The winter holidays are coming and I am one of those people who love them (as well as the other holidays). While I can’t do a lot of things I used to do, I do make a few of my gifts. These Bavarian Mints are something I have made for over 35 years. I used to make them for friends, family, teachers, mailmen, and the bus driver and was always told how awesome they were. I seldom craft anymore so purchasing gift boxes that can be found at many stores are a real time saver. I recommend that you choose small boxes. I adapted the original recipe from one in the Mailbox News, a “magazine/newsletter from Maid of Scandinavia (which is where I used to buy my cake and candy decorating supplies before they closed their doors). These mints are so much easier since the advent of the microwave!
Bavarian Mints
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 square unsweetened chocolate
! Tbs. of butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. peppermint (or mint) extract
1 tsp. vanilla
Line an 11”x7” pan with foil. Grease generously with butter or shortening.
Mix Semi-sweet chips, square chocolate, butter and sweetened condense milk in large microwave safe bowl. Heat until chocolate is melted, stirring well every minute. Add the extracts and beat well. Pour into foil lined pan. Refrigerate until set (several hours or possibly even overnight).
Remove foil from pan and then foil from candy. Cut candy into 1” squares. If you want to go crazy you can decorate each square with a royal frosting holly leaf (but that negates the “easy”).
This makes about 2 ½ lbs. I suggest lining the boxes with some parchment paper and gifting ¼ lb. – ½ lb. per gift (these are very rich but oh so good and easy). They are best when kept refrigerated (or in the freezer) however being at room temperature for a short while doesn’t hurt them.
Check out the most recent TPC Comfort Cookin’ blog for loads of holiday cooking ideas and planning tips!