Minty Melting Moments

When discussing which type of cookies I should make this year for Christmas, my Mom suggested melting moments.  She told me I had to make them.  She said they were so good and so melt in your mouth with the cornstarch and powdered sugar along with their subtle sweetness!  Of course she suggested them, I remember when I was about 5 she bought a cookie press to make a cute design in the top of cookies like melting moments, and that press came with a recipe for them.  She made them for years after that, and they became one of her favorite Christmas cookies.  In my mind, they were good, but never really stood out.  But I thought, what the heck, I can make them this year anyhow, and put my own spin on them.  I searched forever for the recipe she used to use but came up empty.  I found another one in a magazine, but wasn't quite happy with it so I tweaked it a little to my liking (since I never leave recipes alone).  When my Mom made melting moments, she did not make sandwich cookies, but I have seen that some people do.  I wanted to do this with mine this time. 

I decided that I wanted a vanilla mint cookie with a mint fudge filling...Christmassy all the way, but non-traditional.  I am never traditional when it comes to recipes.  I wanted to tint the dough a lovely light green to hint at the presence of the mint...and it was a beautiful hue! 

I thought it would be even more beautiful if I rolled the cookies in this light green finishing sugar I had in my cupboard, but it was nowhere to be found.  I must have used it in another recipe a while back, so I used plain sparkling white sugar instead.  I feel that every cookie tray at Christmas should have some sparkle.  The melting moments sans the filling were delicious.  The light mint and vanilla flavor married well with the light cookie.  But the finished cookies with the fudge were amazing!  The fudge was a simple mixture of agave nectar and cocoa powder enhanced with vanilla and mint.  So simple but so decadent tasting and perfect for the inside of my cookies. 

They were scrumptious, and I ate way too many.  But you are allowed extra cookie tasting around the Holidays. Now I know why they are called melting moments.  It takes only a moment to devour them.  Here is my recipe so you can bake up a batch if you wish!

Minty Melting Moments

Makes 16 sandwich cookies

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
3/4 cup (12 Tbsp) Earth Balance vegan butter

about 6 drops natural green food coloring (plant based)

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract

1 tsp peppermint extract

granulated sugar for dipping

Filling:

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup agave nectar
a good pinch of sea salt
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract

Preheat oven to 300, and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and sea salt. In a large bowl, beat butter, green food coloring, powdered sugar, vanilla, and peppermint until smooth, then beat in the flour mixture until well combined.  Roll the dough by the rounded Tbsp into balls. Dip top half of balls in granulated sugar, and place on baking sheet, sugared side up.  Press down slightly with the bottom of a glass, and bake for 10 minutes until just set.  Cool completely on a wire rack.  To make filling, whisk all ingredients together in a bowl until smooth.