Peppermint White Chocolate Haystacks

So, if you know me, you probably know that I love peppermint hot cocoa, peppermint white mochas, and peppermint just about anything.  So, when I was whipping up some more goodies to give as gifts, I thought I could do more peppermint bark but then I thought....hm...let's do haystacks!  My maternal grandfather would always make quite an assortment of candies and goodies each year before Christmas and give everyone a tray.  (Well, I don't know for a fact he gave any out to people other  than my family actually...but I'm pretty confident he did. :)  So these are kind of a tribute to him.  Although truly he always made his haystacks out of white chocolate, milk chocolate or butterscotch...

Peppermint White Chocolate Haystacks

What you'll need:

2 bags Chow Mein

1 bag CandyQuik or Almond Bark in Vanilla

Crushed Peppermint Candy Canes

Chocolate for drizzle, optional

In a very large bowl pour the bags of chow mein noodles in and spread them out.  Melt the vanilla flavored candyquik and stir until smooth.  (I use the instructions on the package.)  Then pour the candyquik over the noodles and gently stir to coat.  Once they are evenly coated, use two spoons to make them into haystack or nest shapes on parchment or wax paper.  Then sprinkle crushed candy canes on the tops and drizzle with chocolate to finish!  Let set for a few hours at room temp or 30 minutes in the fridge.  Then package and/or enjoy!  Easy, peasy and yummy!

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Do you love Chocolate and Peppermint together as much as I do?  I feel like it's one of those things that just tastes like Christmas...  Anyway these are a pretty standard Chocolate Chip Cookie with a little less sugar since we have more sugary add-ins than normal.  And they are just enough pepperminty to be Christmasy but not over the top at all! :)  (So, I guess what I'm saying is that you could get away with them year round! :)

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies:
1 c. Shortening
1-1/3 c. Sugar (I used all white but I suppose you could still do half white and half brown here)
1/2 t. Salt
1 t. Vanilla
1 t. Baking Soda
2 Eggs
3 c. Flour (all-purpose)
1 c. Chocolate Chips (I prefer semi-sweet in my cookies, but you could use your preference!)
1/2 c. Peppermint Candy Canes, crushed (or peppermint candies)

Instructions:
Cream shortening and sugar until well blended.  Mix in salt, vanilla, baking soda and eggs until combined.  Add flour 1 cup at a time until just combined.  Then stir in chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candy canes.  Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Then using a cookie scoop (or whatever you like to use) place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet about 3" apart.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

Makes 4+ dozen cookies.

Peppermint Bark

I've made a lot of peppermint bark over the last few years.  I sometimes layer dark and white chocolate, or just do one or the other.  I've decided this is probably the easiest and best way to do it though, so I made a little video.  Let me know what you think of it!

What you'll need:

White Chocolate or CandyQuik
Dark Chocolate or Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Candy Canes
Parchment Paper

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes (like Chick-fil-A's)

I have this confession...that I have an absolute obsession with the Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes at Chick-fil-A.  And the bad part is that they are seasonal....  So I tried making them at home, and viola, they turned out just as fantastic!  :)  Cheaper, and somewhat more available!  :)

 All you need is some of this...  (which is unfortunately limited edition...so I may have to go buy a few hundred more....;)  And some milk and chocolate chips!  You'll also need a blender or an immersion blender.  (I love and use both of mine a lot, but I actually think the immersion blender did a much better job with this than my regular one...)

The best part about doing this yourself is that you can make it as thick (or as thin, if that's the way you roll) as you want it!  Just add less or more milk.  I used about two scoops of ice cream, 10 chocolate chips (pounded with a meat mallet inside a ziploc) and a dash of milk to make mine nice and thick.  If you'd like yours a little more immediately drink-through-a-straw-able you'll want to add some more milk.  I'm kind of a weirdo who loves to eat shakes with a spoon...because I like them that thick and yummy!  :)  Anyway, make it how you want it, and you can garnish with some extra candy canes to be super festive!!  Enjoy!!  :)

Yummy!  I think I'm going to go make some more tonight....

Easy Peppermint Bark

This is a perfect treat for Christmas Eve, Day or for a gift!  It's also pretty easy to make!  I comes out marbled in this easy version, and it's very festive!  Enjoy!  :)

Three ingredients:  Real White Chocolate, Peppermint candies and Quality Dark Chocolate!

1.  In a double boiler melt about 4 oz. of dark chocolate.   (Simple double boiler=metal bowl (or pan) over a pot with 1" of boiling water.  Don't let the bowl/pan touch the water below.)  Don't you just love the look of melted chocolate?  I do...

 2.  Turn a cookie sheet upside down, put a layer of foil or waxed paper and lightly grease with butter. (Like so...)

 3.  Once the chocolate is melted and smooth, pour it carefully on the prepared cookie sheet.  Smooth it down into a thin layer (and rectangle) with a frosting spatula. Like so...

 4.  Place the chocolate in the fridge for about 10 minutes to set.

 5.  Melt about 4 oz. of white chocolate in the double boiler.

 6.  Crush peppermint candy.  (I unwrapped mine, placed them in a ziploc bag and hit it with the handle of a large spatula until crushed.)

 7.  With a clean frosting spatula smear the white chocolate over the chocolate layer.  This will result in a marbling effect like below.  While white chocolate is still warm and melty, sprinkle your desired amount of crushed peppermint candies on top.

 8.  Place in the fridge overnight (or at least 5 hours).

 9.  Take the bark out of the fridge, and place it on a cutting board.  (With or without foil/waxed paper.)

 10.  Start cutting the bark into pieces.  I  started like this above....

 ...and ended up with something like this.  :)

 Yum.  Yum.  Yum.

Stick into baggies, gift bags or jars when giving for gifts!  :)

Have fun and happy melting!  :)