Help me Reinvent Peppermint Surprise

Ancalagon said:
Don't bring it down like that!
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Well, it's the truth. The whole appeal of peppermint surprise is that it takes 10 minutes to make and you can pop down to Spar to get all the ingredients in packets.

But yeah, I'm thinking of something along those lines. Except for replacing peppermint crisp - that I won't do.
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Ok... but it would be the highlight of the dish.

I might look into making my own biscuit base and changing the cream up a bit. Maybe even changing from tennis biscuits to something else.
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Whipped cream
Biscuit base (I think you can still use tennis biscuits but this will give it much more flavour).
 
Ancalagon said:
Except for replacing peppermint crisp - that I won't do.
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Do it! Good quality chocolate, nice big pieces of peppermint bark...go the full monty and re-create the whole dish. We believe in you.
 
I've never been a fan of this one. I think most people get it wrong somehow.

Then again I'm not a big fan of peppermint :D
 
cerebus said:
Well, it's the truth. The whole appeal of peppermint surprise is that it takes 10 minutes to make and you can pop down to Spar to get all the ingredients in packets.
Click to expand...

I know. But still, I want to see if I can make a really good peppermint surprise. Maybe something closer to a cheesecake is the answer?

Ok... but it would be the highlight of the dish.
Click to expand...

I'll think about it a bit more, but I disagree. I think the hard sugar part of the peppermint crisp - the actual peppermint part - is an important part of the pudding and difficult to replicate. The peppermint bark recipe just won't be the same.

Whipped cream
Biscuit base (I think you can still use tennis biscuits but this will give it much more flavour).
Click to expand...

Whipped cream is dead simple to make. I like the idea of the cookie crumb base.
 
I've never been a fan of this one. I think most people get it wrong somehow.

Then again I'm not a big fan of peppermint :D
 
cerebus said:
Well, it's the truth. The whole appeal of peppermint surprise is that it takes 10 minutes to make and you can pop down to Spar to get all the ingredients in packets.
Click to expand...

I know. But still, I want to see if I can make a really good peppermint surprise. Maybe something closer to a cheesecake is the answer?

Ok... but it would be the highlight of the dish.
Click to expand...

I'll think about it a bit more, but I disagree. I think the hard sugar part of the peppermint crisp - the actual peppermint part - is an important part of the pudding and difficult to replicate. The peppermint bark recipe just won't be the same.

Whipped cream
Biscuit base (I think you can still use tennis biscuits but this will give it much more flavour).
Click to expand...

Whipped cream is dead simple to make. I like the idea of the cookie crumb base.

EDIT:

So, these are the elements I like so far:
Cookie crumb base
Cajeta

I'm actually not sure about whipped cream vs cheese cake. The thing is, visually I think having the cajeta separate is better. You get a concentrated caramel flavour. The whipped cream is there to bulk it up and make it lighter - I think it would be a really heavy pudding without the whipped cream. But, whipped cream without the caramel folded into it is boring and plain.

The cheesecake is an option, but I'm not sure if the tangy flavour of cheesecake will combine well with how sweet everything else is. Especially the peppermint actually. Not sure if sour and minty work well together.

I could do something really out there like make mint chocolate brownies with cajeta on top, and serve it with whipped cream on the side. But, that is really "out there" and won't really resemble peppermint surprise.
 
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Lots of double posting going on. Mods?

saor said:
Do it! Good quality chocolate, nice big pieces of peppermint bark...go the full monty and re-create the whole dish. We believe in you.
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I don't like the idea of peppermint flavoured white chocolate to be honest.

Could do peppermint flavoured cheesecake (but not a sour cheesecake) with cajeta and homemade chocolate sauce I suppose.
 
Ancalagon said:
I know. But still, I want to see if I can make a really good peppermint surprise. Maybe something closer to a cheesecake is the answer?
Click to expand...

What do you have in mind? Maybe if you have an idea we can help to develop it.

I'll think about it a bit more, but I disagree. I think the hard sugar part of the peppermint crisp - the actual peppermint part - is an important part of the pudding and difficult to replicate. The peppermint bark recipe just won't be the same.
Click to expand...

Yea but the rest of the Peppermint Crisp is really not good, the chocolate is junk and the peppermint tastes artificial and toothpastey. Hm so the crispy texture part of the peppermint is a factor... that's true. What about something like this?

Whipped cream is dead simple to make. I like the idea of the cookie crumb base.
Click to expand...

Yeah!
 
Ancalagon said:
Could do peppermint flavoured cheesecake (but not a sour cheesecake) with cajeta and homemade chocolate sauce I suppose.
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That sounds highly technical and prone to go badly wrong in the flavour combinations.
 
I've left out the peppermint crisp bit before and added in albany almonds + extra almonds. that came out delicious.

I've also added in coconut before and that came out delicious too. I've even used real peppermint leaves in mine, I loved it but it was 50/50 split. Some people didnt like to see green leaves in their desert :p
 
Replace the cream/caramel combo with chocolate mousse.

Or make cupcakes with the caramelly topping and sprinkle with the peppermint?

Or make peppermint crisp tart ice cream.
 
There is also a Boston Cream Pie. I could use some ideas from that.
 
Okay, having thought about it, this is what I need to do.

Either I make something that can easily be identified as a peppermint surprise. In other words, maybe make cajeta but otherwise no surprises.

Or, make another desert that abandons the peppermint surprise idea completely.

The other deserts that will be at this party are ice cream and chocolate sauce, and trifle. Peppermint surprise is a family favourite and basically makes an appearance at all of these family functions. So maybe best to just make that.
 
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