Happy Valentines Day!

These treats are off to school. I told myself I wasn't going to stay up late to make cookies...but when I saw my son's reaction this morning and couldn't stop thanking me, it was worth it. My son is in the fifth grade so maybe this will be the last year of making treats for his class. I wish time would slow down.

These treats are chocolate cookies with a chocolate mint coating and just a bit of red crystal sugar dashed on there.

Chocolate cookie recipe:

1/2 C. Earth Balance

1/2 C. granulated sugar

1/2 C. powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp. egg replacer (Ener-g)

2 T. cold coffee or water

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 C. cocoa powder

1 1/4 + 2 T. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp salt or less

In a mixing bowl cream together Earth Balance and sugars with an electric mixer. While that is being creamed, in a small bowl mix together your egg replacer and liquid of choice. (I try not to use egg replacers in my baked goods but sometimes it is needed). Next add egg replacer mixture and vanilla to the creamed EB & sugar mixture, continue to mix. When that is thoroughly mixed together, incorporate the cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt. When it is completely mixed and a dough is formed, take out and shape into a disk, wrap and refrigerate for an hour or less.

Heat oven to 350. Roll out dough( I rolled in between an 1/8-1/4in.) and cut out with your choice of cookie cutter. Bake for 12 minutes. Let cool for about a minute before transfering to cooling rack. I was able to cut out 18 med. size cookies.

Chocolate coating: If I were making these for dessert or gifts I would use better quality chocolate but since it was for the school kids I just used the chocolate chips.

1 12oz pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 T. vegetable shortening

1 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

sprinkles (optional)

In a double broiler melt chocolate chips and vegetable shortening. To get a thinner chocolate just add more shortening. Once melted stir in the peppermint extract. Next coat your cookies,

it got a bit messy for me. Then I sprinkled on sugar crystals. Once your done set in refrigerater to set the chocolate for about 15-30 min. Then your good to go!