Snow. Snowmen. Dead Snowmen. Yes, that is right. More snow themed cookies, on the “Winter of Discontent” theme (if you are getting bored with this theme, you are lucky as it is the last one in the mini-series). I normally don’t go in for the cutesy cookies, but as I was bantering with a friend on Facebook about how I could just about kill a snowman, I decided to make these. More commonly called “Melting Snowman Cookies”, they are chocolate and peanut butter cookies, with melted white chocolate, mini-peanut butter cups and other decorations.
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
For decorating
1 pound white chocolate melting wafers (I used Ghirardelli)
20 bite-size chocolate-covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped
Brown and orange sprinkles or other candies and/or tinted frosting
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare cookie sheets with silpat or parchment paper.
In the work bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and peanut butter. Beat in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla until combined. Beat in the cocoa powder and as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour.
Shape dough into twenty 1 3/4-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are just firm. Cool on cookie sheets for a couple of minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
Line your work surface with wax paper (in case there are drips). Melt the white chocolate wafers using the microwave (according to the manufacturer’s directions) or with a double boiler). Spoon melted coating over each cookie to cover cookie and resemble melted snow. While coating is still tacky, add a peanut butter cup for a top hat and decorate with sprinkles or other candies to resemble snowman faces. Let stand until set.
