Sweet Merediths Surprise Recipes

PEANUT-BUTTER SURPRISES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with Silpats (French nonstick baking mats). Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda, and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, and 1 cup brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until fully combined between additions. Add vanilla; beat to combine. Gradually add dry ingredients; mix on low speed until fully combined. Add chocolate chips; mix on low just until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• In a small bowl using a rubber spatula, stir together peanut butter and remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar.
• Drop 1 tablespoon of dough at a time onto baking sheets, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart. Make a thumbprint in the center of each cookie. Fill thumbprint with 2 teaspoons peanut butter mixture. Top with a second tablespoon of flattened dough. Carefully mold dough to cover the surprise.
• Bake until firm, about 12 minutes, rotating halfway through. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks to cool for 5 minutes. Remove cookies from baking sheets, and let cool completely on wire racks.

FORGOTTEN MINT MERINGUE SURPRISES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Combine egg whites, cream of tartar, salt, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and green food coloring in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat until soft peaks form.
• Beat sugar into egg whites one tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form, and mixture is glossy and very smooth, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Drop the meringue by half teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet; top with chocolate kisses. Spoon a scant teaspoon of meringue over chocolate, and smooth to cover completely.
• Place cookies in the preheated oven; turn oven off. Leave meringues in oven overnight, or until oven has cooled completely.

UNSWEETENED SURPRISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 squares of chocolate with 1 cup butter.
• In a medium bowl, beat eggs and sugar with the melted chocolate mixture until well blended. Stir in the flour. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 17 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool in pan. To make the mint layer: Beat the confectioners' sugar with 3/8 cup of butter in a medium bowl. Gradually beat in milk, green food coloring and peppermint extract. Spread evenly over the brownie layer and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• To make the glaze: Melt 3 squares chocolate with 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat or in a microwave oven, stirring frequently until smooth. Spread over the mint layer when completely cool. Chill again to set before cutting into bars.

SWEET POTATO SURPRISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease one 8x12 inch baking dish.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes; cook until tender but still firm. Drain, and transfer to a large bowl to cool.
• In a mixing bowl, combine sweet potatoes, bananas, white sugar, brown sugar, pecans, evaporated milk, butter, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well.
• Pour mixture into baking dish, place coconut on top of potato mixture and top with marshmallows. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.

SURPRISE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add reserved flour mixture; mix on low speed until combined.
• Using a tablespoon or 1 3/4-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies begin to spread and become firm, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove baking sheets from oven, and place a marshmallow, cut-side down, in the center of each cookie, pressing down slightly. Return to oven, and continue baking until marshmallows begin to melt, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
• Spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting over each marshmallow, starting in the center and continuing outward until marshmallow is covered.