February 11th is National Peppermint Patty Day. You probably know the rich, creamy peppermint confection by its brand name, York Peppermint Patty. The York Cone Company, based in Pennsylvania and originally known for its ice cream cones, invented the York Peppermint Patty in 1940. The original version of the candy was firm and crisp, and quickly became a household name. [photo via flickr]
In 1966, the peppermint patty increased in popularity due to the debut of Charles M. Schultz’s Peanuts comic strip. One of the main characters was none other than Patricia “Peppermint Patty” Reichardt. While we agree the York Peppermint Patty is delish, we’ve found a recipe to make your own peppermint patties at home. With this recipe from savorysweetlife.com and all the ingredients on hand, you’ll never want for the cool chocolate candy again.
Ingredients
1 can sweetened condensed milk
5 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon peppermint extract
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons shortening
Directions
- Add condensed milk, 2 cups of powdered sugar, and peppermint extract to a large mixing bowl. Mix everything on medium speed using the paddle attachment until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Add more powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough is stiff but still pliable.
- Roll 3/4″ balls of dough between the palms of the hands.
- Press each ball down slowly and set the flattened disk on a flat cutting board or plate. Transfer peppermint disks to the freezer for no longer than 30 minutes. While the dough is chilling, temper the chocolate coating.
- Place chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl. Melt the chocolate in 30-second increments, making sure to stir after each time until chocolate is smooth. Stir in shortening to thin the chocolate. Remove patties from the freezer.
- Place a patty on the tines of the fork and dip in the chocolate until completely covered. Allow excess chocolate to drip off the patty before setting each one on top of wax or parchment paper.
- Allow the chocolate-coated peppermint patties to completely set up. This can be done quicker by placing the patties in the refrigerator. The peppermint patties are ready when they are dry to the touch. Enjoy!
Celebrate National Peppermint Patty Day by whipping up a batch of these candies. This recipe makes about 32 pieces of candy. You may want to make a double batch because once you have a taste, you won’t want to share! Happy National Peppermint Patty Day!
