Valentine Mints
Contributed by Susan
Source: Parenting Magazine, February 2000
With nimble fingers and some basic equipment, kids can transform a
handful of ingredients into creamy Valentine mints. (You'll need to run
the electric mixer.) Your child can wrap 'em up in a bag or gift box for
a pal, a teacher, or a relative--if she can resist treating herself
first!
Prep time: About 20 minutes
Chilling time: 12 to 24 hours
Yield: About 18 2-inch hearts
Equipment
Measuring cups and spoons
Mixing bowl
Plastic sandwich bags
Electric mixer
Waxed paper
Tape
Rolling pin, optional
2- or 1-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter (open type works best)
Ingredients
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
5 drops red food coloring
3 1/2 to 4 cups powdered sugar
Red and/or white jimmies or sprinkles, optional
Put cream cheese, peppermint extract, and food coloring in mixing bowl.
Slip plastic bags over hands, and use hands to mix ingredients until
well-blended, or beat with electric mixer on low speed.
Add 3 cups of the powdered sugar to the cream-cheese mixture; mix at low
speed until blended (dough will be stiff, like piecrust dough).
Line a flat surface with waxed paper (hold in place by taping down the
edges), and dust with the remaining powdered sugar. Set the cream-cheese
dough in the middle and begin kneading it with hands to incorporate as
much powdered sugar as possible, until dough is very stiff.
Roll out the dough with rolling pin, or pat with hands until it's about
1/2-inch thick. Cut with heart-shaped cookie cutters and place on a
serving plate. Combine dough scraps and re-roll to create additional
hearts.
If desired, decorate by pressing jimmies or sprinkles onto the top or
sides of each heart.
Chill uncovered in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours to harden.
Per heart (1/18 of recipe): 127 calories, 2 g fat (1.4 g saturated), 19
mg sodium, 7 mg cholesterol.
September 98 Recipes