Pamela's Peppermint Decorated Cookies

Use your favorite Pamela's Cookies from the box such as Pecan Shortbread, Chunky Chocolate Chip and Lemon Shortbread, or Pamela's Simplebites Mini Cookies, Biscotti or bake your own using Pamela's Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix. Then decorate with crushed (and whole) peppermint candies.For creating the Chocolate Dipped cookies take a look at Pamela's Dark & White Chocolate Holiday Cookies.

General preparation: To crush the peppermint: use two small brown paper bags and a mallet. After crushing, separate into two piles of small powdered crystals with small chunks, and larger pieces. Like the coconut preparation, peppermint goes equally well with white or chocolate frosting or dip.

Use whole peppermints for a dramatic effect. Try mixing the finely crushed pieces into frosting for delicious sandwich cookies. These are both great on Pamela's Simplebites Mini Cookies!

Linzer Style cookies: frost just the edges and then roll in hazelnut meal or very finely chopped nuts. Cook down raspberry jam in a small pan or microwave until slightly thickened. Use a rounded spoon to form a scoop on top.

Make butterscotch or white chocolate animals or other shapes by using small butter molds (found at kitchen and bakery supply stores). Start by heating butterscotch chips in the microwave, 20 seconds at a time, then stir, then heat, repeat until a smooth spoonable consistency is achieved. Using very small chocolate/butter molds, fill the molds and chill for 10 minutes in the fridge. They pop right out of the aluminum molds with a little cross tension twist. For dipping whole, half, tops or bottoms of cookies with butterscotch or white chocolate, add 1 tsp of oil or shortening when heating. For milk or dark chocolate add approx. 1.5 tsp oil or shortening during the heating and stirring process.

Then use hazelnut meal was sprinkled over the whole cookie for a nice dusting.

Cookie Decorating Frosting/Royal Icing

1 bag Pamela's Vanilla Frosting Mix
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter

Mix ingredients together, add food coloring*. Spread or pipe on cooled cookies. Add decorative sprinkles or candies if desired. Powder food coloring will net brighter colors.

* Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all candies, flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.

© 2008 Pamela's Products, Inc.