Peppermint Cookie Pops

Submitted by Annacia

"Nostalgic for those "of a certain age" and pure delight to the younger set, these super-sized cookies on a stick are reminiscent of old-fashioned peppermint lollipops."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 38mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 24

ingredients

• 2⁄3 cup butter, softened
• 2⁄3 cup shortening
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1⁄4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup finely crushed hard peppermint candy
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup half-and-half or 1/4 cup light cream
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• paste food coloring
• 24 lollipop sticks

directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the 2/3 cup butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1-1/2 cups sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Add the eggs and peppermint extract; beat until well comined. Beat or stir in the 4 cups flour. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the peppermint candies.
2. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill about 3 hours or until dough is easy to handle.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl beat 1/2 cup butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup sugar and beat until combined. With mixer on low speed, beat in half-and-half or light cream. Beat in 2 cups all-purpose flour until dough is smooth. Divide dough into portions. Tint dough with desired paste food coloring pastel pink or green suggested). Set aside.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the chilled dough at a time to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a 4-inch round scalloped cookie cutter, cut out dough. Place cookies about 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Tuck a lollipop stick under the center of each cookie. Press dough down slightly so that the cookie bakes around the stick.
5. Using a decorative bag fitted with a medium writing or star tip, pipe colored dough onto cutouts, making borders, designs, or pictures and/or writing messages.
6. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minues or until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Carefuly transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool. Makes about 24 (4-inch) cookies.