Mint Patty Cakes

I love Peppermint Pattys.  Love, love, love them.  Nothing beats sticking them in the freezer and eating them cold during the hot summer months.  I got this recipe from the Food Network Magazine last year and have been craving it lately.  I wasn't really a fan of the recipe that they had for the cupcake, so you can use your favorite box mix or from scratch recipe, something dark chocolate works best.  Then comes the fun part - making the peppermint topping and then a glaze to put on top - basically you have a Peppermint Patty in the form of a cupcake - chocolate cupcake bottom, peppermint filling, chocolate coating.  Who doesn't want that?! 

I made the cupcakes using my favorite from scratch recipe and let them cool.  Once completely cooled, time to make the peppermint filling.  This part is fun - and really easy.  Easier than you would think it is.  It basically looks like a crumbled mess in the bowl of your mixer until you turn it out onto a piece of parchment paper and form it into a ball.  Place another piece of parchment on top of it and roll it out.  Now, this sounds really easy - but it's a little trickier than you think.  I suggest rolling out half the dough at the beginning.  Parchment slides around a lot - and you want to use parchment because if you don't it's really hard to get it off of the surface you're rolling it off of (even if you use confectioners sugar to flour the surface).  Once rolled to the right thickness, you cut them out with a 2 1/2" cookie cutter and place them on top of each cupcake.

peppermint filling discs

Once that's all done, time to make the glaze.  It's really more of a frosting since it's thick and you spread it.  But this part is super easy and doesn't take much time at all.  Spread it on top of each disc and leave the edges showing so people know what they are about to bite into.

yum yum yum

Once you frost them, put them in the fridge for 20 to firm up and then you are good to go! 

yummies

I had lined up a taste tester - and she was so excited for them!  The feedback from her was great - she said they were awesome and everyone ate them up.  If you live near me and would like to be a taste tester, please let me know - I don't want to make people cringe when they see me coming in with more treats for them. Sometimes I wonder if my 3 favorite guy taste testers are getting sick of treats from me - even though I've warned them that they will be getting treats at least once a week from me.  But they know they will get treats until they tell me to stop bringing them treats.  It's a tough job but someone's gotta do it right? :)

Mint Patty Cakes

Make your favorite box mix or from scratch recipe according to directions and allow to completely cool.

Topping:

1 1-pound box confectioners sugar (4 cups)
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup vegetable shortening or cocoa butter, softened

2 tsp peppermint extract

Beat confectioners sugar, corn syrup, shortening and peppermint extract with a mixer until a tight paste forms.  Gather into a ball, place between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll out to 1/4" thick.  (Microwave for 15 seconds to soften if necessary).  Use a 2 1/2" round cutter to cut into disks; reroll the scraps.  Place a peppermint disc on top of each cupcake.

Glaze:

8 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped or chips

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter

1/4 cup water

Put the chocolate, corn syrup, butter and water in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave until chocolate melts, about 2 minutes (check it every 30 seconds).  Whisk to combine, then cool slightly.  Spread the glaze over the peppermint topping, leaving some peppermint exposed.  Refrigerate until set, at least 20 minutes.