Thin Mint Cookies

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Thin mint cookies!

One of our favorite family traditions is baking and giving cookies.  In years past, I've hosted a cookie exchange.  The rules are simple -- you invite five of your friends and have them each bake 12 dozen cookies.  Then you meet together and divide the cookies amongst you, which means that you each go home with 12 dozen cookies of different varieties.  It's not only fun getting together, but it's a great way to discover new cookie recipes.

Once all our cookies are baked and plated, we don our gay apparel -- which in our case means reindeer antlers.  :)  And then we deliver them to our friends and neighbors, accompanied by our best off-tune rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." 

Thin Mint Cookies

Thin Mint Cookies
Makes 36 cookies

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
•   4-6drops peppermint essential oil*
• 3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup butter

1. In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter or margarine until creamy. Add the sugar, and beat until mixed well. Beat in egg and mint extract.
2. Sift flour, cocoa, and salt together into a small bowl. Add flour mixture by halves into creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.
3. Divide dough in half. On lightly floured surface roll dough into two 1 1/2 inch diameter cylinders. Wrap each cylinder in waxed paper, and refrigerate 5 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Thirty minutes prior to baking, place both cylinders in freezer.
5. Remove one cylinder at a time, and slice 1/4 inch thick pieces with very sharp knife. Place on cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake 10 to 12 minutes.
6. Melt 1/4 cup butter or margarine and the semisweet chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. Drizzle over warm cookies. Place on wire racks, and let cool and harden completely.   From Allrecipes.com.

What are some of your favorite holiday treats?

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*Use only PURE essential oils.  Check the label to make sure they are safe for internal use.

E-mail me for a free sample of peppermint essential oil.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.