Chocolate Mint Meltaways

Name: Chocolate Mint Meltaways
Prep time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 42 cookies
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract; 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus; 2 tablespoons powdered sugar; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup whipping cream, plus; 2 tablespoons whipping cream; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 9 ounces imported white chocolate, chopped; 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract; 9 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped; 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

Submitted by jenpalombi

"from Bon Appetit Magazine, December 1990. Festive cookies spread with minted white chocolate and coated with dark chocolate. These have always been well received. The original recipe calls for piping the cookies out into ovals with the centers filled, but I found them very difficult to pipe, so I always hand-form them as described below. Also, I've always found that I can halve the ganache and have plenty for my taste. The chocolate coating amounts are just right."

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photo by jenpalombi

Ready In:: 2hrs
Ingredients:: 13
Yields:: 42 cookies

ingredients

Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¹⁄₂ teaspoon peppermint extract
¹⁄₂ cup powdered sugar, plus
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
Ganache
¹⁄₄ cup whipping cream, plus
2 tablespoons whipping cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
9 ounces imported white chocolate, chopped
¹⁄₄ teaspoon peppermint extract
Coating
9 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

directions

For cookies: Preheat oven to 350°F Butter 2 heavy large cookie sheets. Using electric mixer, cream butter and extracts in medium bowl until light. Beat in sugar. Beat in half of flour. Stir in remaining flour. Roll the dough into small balls and flatten them slighty. Bake until golden brown on edges, about 12 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and cool.
For ganache: Bring cream and butter to simmer in heavy small saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate and stir until smooth. Mix in extract. Refrigerate just until firm enough to spread, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
Line 2 cookie sheets with foil. Using small metal icing spatula, spread 1 teaspoon ganache over flat side 1 cookie. Arrange ganache side up on prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ganache is firm, about 30 minutes.
For coating: Melt bittersweet chocolate and vegetable shortening in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from over water.
Grasp cookie on sides and dip ganache side into bittersweet chocolate; shake cookie to remove excess chocolate. Place cookie on same sheet, chocolate side down. Repeat with remaining cookies. Chill until chocolate sets, 30 minutes. Remove cookies from foil.
(Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Refrigerate in single layers in airtight containers. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.).