Chocolate Peppermint Waffle Cookies1 C butter 4 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped 4 eggs 1-1/2 C sugar 2 t vanilla 1/2 t salt 1/2 t instant coffee crystals 1/2 C unsweetened cocoa powder 1-1/2 C all-purpose flour Glaze: 2 T butter 1/4 C powdered sugar 2 T unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 t peppermint extract 1-2 T milk crushed peppermint candies |
1. In a medium saucepan cook and stir the butter and unsweetened cocoa over low heat until melted and smooth; cool slightly.
2. In a large mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, and coffee crystals on medium to high speed about 4 minutes or until thick and pale.
3. Beat in cocoa powder and the melted chocolate mixture until combined.
4. Beat in the flour.
5. Preheat an electric waffle iron according to manufacturer's recommendations. Grease grids.
**My waffle iron is the type that makes a round waffle with an X in the middle. The X creates a weak spot in these cookies. I would recommend using one that will make 6 individual cookies at one time. The cooking will go faster and they won't break the way mine did.
6. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the batter into the center of the grid. Close lid and bake 1 to 1-1/2 minutes or until cookies are set.
7. Using a fork, lift cookies off the grid. Transfer to a wire rack; cool.
** Because mine were so weak, I used a spatula to scoop them off the grid after gently lifting with a fork. I had a few casualties until I got the hang of it. Patience is necessary!
8. Repeat cooking the rest of the batter, lightly greasing grids as necessary.
9.For glaze, in a small saucepan heat the butter over low heat until melted. Remove from heat.
10. Stir in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and peppermint extract. Add enough milk to reach dipping consisitency.
11. Dip the top of each cookie into glaze, allowing excess glaze to drip back into saucepan.
** I drizzled the glaze over the top of my cookies since they were too delicate to dip.
12. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with the crushed peppermint candies. Let stand until glaze is set.
**Fans of coffee and dark chocolate will like this cookie.
The poem that introduced us to the other eight reindeer, “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” actually named dropped Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Duner and Blixem. (Which, like Donner and Blitzen, come from the German words for thunder and lightning.) We leave carrots for Santa Claus’ reindeer because, in Norse mythology, people left hay and treats for Odin’s eight-legged horse Sleipnir “in hopes the god would stop by their home during his Yule hunting adventures.” Dutch children adopted this tradition too, and would leave for St. Nick’s horse.