Starlight Mint Surprise Cookies

Treat your guests with these mint chocolate cookies - a flavorful dessert. MORE+ LESS-

By Pillsbury Kitchens

October 11, 2011

Bake-Off® Contest 01, 1949

Laura Rott

Naperville, Illinois

Ingredients

cup granulated sugar

1/2

cup packed brown sugar

3/4

cup butter or margarine, softened

tablespoons water

teaspoon vanilla

eggs

cups Pillsbury BEST® all-purpose flour

teaspoon baking soda

1/2

teaspoon salt

thin rectangular crème de menthe chocolate candies (from three 4.67-oz packages), unwrapped

walnut halves or pieces

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1

In large bowl, beat sugars, butter, water, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until blended. On low speed, beat in flour, baking soda and salt until well blended. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours for easier handling.
2

Heat oven to 375°F. Using about 1 tablespoon dough, press dough around each chocolate candy to cover completely. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Top each with walnut half.
3

Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack.

At the first-ever Bake-Off® Contest awards ceremony, an excited Laura Rott received a $10,000 second prize for her cookies with the surprise of a chocolate mint hidden inside. With some time to spare before her trip back home, Laura tucked the check into her purse and set out to see more of the sights of New York City. Unfortunately, she had another surprise: An enterprising pick pocket managed to purloin her prize check! No harm, though, because Bake-Off® Contest officials canceled her original check and re-issued a new one. What’s no surprise is that Laura’s cookies have become a classic.