Chocolate Chip And Peppermint Crunch Crackles

By á-174942

Ingredients

• 8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chopped (do not use unsweetened)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter - (1 stick) cut 1/2" pieces
• 1 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped
• 1/2 cup finely-crushed red-and-white-striped
• hard peppermint candies
• 6 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips - (abt 3 oz)
• Coarsely-crushed peppermints
• Powdered sugar

Details

Servings 36

Preparation

Step 1

Combine first 3 ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Stir over low heat until chocolates melt and mixture is smooth. Remove pan from heat. Mix in finely crushed mints and 6 1/2 tablespoons sugar. Cool mixture to lukewarm, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.

Whisk eggs into chocolate mixture, 1 at a time, then whisk in vanilla extract and peppermint extract. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in small bowl to blend. Whisk flour mixture, then chocolate chips into chocolate mixture. Cover batter and chill until firm enough to shape, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Using 1 generous tablespoonful for each cookie, roll dough between moistened palms into 1 1/4-inch-diameter balls, then arrange on prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until puffed and cracked on top but still soft to touch in center, about 11 minutes. Let stand on sheets 5 minutes.

Press coarsely crushed mints onto tops of cookies or sprinkle with powdered sugar. Transfer to racks; cool completely. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight between sheets of waxed paper in refrigerator.)

This recipe yields about 36 cookies.