Though it’s a quality often possessed by the most delicious meals and one that I passionately embrace in my daily menu, ugliness can be the kiss of death for a new recipe. Creations so unsightly that no amount of careful prop styling nor Photoshopping can disguise, countless innocent dishes have met their end, sacrificed in the name of vanity and not in good taste. For this conceit, I must apologize, my dear readers. It’s a personal shortfall that I couldn’t look beyond a bad photo shoot for so many homely, but tasty, pursuits.

Thank goodness for recipe tasters. Even when I’ve written something off as unexceptional, imperfect, and most commonly of all, unphotogenic, there are passionate eaters in my life outspoken enough to rescue those edible gems from certain doom. One of the most “famous” cases was that of the Frankenstorm Pie; quickly thrown together without any recipe at all, it was only due to the begging and pleading of the recipients that it was even recorded in any format to begin with, let alone make the final cut for the pages of Easy as Vegan Pie.

By some small miracle and number of very vocal recipients, one of last year’s holiday gifts was rescued from a similar fate. Inspired by the traditional rum ball, these potent little treats may be sorely lacking in the beauty department, but the flavor sure won’t leave you wanting. Spiked with a heady dose of both mint and coffee liqueurs, they were originally dubbed “Boozy Peppermint Mocha Balls,” but the only way I could think to improve their image problem was to further finesse the moniker, at the very least.

Just think of these little morsels as the adult version of a peppermint mocha latte in candy form, and for maximum enjoyment, don’t waste too much time admiring their good looks… Or lack thereof.

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Yield: Makes 5 - 6 Dozen Bites

Spiked Peppermint Mocha Bites

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They may not be much to look at, but they make up for their homely appearance in scores of flavor. Spiked with a heady dose of both mint and coffee liqueurs, each bite is like a little holiday party in your mouth.

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 2 minutes

Total Time 2 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 (12-Ounce) Packages Peppermint Joe-Joe's or Mint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (30 Ounces Total)
• 2 Cups Confectioner's Sugar, Divided
• 1/4 Teaspoon Instant Coffee Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Cup (6 Ounces) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
• 1/2 Cup Coffee Liqueur
• 1/4 Cup Mint Liqueur

Instructions

1. Place the minty sandwich cookies of your choice in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the “s” blade, and pulse until very finely ground. Don’t worry about a few larger pieces; the extra texture is a nice addition. Introduce 1 cup of the confectioner’s sugar, instant coffee, and salt next, pulse briefly to incorporate.
   
2. In a microwave-safe dish, combine the chocolate and maple syrup, and heat for 60 seconds. Let stand for another minute before stirring thoroughly, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Add the liquid chocolate into the food processor along with both liqueurs. Pulse again until the mixture is more or less homogeneous, with no particular dry or wet patches.
   
3. Scoop out a heaping tablespoon for each bite, roll firmly but gently into a ball between your palms, and toss in the remaining cup of confectioner’s sugar to coat. Repeat until all of the cookie mixture is used up, and work quickly; it becomes increasingly difficult to shape as the chocolate cools.
4. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or in the fridge for up to a month… If you can manage to ignore them for that long.
   

Recommended Products

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• 
  Mount Hagen, Organic Fairtrade Coffee, Instant, 3.53 oz (100 g)
• 
  Wholesome, Organic Powdered Confectioners Sugar, 1 lb (454 g)
• 
  Catalina Crunch, Sandwich Cookies, Chocolate Mint, 14 Cookies, 5.92 oz

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

64

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 46Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 15mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 0gSugar: 7gProtein: 0g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.