So readers, I've been doing a miserable job with my 30 Things. I've got two months left and 16 more recipes to take care of. Gulp. Who knew planning a wedding could interfere with my kitchen time? It's okay. I'll gladly take the interference.
As soon as I saw these peppermint swirl cookies over on Bake at 350, I knew I'd found a recipe that would help me check off one more item from my list. Except, in the process of preparing to conquer sugar cookies with royal icing, I got an idea. An idea that I liked so much, I couldn't go back to plain ol' sugar cookies. After all, the best way I could think of to make cookies decorated to look like peppermint swirls even better was to actually use peppermint in the cookie. Chocolate and peppermint, that is. And then, just to take it all the way, I could add peppermint to the icing. Forgive me, readers.
I didn't feel too bad about making my changes, though. I've already made sugar cookies and I would've used the same recipe again. The reason I included sugar cookies with royal icing on my 30 was to become comfortable with working with royal icing. I also don't feel bad because these cookies were so, so good.
I was pretty happy with how my icing job turned out, but I've still got plenty of work to doo. Good thing royal icing is so much fun! Unfortunately, I was so engrossed in my own decorating, I didn't take the pictures I'd originally wanted to. Luckily, Bridget is great with these things. To see her fantastic tutorial on how to decorate these cookies, click here.
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies with Royal Icing
cookie recipe adapted from www.epicurious.com
Ingredients:
For cookies:
16 TBSP unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 c. sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp. peppermint extract
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. Dutch process cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
For royal icing:
4 c. (1 lb.) confectioners' sugar
3 TBSP meringue powder
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
4-6 TBSP warm water, depending on humidity of where you live
3 TBSP meringue powder
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
4-6 TBSP warm water, depending on humidity of where you live
Directions:
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until well blended. Beat in eggs and peppermint extract.
3. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Beat until well blended. Form dough into two discs. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for one hour.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
5. On a generously floured work surface, roll out the first disc of dough to a half-inch in thickness. Cut out cookies and place on baking sheets, spaced an inch apart.