12 Days of Cookies – Peppermint Sandies

For my second cookie, I decided to try a new recipe. Hubby isn’t a huge fan of peppermint, but I enjoy it during the holidays. Last year, I made some peppermint truffles and cupcakes that were very good. I choose these Peppermint Sandies because they looked so cute and easy to make. I took them to work and of course they disappeared in no time. I wasn’t a huge fan of the texture. Mine may have been a bit undercooked? I took them out after 13 minutes right when the bottoms were starting to brown. Also, the recipe said that it makes 4 dozen, I only got 28 cookies. I used my usual cookie scoop but maybe mine were bigger than what they were supposed to be.

Hubby served as a guest photographer for these cookies as well. He did all the setup including choosing a background and staging the shot. Nice work again Hubby!

Peppermint Sandies – from Better Homes and Gardens – makes 2-4 dozen
1 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup finely crushed striped round peppermint candies
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whipping cream
6 ounces white baking chocolate
Crushed striped round peppermint candies

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar and the 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candies. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in water, vanilla, and peppermint extract until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake about 15 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool.

Meanwhile, for glaze: In a medium saucepan, bring whipping cream just to simmering. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate; let stand for 3 minutes. Stir until smooth. Let stand for 45 to 60 minutes or until glaze starts to thicken.

Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the glaze over each cooled cookie. Sprinkle with additional crushed peppermint candies. Let stand until glaze is set. Makes about 48 cookies.

My 12 Days of Cookies:Day 1: Lumberjacks

I’m submitting this to Food Bloggas Eat Christmas Cookies blogging event. Check this link to participate in the event. Or check here to see the roundup (gets updated as entries come in).

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9 Responses to “Homemade Gingerbread Caramels”

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    1
    Megan — December 22, 2010 at 5:59 pm

    How did the parchment lining work out? Did the caramel stick very much? I’m thinking of making another batch of caramels tonight.

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    2
    blog is the new black — December 22, 2010 at 6:02 pm

    What a unique idea- love it!

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    3
    Fun and Fearless in Beantown — December 22, 2010 at 6:13 pm

    Between you and Megan, I’m craving caramels!

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    4
    Victoria (The District Chocoholic) — December 22, 2010 at 6:18 pm

    Eek. I love gingerbread-flavored things, and love making caramel. This is genius.

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    5
    Shannon — December 23, 2010 at 12:11 am

    aah, you’re doing everything that’s still on my list! marshmallows, caramels… i’ll get to it. someday! these sound amazing 🙂

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    Mira — December 23, 2010 at 2:10 am

    Yum! I wonder if I could use this recipe in my microwave caramel recipe?

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    7
    kitchenmisfit — December 23, 2010 at 2:19 am

    One day I will have enough patience to try caramels. One day!
    -Amanda

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    vanillasugar — December 28, 2010 at 2:32 am

    oh goodness girl i just made some molasses-peanut chews and they were fabulous.
    but now seeing gingerbread caramel? wow. love this. great idea!

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    9
    Jen — January 2, 2011 at 11:09 pm

    Mira, I’ve never made microwave caramel, but I’m sure you could add the spices and some molasses to make your recipe taste like gingerbread.

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