Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups

Hi! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Here is a recipe for peppermint hot chocolate cookie cups. They are a dessert you just want to gobble up on a cold winters day by the fire. They would also be extra yummy if you serve some ice cream on the side so that it balances the richness of the chocolate.

    Enjoy!

Ingredients for the cups:                                                              

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup cane sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp peppermint extract

1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Ingredients for the ganache:

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tsp powdered hot chocolate mix 

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 tsp peppermint extract

For garnish:

mini marshmallows

crushed candy canes

Procedure for the cups:

1. Preheat oven to 350℉. Spray two regular muffin tins with cooking spray

2.  In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and both sugars until pale and fluffy. Add eggs and peppermint      extract one at a time.

4. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix until combined (be careful not to over mix!). Fold in mini      chocolate chips.

5. Scoop 3-4 tsp of the dough into prepared muffin tins and press against the sides and bottom.

6. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool in pans for ten minutes then place on a wire rack to cool completely. *

Procedure for the ganache:

1. Bring heavy cream just to a boil and turn the heat to low. Then mix in powdered hot chocolate.        2. Add chocolate chips. Let this mixture sit for about 3 minutes and then stir until smooth.

3. Mix in peppermint extract. Remove from heat.

Put the two together:

Spoon ganache into cookie cups and top with crushed candy canes and mini marshmallows. If you are not ready to eat them all, store in the refrigerator.

     *If the middle has filled in, cut out the middle with a spoon. Make sure, though, that you don't make the bottom to thin.

~Devyn