Chocolate Clove Drops Recipes

ITALIAN CHOCOLATE SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and cloves; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in walnuts., Shape level tablespoons of dough into balls; place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until bottoms are light brown, 10-12 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For glaze, in a large bowl, mix confectioners' sugar, corn syrup and enough milk to reach desired consistency. Dip tops of cookies into glaze; if desired, decorate with sprinkles. Let stand until set. Store between pieces of waxed paper in airtight containers.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CANDY CREAMS & OTHER STUFF

Steps:

• 1. soften cream cheese in microwave -- don't melt, simply soften -- about 30 seconds
• 2. begin to add powdered sugar by cup fulls -- work into cream cheese until it gets to be like a firm batter -- play dough would be a good example of the consistency you are looking for -- and you will end up having to do it with your hands
• 3. separate the ball into as many different flavors as you would like to make -- I used to make at least 4 or 5 at a time. (Suggested flavors that people liked: vanilla, almond, mint, anise, chocolate, rum, cherry, orange, lemon, etc -- whatever you have in your cupboard or desire to purchase for this project.)
• 4. To Flavor: make a deep thumb print in one of the balls and put in a drop or 2 of coloring and a tsp of flavoring -- begin working the ball with your hands until the color is smoothly distributed -- add more powdered sugar to bring back to workable dough that is not sticky. (I liked the colors to be pastel which I always thought were more appetizing so I never added more than 1 or 2 drops of food coloring -- you may do as much as you want.)
• 5. After each ball is colored and flavored I used to decide on a different shape for each flavor so I could tell which ones were which after they were all coated with chocolate. Such as: tiny balls for one flavor, little squares for another, oblong balls for another, rectangles for another, flattened balls for another, etc.
• 6. Slowly & carefully melt chocolate on low heat on stove top (or in microwave if you are comfortable with that -- I like the stove top because I have more control over the process) -- then dip each ball or shape into the chocolate and place on waxed paper covered cookie sheets. They will harden very quickly. I did not like to get my hands all chocolate covered so I always used a spoon to dip, and roll in the chocolate, then scoop out and place on waxed paper.
• 7. After I had made these over the years, I also began to experiment with chocolate coating things that were already made (I was getting lazy LOL). One of my most favorite things was to chocolate coat gum drops. Candy manufacturers used to make chocolate covered "jellies" which I always loved... but they began to disappear over the years... gum drops were a perfect solution for someone who missed them!!
• 8. I also found that I could chocolate coat dried pineapple, or mix peanuts with the chocolate to make little peanut heaps. We used to make "hay stacks" by dumping those hard canned Chinese noodles into chocolate and making little stacks. My sister used to like a Chunky candy bar and we made our own with peanuts and raisins in chocolate dropped by spoonfulls on waxed paper.
• 9. Other people like to coat pretzels and crackers and cookies... once you get started with chocolate coating things you will find lots of individual and unique ways to make Christmas gifts that your friends will get from no other source. They will be clamoring for your home made creations. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE CLOVE DROPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• In a large stainless steel bowl, with a wooden spoon, mix together 2 cups of the flour, the baking powder, baking soda, cocoa, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Make a well in the center and set aside.
• In an electric mixer with a wire whisk, beat eggs and sugar. Add milk and melted shortening. Mix well.
• Pour egg mixture into the well and begin to mix with a wooden spoon.
• With a wooden spoon, mix in the remaining 1/2 cup flour. This will produce a slightly sticky dough. Drop from teaspoon onto cookie sheet spacing 2 inches apart.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove cookies onto wire rack to cool then frost with Chocolate Clove Frosting (to follow) Let frosting dry for few hours before serving. Store frosting cookies in an airtight container lined with wax paper between layers.
• You may freeze "unfrosted" cookies in a heavy duty freezer bag until ready to use. Thaw out and frost.
• CHOCOLATE CLOVE FROSTING: Mix all ingredients with electric mixer until well combined and smooth. Using a butter knife, frost the tops of the cookies. NOTE: If the frosting is too stiff to spread, add a few drops of water to it and dip your butter knife in water before spreading.