Home Made Peppermint Patties

These were amazingly good, and that's a good thing because they were a serious pain in the butt to make (and clean-up was a ton of work).  Before I tasted them I vowed to never make them again.  Then Tim and his friends came upstairs to test them out.  They really liked them. I tried one and had to admit that they had a point.  I was still defending my position on never making them, but they chose to ignore me and keep eating.  Then, I took them to church the next day, and everyone loved them-even a friend who does not especially like the chocolate-mint combo.  So now I think I will have to make them again.  Probably only once a year, but that will be enough to appease Tim and everyone else who got to taste the glory of these little bundles of goodness.  I think it is something you should try once.  Have an extra set of hands around for the chocolate dipping phase-this gets really messy, and you have to move quick. 

Peppermint Patties

*Recipe from Savory Sweet Life


Ingredients:
1 Can of sweetened condensed milk
5 1/2 Cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 Tablespoon peppermint extract
3 Cups semisweet chocolate chips
3 Tablespoons shortening

Combine sweetened condensed milk, peppermint extract, and 2 cups of powdered sugar in a mixing bowl, and mix on medium speed until well blended. 
Add more sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough is firm, and can be handled somewhat easily.
Using slightly wet hands (this helps keep the patties from sticking to you) roll the dough into 3/4 inch balls and place on parchment paper.  Slightly flatten each ball.  Put patties in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Toward the end of the freezing time get to work on your chocolate.  Put the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second increments.  Stir after each heating, and stop once chocolate can be stirred smooth.  Stir shortening into chocolate. 
Dip each patty into the chocolate to completely coat it.  You will have to see what method works well for you.  You can do this by placing the patty on a fork and dipping it, or by simply using your hands to dip and coat each patty.  I found that the fork got caked with chocolate and peppermint so the extra chocolate could not drip off, and abandoned the fork pretty quickly.  You have to work pretty fast, and return the patties to the freezer if they start to get too soft and sticky.  This is why it is good to have an extra person around for this step.  Place coated patties on parchment and allow them to set until they are dry to the touch.  These are also delicious straight out of the freezer.