CHOCOLATE MINT SANDWICHES

makes 3 dozen cookies

FOR THE COOKIES
1 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
large egg, room temperature
Confectioners sugar. for work. surface

FOR THE GANACHE

1/4 cup heavy cream
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, very finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

FOR THE GLAZE'
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, very finely chopped

1. Make cookies, Whisk together cocoa powder and flour in a
medium bowl; set aside. Put butter and granulated sugar in
the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. about 3 minutes.
Mix in egg until well blended. Reduce speed to low. Add
flour mixture: mix until just combined. Divide dough in half.
and shape each half into a disk: wrap in plastic. Refrigerate
until firm. about 1 hour (or overnight.).

2. Preheat oven to 350°. 'Transfer dough to a work surface
lightly dusted with confectioners' sugar. Roll out dough to 1/8
inch thick. Cut out cookies using a 2-inch round cookie
cutter, space 1/2 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment
paper. Repeat with remaining scraps of dough. Bake
cookies, rotating sheets halfway through until firm. 10 to 12
minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.

3. Meanwhile, make ganache: Bring cream to a boil in a small
saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chocolate, Cook. stirring
constantly, until chocolate is smooth. Stir in peppermint
extract. Let cool slightly. 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Spoon 1 teaspoon ganache onto the bottom of 1 cookie:
sandwich with another cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies
and ganache. Refrigerate until firm. about 10 minutes.

5. Make glaze: Melt chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a
pan of simmering water. stirring constantly. Let cool
slightly. Dip I flat side of each sandwich into melted chocolate
to coat: gently shake off excess. Place sandwiches. chocolate
side up. on wire racks set over baking sheets. Refrigerate
until set. about 15 minutes. Sandwiches can be refrigerated
in a single layer in airtight containers up to 2 days.