MINT FILLED CHOCOLATE COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugars until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into butter mixture., Divide dough in half; shape each into a disk. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. round cookie cutter. Place a mint patty in center of each circle; fold dough over patty. Pinch to seal seams. Place on greased baking sheets, seam side down., Bake 8-10 minutes or until cookies are golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Refrigerate until set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator., Freeze option: Transfer unrolled disks to a freezer container; freeze. To use, thaw dough in refrigerator until soft enough to roll. Prepare, bake and decorate as directed.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F (if using dark or nonstick cookie sheet, heat oven to 350°F). In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, 1 cup butter and the vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in egg yolk until smooth. Beat in flour and cocoa.
• Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into 1-inch balls. On ungreased cookie sheet, place balls 1 inch apart. With index finger or thumb, make indentation in center of each ball.
• Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In small bowl, beat 1/4 cup butter and the powdered sugar on low speed until smooth. Beat in milk, peppermint extract and enough food color for desired color. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon filling into each cookie.
• Place chocolate chips and shortening in small resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Microwave on High about 1 minute or until softened. Gently squeeze bag until chocolate is smooth; cut off tiny corner of bag. Squeeze bag to drizzle chocolate over cookies. Let stand about 1 hour or until chocolate is set.