Homemade Peppermint Patties

Our oven is being a little temperamental and only works about half of the time (we have no idea what is wrong with it). So this week, we made another candy recipe (and will be making candy until our oven is fixed!). This weeks recipe is much harder (almost impossible) to mess up but is so darn delicious!

It tastes so much like a store bought peppermint patty, but even better we think! As little kids, our great Aunt would set peppermint patties out in little candy dishes, so every time we would go to her house, we would eat as many as we could, and then smuggle more home with us (we still smuggle them out when we go over). Obviously we could go and buy our own, but it's more fun to just steal them from our great Aunt. (by the way I'm pretty sure she always knew we stole them and didn't care, but as kids we didn't know that).

Then, to our great delight, our Grandma started to put them out, so we ate those (and smuggled them) every time we went over. So when we were looking for candy to make, these were the obvious choice!

Why heart shaped peppermint patties? Valentines day is coming up, so heart shaped would look cute around this time! We think that these patties are the perfect way to say "I love you" to your sweetheart this valentine season.

As you can tell from these pictures, our peppermint patties aren't perfectly smooth and covered with chocolate, but we think that it is cute how each one is a little bit different then the others.

We found this recipe on Pinterest and we hope that you enjoy it as much as we do! What are you making for valentine's Day this year?

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 Tablespoon +2 teaspoons water 
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 Tablespoon coconut oil (or vegetable shortening)
• 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips or 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1-2 teaspoons coconut oil (or vegetable shortening)

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar, corn syrup, water, peppermint extract, and coconut oil. Beat on medium speed until just combined. If mixture is too dry, add a few drops of water at a time until mixture begins to come together.
2. Using some of the remaining 1/4 cup of powdered sugar, dust your work surface. Remove the peppermint mixture from your bowl and place on the powdered sugar. Knead the mixture until it is smooth.
3. Roll your peppermint mixture between two pieces of parchment paper, until it is about 1/8-1/4 inch thick. Transfer the peppermint mixture to the freezer and allow to freeze for at least 15 minutes.
4. After 15 minutes, remove your peppermint mixture from the freezer. Remove the first piece of parchment paper and dust the peppermint mixture with powdered sugar, replace the parchment paper. Flip the peppermint mixture and repeat with the other piece of parchment paper.
5. Take your 1-inch cookie cutter and cut as many rounds or squares as you can. Transfer them to a parchment lined cookie or baking sheet. Re-roll the remaining peppermint mixture and repeat the process. Once you have cut as many patties as you can, place them in the freezer. Allow them to freeze for at least 45 minutes.
6. Place coconut oil and chocolate in a medium sized microwave safe bowl. Microwave 30 seconds on high, remove from microwave and stir. Return to the microwave and microwave in 10-15 second increments, stirring each time. Continue until chocolate is completely melted.
7. Remove peppermint patties from the freezer. Working with one patty at a time, place the patty in the melted chocolate. Using a fork, flip the patty to coat it on all sides. Allow the excess chocolate to drip off. Place peppermint patty back on the parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining patties. Once completed with all peppermint patties, place baking sheet back in the freezer or refrigerator. Once chocolate has set completely, place peppermint patties in an air-tight container and keep in the refrigerator or freezer.