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Snow Days….

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This Peppermint Bark Shortbread is topped with semisweet chocolate and chopped peppermint candies make for a festive holiday treat.

When asked my favorite Christmas movie people are often surprised by the answer.

Why you ask?

Because most people have never heard of it.

I only saw it twice when I was a kid, as it was on HBO.

I own it now but it is not the same as Kermit the Frog was in the original and do to legal stuff it was cut out. 

That movie is Emmet Otters Jug-Band Christmas. It was put out by Jim Henson (you know the Muppet guy) in 1977.

Yep, it’s an oldie…but a goodie.

I’m not sure why I like it so, perhaps because I made my 8th graders join a jug band (but that’s a story for another time).

Perhaps because I love otters.

Perhaps because I love an underdog story.

Either way, sitting down to watch with a cup of hot chocolate is one of my most happy holiday times.

And even better was getting to watch it today while the snow falls down.

We don’t get a lot of snow around these parts, so the ½ foot of snow outside (and still falling) is quite odd.

The snow has sent everyone into a giant tissy.

On Wednesday they canceled school because snow was predicted…didn’t come to most places but was predicted (we got it though).

My friends and family in Canada find that most amusing.

As do I, though in there defense our area doesn’t really have the equipment to deal with snow. I think there are just a handful of snow plows.

Plus we have lots of hills.

The post office is still delivering but the wimps at UPS are not.

Same with our garbage guys.

We now get to sit with our garbage and extra week.

But me, what has the snow done to me?

It’s made me bake.

When I was younger, once the first flake hit the ground I knew what that meant.

That meant my mother would be baking, anything and everything.

I guess it’s genetic as I baked 20 dozen or so cookies yesterday as the snow came pouring down.

Among those cookies were these scrumptious shortbread that I saw over on the Examiner.

They come from a local bakery and they are a perfect cookie for this time of year.

These Peppermint Bark Shortbread are simple to make, though you might panic when you make the dough and it doesn’t come together.

Just dump it in the pan and press it down and when it starts to bake it all comes together.

The original recipe calls for dipping the tops, but I chose the side because I am lazy and it is easier that way.

Hope you get time to sit around and watch your favorite holiday movie this year.

Hopefully with some snow and hot chocolate…and maybe these cookies as well.

P.S. It’s a great day to buy my cookbook Holy Sweet!

Want More Shortbread Recipes?

Orange Cranberry Shortbread Rounds

Vanilla Bean Shortbread Roll Out Cookies

Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Shortbread Cookies

Peppermint Mocha Shortbread

Shortbread Roll Out Sugar Cookies

Peppermint Bark Shortbread

Peppermint Bark Shortbread

Yield: Makes 24 2-by-2 inch cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 TBSP for the top
  • 2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp peppermint extract
  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup white rice flour (I only had about 1/3 cup so I used cake flour for the other 2/3 cup)
  • ½ TBSP salt
  • For the Chocolate Coating:
  • 12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3 TBSP unsalted butter
  • candy cane pieces

Instructions

  1. For the Shortbread:
  2. In a standard mixer or with a hand-held beater, cream sugar, butter and peppermint extract until light and fluffy.
  3. Add flours and salt and combine until mixture just starts to come together. (The dough should be crumbly but stick together when squeezed.)
  4. Don’t panic as the dough will be very crumbly, when they start to bake they will form into a cookie.
  5. Line a 12-by-16-inch pan with parchment paper (I used a 9 by 13-inch pan just fine).
  6. Place dough into the pan and break up any large clumps, spreading evenly.
  7. Press dough down gently and sprinkle the remaining sugar on top I skipped the extra sugar).
  8. With a rolling pin or drinking glass, roll out the dough evenly. (Use a little additional sugar if the dough sticks to the rolling pin.)
  9. With a meat tenderizer or fork, press indentations into the top of the shortbread. (This prevents the shortbread from rising unevenly.)
  10. Bake at 350F degrees for 20-25 minutes or until shortbread is golden brown.
  11. Cut into squares while still warm and remove cookies from pan to cool.
  12. For the Chocolate Coating:
  13. Combine the semisweet chocolate and butter in a medium heat-proof bowl set over a medium saucepan of barely simmering water; stir until melted and smooth.
  14. Transfer to a small bowl, and let cool about 15 minutes.
  15. Dip part of each shortbread cookie into the chocolate and transfer to wax paper or parchment paper.
  16. Sprinkle candy cane pieces over the chocolate if desired.
  17. Let chocolate set for about 30 minutes before serving.
© Peabody

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Comments

  3. Now that’s just not fair, combining my two favourite holiday foods at a time when I’m trying to cut back on my sugar 😉 Certainly won’t be making this today, having had 96 grams already, but it’s going in the save pile!

    Reply

  5. Oh, I love Emmett Otter! It’s my favorite. I agree that the DVD that’s available now is not as good as the original. Luckily, I still have a taped-off-TV version from when I was little. How nerdy is that? 🙂

    Reply

  6. These shortbread cookies look yummy! I am currently praying for a snow day tommorow (we have 1/4 inch of ice predicted) so I can get halfway ready for Christmas! 🙂

    Reply

  7. Peabody!! I’ve been so busy and barely able to visit my favorite blogs… I hope you’ll forgive me. These cookies are not only adorable, but they sound delicious (uh… shortbread? chocolate? peppermint? weeeeeeeee!) You need to get out there and show the locals how to deal with snow. I can’t believe you lived in AZ and didn’t melt there. xxoo

    Reply

  8. You did it again. I got drool on my keyboard. {sigh} Question: could I sub the rice flour with 100% cake flour or would it negatively affect flavor/texture completely if I did that? I don’t have rice flour on hand but I could always pick some up (I’m just a little lazy to go out in the cold – lol) Funny you mention Jim Henson. Last night the hubs and I were watching Muppets in Space on TV (ondemand) LOL!

    Reply

  9. I just went for a dr. appt today, and actually lost weight. That means I get to make these 🙂

    That is my mother’s absolute favorite movie too! It’s darling.

    Reply

  11. These look beautiful! It was 70 degrees here today, so it’s strange to be doing all this Christmas baking that I’ve been doing, but it’s my favorite baking time of the year 🙂

    Reply

  12. Those look Amazing!! but holy cow – 20 dozen cookies!!!??? What I’m wondering is not how you had the stamina to make that many, but how much flour you keep on average in your house at once. That’s a lot of cookies!

    Reply

  13. I’m so stoked you tried my recipe…it is a sure keeper and goes well with hot chocolate for sure. I like what you did with the alternate dipping style too.

    OH, and regarding subbing 100% cake flour…that makes sense because rice flour doesn’t have gluten so it makes the shortbread nice and sandy. You’re on the right track since cake flour has less protein…but I’m a little worried about it being gummy…if you had any organic sugar that was coarser, maybe add a little of that as part of your sugar to simulate the sandy texture. Let us know how they turn out.

    Reply

  14. i love peppermint bark but i’d never though of combining it with shortbread-but what a delicious combo! My mom makes the best shortbread so I’m definitely excited to try this. I’ll be featuring this recipe on my blog tomorrow-thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply

  15. You said the magic words “Emmett Otter’s Jug Band Christmas.” Hubby and I just watched it the other night… it was his first experience of the jug band. I couldn’t believe he’d never seen it before! I still get chills when I watch it.

    Oh, and the cookies look great! 🙂

    Reply

  21. We got about 3 – 4 inches near the U Dist. I was thinking about making some chocolate shortbread with white chocolate and peppermint. 🙂

    Reply

  22. Hee, I remember last summer when everyone was all “It’s so hot! Don wanna bake!” And I was like, “lolz whats everyones prob?” 😛 I am certainly liking the baking climate more now, though I miss the summer fruits 🙂 Great shortbread Pea!

    Reply

  26. My husband LOVES emmet otter! I actually bought it on dvd for him this year, because his ratty old VHS from childhood was getting a little rough. LOL

    Reply

  32. This looks so good! Given how many treats I have already made, it’s probably a good thing I found this a little late 😉 But I will definitely make it at some point. Anything with a shortbread base is great in my book.

    Reply

  34. I love that movie! I haven’t seen it in years so I didn’t realize they cut Kermit out! How sad! I was just thinking of all those old Henson movies – do you remember Musicians of Bremen?

    Reply

  39. LOVED Emmet Otter and the Jug Band!! Can’t get anybody to watch it with me yet. Batman doesn’t appear in that one, so my boys won’t watch it. Someday, though. These cookies look astoundingly good.

    Reply

  40. Emmets has become a new Christmas tradition now that a new son-in-law has joined our family. Add that movie to Chevy Chases’ Christmas Vacation and Grinch. BTW your cookies look fantastic.

    Reply

  41. I had no idea you read Traca’s column. I read her personal site all the time. I am hopefully still going to help her out on a project sometime. She’s so much fun to talk to!

    Love your post. We are sitting in nine inches of snow in Bellevue and haven’t thawed out yet!

    ~ Happy Holidays ~

    Reply

  45. normal shortbread tends to be a little “meh” for me, but dunking it in chocolate and slathering on peppermint is just what it needs to be sensational–bravo!

    Reply

  46. Fabulous shortbread!
    We’re big fans of Emmett Otter. The music is so beautiful. I really love the John Denver-Muppet Christmas special as well. I hope some day they put it on dvd.

    Reply

  47. Those look so pretty! Perfect with a cup of tea.
    We got pretty buried here in Ontario yesterday, more to come tomorrow, extreme cold today.
    I think I should go bake to forget too…
    ps -I love Kermit too!

    Reply

  49. These look great! Now that the snow is falling in Snohomish county again I think I will make some, as well as 10 other things that have been spinning around my head now that it is so cold here!

    Reply

  51. we love Emmet Otter! I have an old VHS copy that has Kermit and all. Our family tradition is to get together with some friends who love it just like we do, and watch it each December. Our 5 (collective) kids know all the songs by heart!

    Reply

  54. I made these today and they are super yummy! But, it took WAAAAY more mini candy canes. I did the whole tops and I think that it took about 20-25 by the time we were done. Then again, who cares, since they come in a giant box anyway? 🙂

    But, wow, are these good!!

    Reply

  57. My in-laws taped Emmett Otter’s Jug Band Christmas for my kids way back when. They adored it! I think we might even have that old VHS tape sitting in the back of a cupboard. Thanks for reminding me of it.

    Fabuloso cookies!

    Reply

  58. i belong to the group that has not heard of that movie…it sounds adorable though

    i bet the crushed peppermint must add a nice zing to that chocolate covered shortbread!

    Reply

  60. What a great recipe, Peabody! I made these last night for my pet sitter and my family. Instead of dipping the shortbread, I took the quick way out and just drizzled them with the melted chocolate and then sprinkled the crushed peppermint over all. They are delicious, and very Christmasy! I love how the addition of the peppermint cuts through the richness of the buttery dough! Another winner! Thanks!

    ~BigSis
    http://www.bigsislilsis.com

    Reply

  61. Oh, I loved, loved that movie! That takes me back. lol

    I’ve missed checking your site because we had a surprise Christmas adoption, so I’m just now getting around to catching up on my blogs.

    Reply

  62. That’s my husband’s favorite as well. He was so excited for me to watch it with him the first CHristmas we spent together. We just turned our kids on to it last year (why so long?? I don’t know. . . ) Shortbread looks awesome!!

    Reply

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