"I like to take cookies to people that need a smile. That's what my mother did with these cookies." - Catherine Montini, Buford

Ingredients:

Dough:

• 2 ¼ cups flour
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 ½ tsp. peppermint extract
• 2 egg yolks
• 16 drops red food coloring
• 8 drops green food coloring

Chocolate Coating:

• ¾ cups dark chocolate chips
• 3 Tbsp. whipping cream
• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 30 Crème de mint chocolate candies, cut in half or crumbled

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, salt in medium bowl; set aside. Using stand mixer, beat 1 cup softened butter and sugar until fluffy. Add peppermint extract and egg yolks. Beat 1 minute. Gradually add flour mixture. Divide dough in half. In one bowl, combine ½ dough and red food coloring; in another bowl, combine ½ dough and green food coloring. Shape dough into quarter-sized balls. Refrigerate 15 minutes. Place balls 2 inches apart onto parchment paper lined or silicone matted baking sheets. Bake 12 minutes. Cool on wire racks for 20 minutes.

Coating: In medium bowl, melt chocolate chips, cream and butter in microwave uncovered on high for 1 minute, stirring every 15 seconds. Remove, stir until smooth. Dip half of cookie in chocolate coating. Top with mint candies. Place on wire racks to cool completely.