Melting Snowmen Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2cup shortening
• 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
• 1 pound vanilla-flavored candy coating, coarsely chopped
• 20 bite-size chocolate-covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped
• Brown and orange sprinkles or other candies and/or tinted frosting
   
  Directions:
  
  
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl beat shortening and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. 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. 2. Shape dough into twenty 1 3/4-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
  3. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are just firm. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
  4. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Place cooled cookies on prepared baking sheet. In a medium microwave-safe bowl microwave candy coating on 50% power for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring every 30 seconds. 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 (If using frosting to make snowman faces, add it when the candy coating is dry.) Let stand until set.
  
  Source:  mylitter.com

Melting Snowmen Cookies

Ingredients:

1. 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
2. 1-1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
3. 2-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
4. 1/2 cup baking cocoa
5. 1 pound white candy coating, chopped, divided
6. 7 to 8 Starburst candies (orange for noses and colors of your choice for earmuffs)
7. 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine milk and extract. Stir in 2 cups confectioners' sugar and cocoa to form a stiff dough. Turn onto a surface lightly sprinkled with confectioners' sugar. Knead in enough remaining confectioners' sugar to form a very stiff dough (dough should not be sticky).
2. Divide into thirds. Shape one portion into twenty-four 1/2-in. balls. Shape remaining dough into twenty-four 1-in. balls. On waxed paper-lined baking sheets, flatten each 1-in. ball into an irregular 1-1/2-in. circle.
3. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 2 oz. white candy coating. Using melted coating, attach a 1/2-in. balls near an edge of each circle. Let dry for 1 hour.
4. Using Starburst candies, cut out noses and earmuffs as desired. Melt remaining white candy coating; cool slightly. Working in batches of six, spoon candy coating over snowmen, allowing coating to drape over each until completely covered. Immediately attach noses and earmuffs. Let stand at room temperature until dry to the touch, about 1 hour.
5. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Using a toothpick and melted chocolate, form mouths, buttons and earmuffs. Yield: 2 dozen.

Source: Taste of Homes