This was submitted by Belinda Green [EMAIL PROTECTED] on Rhondas_Recipe_Exchange (group is closed) ~~~~~ These sweet sandwich cookies have a hidden crunch of peppermint candies in the creamy pink filling.
Email Recipe Add to Recipe Box Print Preparation time: 1 hrs 30 min Baking time: 7 min Yield: 40 sandwich cookies Cookie Ingredients: 2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened 2 eggs 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract, if desired 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour Pink decorator sugar Filling Ingredients: 2 cups powdered sugar 1/4 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened 2 to 3 tablespoons LAND O LAKES™ Fat Free Half & Half or milk 1 drop red food color 1/4 cup finely crushed peppermint candies or candy canes Decorations Ingredients: Red, white or pink decorator sugar or edible glitter, if desired Combine 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 cup butter in large bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add eggs and peppermint extract; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour. Beat until well mixed. Divide dough into fourths; wrap each fourth in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate until firm (at least 1 hour). Heat oven to 350°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-fourth at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated) to 1/16 to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with 2-inch cookie cutter. Cut a 1/2-inch circle from center of half of cookies. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Sprinkle cookies with center cut-out with decorator sugar. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool on cookie sheets 1 minute; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Combine 2 cups powdered sugar and 1/4 cup butter in small bowl. Beat at low speed, adding enough half & half for desired spreading consistency. Add red food color and crushed candies; continue beating until creamy. Spread 1 teaspoon filling onto bottom-side of cookie without holes. Top with cookie with center cut–out, bottom-side down. Sprinkle with decorator sugar or edible glitter, if desired. Recipe Tip To crush peppermint candies, place unwrapped candies in heavy-duty plastic food bag; pound with hammer on hard surface until finely crushed. Ten candies yields 1/4 cup crushed. Recipe Tip Use a plastic drinking straw to cut three small circles into cookies before baking instead of the 1/2-inch circle. Recipe Tip Edible glitter can be found in most cake decorating stores or large supermarkets. Ingredient Substitution Index Nutrition Facts (1 sandwich cookie): Calories: 140, Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 25mg, Sodium: 55mg, Carbohydrates: 20g, Dietary Fiber: 0g, Protein: 1g ~~~~~ Rhonda G in Missouri .