#9 Is Here!

Okay, my #9 favorite dessert on the "Top 10". Anybody who likes mint will love these. We make them every year during the holidays and they have become a hot cookie around here. My favorite part of the cookie is the bright green frosting - I love colored frosting!

"Chocolate Mint Dreams"

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
ICING:
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 to 2 drops green food coloring
DRIZZLE:
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon shortening

DIRECTIONS:
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar. Beat in chocolate and mint extract. Gradually add flour. Stir in chocolate chips. (Dough will be soft.) Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 6-8 minutes or until firm. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Meanwhile, combine icing ingredients; spread over cooled cookies. Let set. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Yield: 4 dozen.

I made this today too - on a rating of 1-10....this from me would get a 3. I found out it tastes much better on buttered toast!

"Pumpkin Harvest Dip"

Ingredients:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Apple and pear slices

DIRECTIONS:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Gradually add the pumpkin, pie spice, vanilla and ginger; beat until smooth. Serve with fruit. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 3-1/2 cups.

See you with #8 next!