Peppermint Patties

I had a couple friends over last week so they could learn how to knit. I took that as an opportunity to try my hand at making peppermint patties. See, my killer neighborhood grocery store, BiRite, sells these amazing peppermint patties. They are so delicious and instantly addicting, and at $2 a pop, it adds up fast! If you know me, you know I like to make things that people usually don't think to make (e.g., marshmallows, crackers). So I wondered, "How does one go about making peppermint patties? What in the world is that filling made of?"

My google-fu brought me to the Joy of Baking recipe. I substituted peppermint extract because I couldn't find the oil (after hitting three stores). The ratio is 4:1 extract to oil, so I used 1 tsp, which turned out right. I also subbed vanilla paste in lieu of the extract because that's what I had on hand, but it's a straight 1:1 sub.

I also learned the hard way why water should never touch melting chocolate. I accidentally got a few drops of water into my bowl of my double boiler with my bittersweet chocolate chips, right at the beginning, and thus ruined the entire batch of chocolate. It was impossible to completely melt and instead turned into a gloppy, grainy mess. I tried adding some canola oil in attempts to reverse the seized chocolate, but to no avail. I cut my losses and spread it out onto wax paper and made a huge chocolate bar for later (which is now in my fridge when I get the munchies). Luckily there is a good supply of chocolate chips at my house, but I had to settle for semi-sweet instead of bittersweet.

All in all, it was pretty fun, slightly messy, with incredible yummy results. I shared them with my favorite parents during morning drop-off at Yoshi's school, and with my "pod-mates" at my new job. And I ate more than I should have. Next time, no water in the chocolate! Can't wait to make these again.