Make your own wonderful cookies that resemble a melting snowman, or just decorate store bought cookies with the last 3 ingredients to make it much easier and just as cute!
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. baking soda
1 egg
3 T. milk
1/2 t. vanilla
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 lb. vanilla-flavored candy coating, coarsely chopped
20 bite-sized chocolate-covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped
brown and orange sprinkles or other candies and/or tinted frosting
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, use electric mixer on medium to high to beat shortening and peanut butter 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.
Shape dough into twenty 1 3/4 in. balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 9 - 11 minutes or until edges are just firm. Remove from oven and cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool.
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 2 1/2 - 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.
Makes 20 cookies.