Chocolate Peppermint Creams

I know that Christmas is over, but I have so many good treats and cookie recipes that I tried this year that I just have to keep going... Here was another recipe that I found and it was SO yummy! My topping didn't turn out as pretty as the picture that they showed, but it was still good to eat...


Chocolate Peppermint Creams
(recipe found at www.pillsbury.com)

1 bag (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 bag (12 ounces) dark chocolate chips
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 cup butter
1/4 cup dry pudding mix from 1 box (4 serving size) vanilla pudding and pie filling mix (not instant)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 bag (2 pounds) powdered sugar
1/2 cup coarsely chopped peppermint candy canes

Spray 15x10x1 inch pan with cooking spray. Reserve 1/2 cup of the semisweet chocolate chips. In 2 quart saucepan, heat remaining semisweet chocolate chips and 1/3 cup cream over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until melted. Pour into pan; spread evenly. Refrigerate. (I struggled with the melting during this phase - I added more cream to make it "pourable" and continued to stir until it was the right consistency.)

Meanwhile, in 3 quart sauscepan, heat butter, pudding mix and 1/2 cup cream to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in peppermint extract, vanilla and powdered sugar, beating well, until mixture is smooth. Spread evenly over cooled chocolate layer; freeze until firm, 15-20 minutes.

Place reserved 1/2 cup chocolate chips in small resealable freezer plastic bag. Microwave on high 45-55 seconds, turning bag over after 30 seconds. Squeeze bag until chips are melted and smooth. Cut small tip off one corner of bag, and drizzle over top. Immediately sprinkle with chopped candy. Cut into 15 rows by 5 rows.

(I found that when I tried to drizzle the chocolate, it immediately hardened when it hit the top of the bars. Maybe this wouldn't happen if you let it sit out for a little bit? This also made it so that the candy canes didn't stick to the topping at all... They were still worth my while though! :)