Heart Warming Mints for Valentines Day

MELTAWAY PEPPERMINT PATTIES a shared recipe from Elaina Love
Vita mix, Mixing Bowl Refrigerate Makes 16 candies

Mint layer:
3 cups dry, raw shredded coconut
1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
1/2 tsp. mint extract or 3 drops peppermint essential oil

Chocolate or carob layer:
3 cups dry, raw shredded coconut
1/3 cup honey or maple syrup or date paste (made by blending dates and water)
1/8 cup organic cocoa powder or raw carob powder (add until mixture reaches desired color)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
a pinch of cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp. Celtic sea salt

Step 1: Blend the first 3 cups of coconut in a dry blender on low speed with the lid off. Use a spatula to keep things moving until it becomes the consistency of butter. Make sure you do not blend so long as to separate all the oil from the coconut. This step is tricky, and takes a good blender like a Vitamix. If you don't have a Vitamix, you can still do this step, although you may need to separate the coconut into 2 batches.

Step 2: Remove the coconut and put in a mixing bowl. Add the sweetener and mint extract. use a spatula to mix well. Set aside.

Step 3: Blend the coconut for the chocolate layer. Mix the coconut by hand with the rest of the ingredients in a bowl.

Step 4: Separate the chocolate mixture into 2 halves. Take one half, and press it into the bottom of a 4 x 4 baking dish or Tupperware. Put it in the freezer for 5 minutes until it is solid.

Step 5: Remove your dish from the freezer and add all of the mint layer. Place in the freezer again for a couple of minutes.

Step 6: Add the second half of the chocolate mixture to the top of the mint layer. Freeze again until solid or refrigerate.

Step 7: Pop the meltaways out of the container by twisting or using a spatula to pry up. Place on a cutting board and cut your candies into whatever shape you like using a sharp, thin knife.

Put your candies in candy papers, or on a pretty serving dish. They will keep just fine at room temperature for a few days, or store in the refrigerator.

Happy Valentines Day!