Quest Bar Recipe: Quest Bar Dark Chocolate Peppermint Patties

Inspiration struck when I was contemplating what to eat for a snack today.  I am trying to eat a tablespoons of coconut butter every day for health benefits, and many times I just dip a square of dark chocolate into softened coconut butter.  The taste is reminiscent of a Mounds bar, but without the guilt.   Today I wondered what would happen if I added some peppermint extract to the coconut butter? 

This simple question got the ball rolling for my best Quest bar recipe EVER!

Quest Bar Peppermint Patties only require four ingredients:  a brownie Quest bar (or use double chocolate chunk), coconut butter, peppermint extract and squares of dark chocolate.  You’ll notice I forgot the chocolate in the first picture, lol.

First make the crunchy cookie base.  Soften the Quest bar in the microwave and roll it, in a sheet of parchment paper, as thin as you can.  In keeping with the peppermint patty idea, I cut the Quest bar into circles, but as you can see I had some “waste.”

I had to improvise and use a Pampered Chef scoop as a cookie cutter.  We remodeled our kitchen last year and obviously not all of my baking gear has made it into the new cupboards yet!

I was totally off my game when making the cookies.  It must have been the four traumatic days of veganism this week.  Here is my recommendation:  Soften the Quest bar in the microwave.  Cut into 8 equal pieces.  Form each piece into a circle and then flatten as much as possible.  Proceed with the recipe.  I’ve used this technique in the past - duh!

Then pop the “cookies” into the oven and bake for six minutes.  Let cool completely.

Now combine the coconut butter with peppermint extract. Keep in mind that peppermint extract is powerful stuff.  Start by adding a little; taste, and then add more if desired.

 

First, a few notes about coconut butter. 

If you have not experienced what I call “heaven in a jar,” - or coconut butter - you are missing out!  Coconut butter is simply coconut that is ground until it forms a “butter.”  Just like peanut or almond butter.   It has all of the health properties of coconut oil and sometimes can be used interchangeably.

Coconut butter is either soft and creamy or totally solid, depending on the room temperature.  In the summer my jar is generally soft, and in the winter it is solid and I have to chip the butter out with a spoon.  If your coconut butter is hard, simply soften it by popping it into the microwave for a few seconds.  Today was unseasonably warm for November and my butter was nice and creamy.

When you’re ready to complete your chocolate masterpieces, melt your squares of dark chocolate.  I microwaved mine for about one minute.  I was able to cover my six cookies with only one square but if you slice your Quest bar into squares you will net eight cookies.  You’ll need two pieces of chocolate to cover the extra two.

I simply turned my cookie with the mint filling side down and dipped into the chocolate.  Place in the fridge to harden and store leftovers (if any!!) in the refrigerator.

Voila!  Now you have an incredibly delicious chocolate peppermint snack or dessert that is actually quite healthy.  One patty has only 63 calories, 4.8g fat, 1.3g carbs, and 3g protein. 

Note:  The chocolate looks a little lumpy on the cookies, but that’s because I covered all the cookies and had some leftover chocolate.  I just spooned a little extra on each cookie.  If you just dip the cookie into the chocolate once, it will be a nice, smooth coating.  I was trying to get every last drop of chocolate!

When I was typing up this post it occurred to me that perhaps the peppermint patties are also very similar to Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies.   The taste is similar and there is definitely  the chocolately cookie crunch.  So, if Thin Mints are your thing, feel free to call them Quest Bar Thin Mints. 

WHATEVER you decide to call them, make sure to try this recipe if you are a chocolate peppermint fan, and let me know what you think!

1 Quest bar (brownie flavor or double chocolate chunk)

4 tbsp. coconut butter

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

2 squares dark chocolate ( I used Ghirardelli 72%)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Unwrap Quest bar and place on a piece of parchment paper.  Heat for approximate 10 seconds in the microwave to soften.  Slice bar into 8 equal pieces. Working quickly, form each piece into a circle and flatten between parchment paper. 

Once you have all eight circles, arrange them on the parchment paper. Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet and bake for 6 minutes. Let cookies cool thoroughly. 

Make filling:  combine coconut butter with peppermint extract and mix thoroughly.  (If needed, soften the coconut butter in the microwave for a few seconds.)  

Once cookies are completely cooled, spread each with approximately 1/2 tablespoon of the peppermint filling. Place in freezer to harden. 

When filling is completely solid (approximately 10 minutes), remove from freezer. 

Place squares of chocolate a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave for approximately one minute until melted, stirring after 30 seconds. Turn cookies filling side down and dip in chocolate to cover filling. Place in refrigerator until chocolate solidifies. 

Enjoy!  Store any remaining  peppermint patties in the refrigerator.