered sugar for rolling the cookies in

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Cream together the butter and powdered sugar. Add vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Beat in the flour and salt just until combined. Stir in the Andes. Roll dough in to walnut-sized balls and place on baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet for a couple minutes then remove to wire rack to cool completely. Roll each cookie in powdered sugar.

BAKE ON!

The boys’ last day of school was today.  Time to really get the holidays going!

16 comments:

Amy Franklin said...

Love the tux! I share your frustration with the percussion section being in the back. Leah plays the bells and we have the same problem. Although this time we happened to be sitting on the right side of the auditorium and got a nice side view of her...and it was Emma that we couldn't see in the sea of flutes! Does he do marching band too?

Granny Jacque said...

Sam looks so cute! Scott is handsome! Cookies look so yummy! Love you!

Lita said...

I love these baking chips. They inspired me to new heights of baking this year. I have one bag left. I think I'll try one more batch. You have inspired me again.
Have a great holiday. Love your pictures!

Sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more said...

firstly how cute are those boys! secondly, I now want cookies, yummy!

Anonymous said...

Hahaha... Love the little elf picture! I don't think I've seen those peppermint chips in my area; hmmm... may need to plan a trip over the border for baking supplies :-)

Erin said...

These look wonderful! I love those Andes chips! And shortbread is my favorite. Now I'm off to go bake these =o) Thanks!

Lisa said...

Two amazing Christmas cookies, but I'm never surprised at 'amazing' when I pop by. It was good to see you again, and I really need to get myself a bag of those Andes, and not just to try your cookies. I want to gorge on them lol Wishing you and your lovely family a Hapy and wonderful Holiday!

Patsyk said...

Those shortbread cookies are perfect for this time of year!

Suzie said...

Love the pictures of your boys and the snowman!! Of course the cookies look great as usual too. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family!! :)

Nancy @ gottagetbaked said...

Oooh, both versions of the cookies look divine! So wonderfully Christmas-y. And I LOVE your snow-woman - that knit hat with the cookies is absolutely adorable. Happy holidays, Katrina, to you and your boys!

Megans Cookin said...

I love your snowowan!!! Your are too cute. I love the peppermint snowball. Such a surprise when you bite into them I bet. A "gotta try!"
Happy New Year!!!

dglejeune said...

Can't wait to try these. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

I know I'm a couple years late, but I recently made these for Christmas treats. I was searching for a recipe for the Andes chips specifically because they are made in a nut free facility. I loved the simple recipe and it is really allergen friendly (egg, peanut, tree nut). My daughter loved having safe cookies to eat!! Thanks!

Katrina said...

Anonymous, that is wonderful to hear. I'm happy you got to make a safe, yummy treat for your daughter!

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