Many homes fill bowls with candy canes and peppermint sticks during the Christmas season. The flavor fits the season. It is relaxing and perfect for a holiday gathering. Combining peppermint candies, chocolates, and extract with cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and milkshakes is simple and brings a piece of the season to anyone's table.
Peppermint Cookies
This recipe is extremely simple, and would be great for kids to participate in.
Ingredients:
- 1 box of sugar cookie mix
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 bag Andes peppermint crunch baking chips
- 1 can white frosting
- Red food coloring
Directions:
- Preheat oven according to the directions on the box (usually 350°).
- Prepare cookie mix according to packaging, and add 1 teaspoon peppermint extract. Stir in 1/2 the bag of peppermint crunch baking chips.
- Bake cookies 8-10 minutes. Let cool before icing.
- Mix 2-3 drops red food coloring and white frosting together. Spread on the cookies, and sprinkle remaining baking chips on top.
This recipe can be made without the baking chips. Just use the peppermint extract, and crush peppermint candies or peppermint candy canes to sprinkle on top of the frosting.
Peppermint Brownies
This brownie recipe uses Hershey's mint chocolates (available only during the holiday season).
Ingredients:
- 1 box brownie mix (water vegetable oil, and eggs)
- 1 bag Hershey's mint chocolate, set aside the white chocolate candies
- 1 can white or chocolate frosting (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Prepare brownie mix according to the package, and spray a 9x13 square baking pan with baking spray.
- Pour half the mix into the pan and top with chocolate candy. Pour in the remaining mix.
- Bake as directed on box.
- Let the brownies cool before frosting (about 2 hours).
- Break the white chocolate mints into pieces, and sprinkle on top of the frosting.
The flavor of the chocolate and the texture of the white chocolate mints is what gives these brownies a delicious flavor.
Peppermint Cupcakes
Peppermint cupcakes are so simple and can be decorated with candy pieces, candy canes, or chocolate mints.
Ingredients:
- 1 box yellow cake mix (water, vegetable oil, eggs as directed on packaging)
- 1-1 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1-2 boxes small candy canes
- 1 can white frosting
- 1 shaker of red or red and green sugar crystals
Directions:
- Preheat the oven as directed on the box, and mix the cake mix and peppermint extract together.
- Pour into individual cupcake wraps inside cupcake pan (1/3 full). Bake according to directions.
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before icing.
- Ice each cupcake, sprinkle the red and green sugar crystals on top. Place one candy cane flat and laying diagonally on each cupcake.
Serve these on a cupcake tier or on a cake stand. These would be perfect for a children's Christmas party.
Peppermint Milkshake
Chick-Fil-A is offering their peppermint milkshake throughout the entire holiday season, but how fun would it be to make this for a party or a Christmas movie night during the season?
Ingredients:
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Peppermint Candies (finely chopped in a blender or food processor)
- Milk
- 1 cup Andes peppermint baking chips
- Whipped Cream
- Cherry
Directions:
- Finely chop the candy pieces in he blender or food processor.
- Mix 3-4 scoops vanilla ice cream, 1-2 cups milk, and 1 cup baking chips into the candy pieces. Blend until completely combined and able to drink.
- Top with whip cream and a cherry and serve.
This could also be topped with the remaining baking chips or holiday colored sprinkles.
All of these wonderful peppermint recipes would make terrific party foods. The peppermint sugar cookies, peppermint brownies, and peppermint cupcakes would be good Christmas gifts for friends and family. The peppermint milkshake would be a great kick off to the holiday season.
Allison Brown - My name is Allison. I have a degree in History and Political Science from Chaminade University, located on the beautiful Hawaiian island ...
