Yummy Cookies!

Chocolate-Mint Layered Cookies

3/4 C. butter

3/4 C. sugar

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

2 1/4  C. all-purpose flour

1/4 t. baking powder

1/4 t. salt

9 oz. bag semisweet chocolate chips

1 T. all-purpose flour

9 drops green food color

1 t. mint extract

1 t shortening or canola oil

1. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla. On low speed, beat in baking powder, salt, and 2 1/4 C. flour until dough forms. Divide dough in half (about 1 1/4 C. each) place 1 portion in medium bowl.

2. In small microwavable bowl, microwave 1/2 C. of the chocolate chips on High 30-60 seconds or until melted. (*I made it 3/4 C. chocolate) Stir until smooth, cool. Add melted chocolate to dough in medium bowl; knead until well combined. To remaining dough, add 1 T. flour, the food color and mint extract; mix until blended. Wrap each portion of dough in waxed paper; refrigerate 30 minutes.

3. Pat chocolate dough into rectangle shapes. Place between sheets of waxed paper (*don't use flour. You need dough sticky). Roll to 10x6 inch rectangle, patting into shape with fingers as needed to retain rectangle shape. Repeat with green dough. Remove wax paper on dough, except for one bottom sheet on counter. Layer dough one on top of another. Press down firmly. Cut 3 equal stripes lengthwise in dough. Stack stripes so they are layered and press down firmly. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.

4. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut dough into 1/4-inch slices. Trim dough as needed. On ungreased cookie sheet, place slices 2-inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges start to brown. Cool completely.

5. In small microwavable bowl, microwave remaining 1 C. chocolate chips and add the shortening (*I didn't have shortening so I used canola oil and it worked just fine). Melt in microwave. Dip one edge of cookie in chocolate. Cool completely.

I was in the market for a different kind of Christmas cookie. I was bored with the traditional sugar cookie and chocolate chip. I wanted something different but still festive. I came across this recipe in a Betty Crocker Christmas cookie booklet and thought I would give it a go. It was fun to make something different and boy are they yummy! Nice and chocolaty and the mint isn't too over-powering. 

Mint is my new favorite this season! I used to not like mint, well I shouldn't say I didn't like it, I just never gave it a chance! It never sounded appealing to me. But that all changed when I had my first peppermint mocha at Starbucks. It was like Christmas in a cup! Now I think mint is the taste of the Holidays and I want to do everything in mint!

I think you gals should try this recipe. They are definitely a "Wow" cookie because of the layered mint and chocolate, and I guarantee any place you bring them they will be one-of-a-kind and quite special. Happy baking!