Peppermint Bark Popcorn

Peppermint Bark Popcorn, via OurBestBites


(you'll need twice the amout of almond bark shown, I just made a half-batch for pictures)

Peppermint Bark Popcorn

16-20 C popped popcorn (fresh, or about 2 bags microwave popcorn)
1 lb Almond Bark
1 6oz box candy canes, crushed. (About 1-1 1/2 C total and Bob's are the best! Don't use Spanglers!)
2 tsp. peppermint extract
3/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

*one bag microwave popcorn has about 10 cups in it, so if you're air-popping, do about 20 cups.

Place popcorn in a very large mixing bowl.

Unwrapping the candy canes to crush them is the most labor intensive step of this easy treat, so you can do that ahead of time if you want too. I put my candy canes in a large zip-lock bag and have a whack with a heavy marble rolling pin.


Place popcorn in a very large mixing bowl.

Unwrapping the candy canes to crush them is the most labor intensive step of this easy treat, so you can do that ahead of time if you want too. I put my candy canes in a large zip-lock bag and have a whack with a heavy marble rolling pin.


One they're crushed, dump them into the bowl with the popcorn.


To melt the almond bark, follow the instructions on the package. I just break it up and put it in a glass measuring cup and microwave on 1 min intervals until it's nice and smooth.

When your almond bark is melted, add the peppermint extract. It will seize a little bit (get kind of lumpy) but it's totally fine. Pour over popcorn and candycanes.

Stir it up really well until the candy is evenly distributed. Pour the popcorn out onto a piece of waxed paper, parchment, or foil. Spread it out into an even layer and leave it alone!



While the popcorn is setting, place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth. I really like dark chocolate to counter-balance the sweetness of the almond bark, but I know there's a lot of dark haters, so do what you want!

Drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn. You can use a fork, or put it in a zip-lock bag with the corner cut off.


Leave it until the almond bark and the chocolate is hardened. If you need to hurry it up, do this whole process on lined cookie sheets you can pop in the fridge.

When chocolate is hardened, use your hands to break up popcorn into chunks. Toss in a bowl, a jar, a cute package, or in your mouth :)

Mint Chocolate Cookies

2/3 cup butter
1 Cup sugar
1 Egg
1 Tsp vanilla
1 Cup flour
1/2 Cup cocoa
1/2 Tsp baking soda
1/4 Tsp salt
1-2/3 Cups/10-oz bag of mint chocolate chips (I used a bag of mini York Peppermint Patties...mmm)

Heat oven to 350°F

Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, beat well. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture. Beat well. Stir in mint chocolate chips.

Bake 8 to 9 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen.

Stolen from Jamie.

Heather's Peppermint Pie!

1 chocolate pie crust
2 cups of mini marshmallows
1/2 cup milk (whole milk works best)
8 drops red or green food coloring
1 capful peppermint flavoring
1 8 oz Cool Whip

1. Slowly melt marshmallows with milk over low/med heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add coloring and flavoring, mix well.

2. Place in the fridge (on a hotpad), and stir occasionally until the marshmallow glops off the spoon.

3. Mix in Cool Whip, reserving about a cup or so to put dallops on top of the pie if you want. Pour into the chocolate pie crust and put back in the fridge to set for at least 2 hours.

Thanks Heather!

3 Hot Chocolate recipes!

I'm a SUCKER (TOTAL and COMPLETE sucker!) for a good cup of hot chocolate! Natalie posted 3 recipes, and I'm totally stealing them!


Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

4 squares baker's chocolate
2 cups milk
2 tbsp. peanut butter
marshmallows

Break chocolate squares and melt in a saucepan with milk. Do not boil. Stir in peanut butter until mixture is smooth. Pour into mugs and garnish with marshmallows.

White Peppermint Hot Chocolate

6 hard peppermint candies, finely crushed
2/3 cup whipping cream
3 1/2 cups milk
8 oz. white chocolate, chopped
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

Beat whipping cream with crushed candies until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate for at least one hour. In the meantime, heat milk on medium low heat. Mix in chocolate and whisk until smooth. Add peppermint extract and stir thoroughly. Pour into cups and top with peppermint whipped cream mixture.

Luscious Hot Chocolate

1 cup milk
1 cup half and half
1 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
8 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Heat milk, half and half, both chocolates and sugar in a saucepan on medium-low heat until chocolates melt and sugar dissolves. Pour half of the mixture into a blender and mix until frothy. Return to the saucepan and add vanilla. Stir briefly and serve.

{From LDS Living Magazine.}

BYU Mint Brownies

BYU Mint Brownies

MAKES ONE 9-BY-13 PAN OF BROWNIES.
PREP AND COOK: 90 min. COOL: 1 hr.
1 c. margarine
1/2 c. cocoa
2 Tbsp. honey
4 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped walnuts
12 oz. chocolate icing (Use your own icing recipe or purchase some chocolate frosting. You can also search the Internet for chocolate icing recipes.)

MINT ICING
5 Tbsp. margarine
dash of salt
3 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
2 1/3 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. mint extract
1-2 drops green food coloring

1. Melt margarine and mix in cocoa. Allow to cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Add nuts. Pour batter into a greased 9-by-13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool.

2. Prepare mint icing: Soften margarine. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add mint extract and food coloring. Mix. Add milk gradually until the consistency is a little thinner than cake frosting.

3. Spread mint icing over brownies. Place brownies in the freezer for a short time to stiffen the icing. Remove from the freezer and carefully add a layer of chocolate icing.

So, what makes them from BYU? Heck if I know... Stole the recipe from my sister Jamie.

A different after-dinner mint!

Saw and stole this one from marthastewart.com


For a refreshing postmeal bite, try frozen chocolate-dipped mint leaves -- on their own or as a garnish for ice cream or chocolate cake. Melt 1/2 cup dark chocolate (bars work fine), and dip in fresh mint leaves, holding on to the stem side with your fingers or kitchen tweezers. Place on a parchment-covered baking sheet, and freeze, uncovered, until hardened, about 20 minutes (or up to 5 hours). Gently remove from parchment, and serve immediately.

Dare I say it? Yes... It's a good thing. ;)