Coconut Chocolate Peaks

A homemade "chocolate mounds" type candy. I first had these years ago at my M-I-L's house, and couldn't stop eating them (yes, I'm an admitted chocoholic). These have become a requirement on our holiday dessert table. The prep time includes the refrigeration time.

• Ready In: 1 hr 34 mins
• Yields: 40 pieces

Ingredients

• 6  tablespoons butter
• 3  cups powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar)
• 1 (14 ounce) bag  of shredded coconut
• 4  ounces  light cream
• 3⁄4 cup  semisweet mini chocolate chips or 3  ounces baking chocolate
• 3  teaspoons  Crisco (not butter flavored)
• 3  drops vanilla extract or 3  drops  almond extract (less than an 1/8 teaspoon)

Directions

1. Also need wax paper and candy papers (they are like mini-cupcake papers).
2. In a large bowl, mix together coconut and cream, set aside.
3. Melt butter and add to coconut/cream mixture, stir well.
4. Stir in powdered sugar, mix until well blended.
5. Add vanilla to mixture and stir well.
6. Form peaks by dropping coconut mixture onto waxed paper lined cookie sheet a 1/2 tablespoon at a time until all coconut mixture is used.
7. Refrigerate peaks for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until they have firmed up.
8. Melt chocolate and Crisco over hot (not boiling) water, stirring until smooth and melted.
9. Dip bottom 1/2 to 3/4 of each peak into chocolate mixture.
10. Place the chocolate coated peaks back on the waxed paper after dipping.
11. Refrigerate until very firm, about 1 hour.
12. When peaks have firmed, remove them from waxwd paper and place in candy papers.
13. Store them in a covered container in the refrigerator until serving.