MINT SLICES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Divide dough in half.
• In a medium mixing bowl, stir or knead together half of the dough and the melted mint baking pieces. Divide mint dough into thirds. In a second bowl, stir or knead together remaining dough and melted white baking pieces; divide dough in half.
• Line an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap. Press one-third of the mint dough evenly into pan. Press half of white dough evenly on top of mint layer. Repeat the layers, finishing with mint dough on top. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours or until firm.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove dough brick from pan and unwrap; place on cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut brick crosswise into 1/8-inch slices. Cut each slice in half crosswise. Place slices 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for about 10 minutes or until edges are set. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Makes about 6 dozen.

Steps:

• Cookies:Line two baking sheets with parchment. In a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, flour, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla; beat until well incorporated, scraping down sides as necessary. Reduce speed to low, add flour mixture, and mix until just combined; do not overmix. Transfer dough to a piece of plastic wrap, shape into a disk, and wrap tightly. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Filling:In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together confectioners' sugar, corn syrup, butter, and peppermint until well incorporated. Transfer filling to a piece of plastic wrap, shape into a disk, and wrap tightly. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough between two sheets of parchment to a 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 3-inch oval cookie cutter, cut out ovals and place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake until dry, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• Roll out filling between two sheets of parchment to a scant 1/4-inch thickness. Using the same cutter, cut out ovals and sandwich between two cookies.
• Chocolate Coating:Place 8 ounces chocolate in a metal (or other heatproof) bowl. Set bowl of chocolate over a saucepan containing 2 inches of water (don't let bottom touch the water). Heat over medium and bring to just below a simmer. Let melt, stirring gently until chocolate registers 115 degrees on thermometer. Remove bowl; add remaining 4 ounces chocolate to bowl, stirring constantly until chocolate registers 85 degrees. Return bowl to saucepan off the heat and stir constantly until chocolate registers 89 degrees. Use immediately, stirring frequently while using to maintain temper and prevent streaking once chocolate hardens. If tempered chocolate thickens too much during use, place over simmering water again, stirring, 2 to 3 seconds.
• Working with one at a time, place each sandwich in tempered chocolate and turn to coat completely. Transfer to a fresh parchment-lined baking sheet. Working quickly with the back of the tines of a fork, gently tap top of each sandwich to create a design, then slide to another location on parchment to prevent a border from forming. Let stand until set, at least 30 minutes.