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Monday, July 7, 2014

Candy Corn Peppermint Patties


For my kids, like most, Halloween is all about the candy. Sure, they get excited to carve pumpkins and decorate the house. Yes, they're happy to get their costumes each year and their excitement causes them to wear their costumes every day leading up to Halloween. But the costumes are just a means to the end. Candy is the prize waiting for them at the end of the night. The award given after hours of relentless panhandling masked by the words, "Trick or Treat!" 

So what better way to kick off my "Summer of Halloween" than with these beautiful Candy Corn Peppermint Patties. I realize it is the beginning of summer, but I love Halloween and I figure, it's never too early to start planning for Halloween. :) So you'll see these and many more Halloween themed blogs this summer. Now on to the candy...

These were a breeze to make because I had help. My girlfriend, Neidin came over one afternoon and we made these beauties. With our kiddos having fun in the pool just outside the kitchen window, we were having our own fun...making candy!
We were like little kids ourselves as we rolled out each layer of brilliant orange and yellow peppermint dough. Oooing and aahing at the striking colors that reminded us of play dough. Smiling as we smelled the peppermint that permeated the kitchen and our hands. Waiting anxiously through the refrigeration periods..."Is it done yet?" Cutting out the cute pumpkin shapes...More refrigeration...*sigh.* Impatience building. 
Happily moving on to plan B after a minor chocolate debacle. Good thing we had a plan B. "Yay!" And then, the moment of truth...breaking open the pumpkin shaped patty to see the colorful candy corn center! I'm pretty sure there was a collective squeal of delight. They were so stunningly beautiful and not to mention delicious! The perfect end to a perfect day! Thanks Neidin.



Candy Corn Peppermint Patties (recipe from HGTV
Makes ~20, 1-inch patties

3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
2 1/4 Tbsp light corn syrup
2 1/4 Tbsp water
1 tsp pure peppermint extract
1 1/2 Tbsp vegetable shortening
pinch of salt
yellow and orange food coloring (I used Wilton)
1 Tbsp butter
15 oz. melting chocolate

Add powdered sugar, corn syrup, water, peppermint extract, shortening and a pinch of salt in a stand mixer and mix until just combined. Knead on a work surface dusted with powdered sugar until smooth.
 



Divide dough into thirds. Add the yellow food coloring to one of the balls of dough and orange to the other, leaving the last one white.

Roll out each dough between two pieces of parchment paper. Make sure they are even thickness and similar in shape. Stack the layers on parchment paper, starting with yellow, orange and then finally white. Cover top with another piece of parchment and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
 

Using a 1" cookie cutter, cut out mints and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. I used a pumpkin shaped cutter, but a round cookie cutter will give you the most of patties if you cut them out very close together. I ended up with 17 pumpkin shaped patties.  Place cut patties back into the refrigerator to chill.



Melt chocolate according to package directions and then begin to dip each patty into the chocolate and place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate is set.  store in cool place, layered between wax paper. Enjoy!

 
Other Halloween-themed foods to try:
Candy Corn Sugar Cookies
Roasted Fingers and Toes

2 comments:

  1. If you would have added honey to it - that’s the main candy corn flavour

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  2. That's a good idea Mara. My youngest son will love that, since he's a big candy corn lover. I'll try adding honey when I make them again this year. Thank you for your comment. :)

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