Zebra-Pop Cookies

Here is the second recipe from the five finalists for the Second Annual AirBake Extreme Cookie Challenge, sponsored by Wearever!

Zebra-Pop Cookies
by Rebecca & Lindsey Ludens from Kalamazoo, MI

2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
½ cup butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups milk chocolate chips
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
7 oz. (1/2 bag) white chocolate chips
30 6-inch long lollipop sticks (can be found in the candy decorating section of any craft store)

1. Preheat over to 350°.

2. In a medium sized mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and brown sugar until completed blended.

4. Add vanilla and eggs to the sugar mixture and add the flour mixture until all ingredients are well integrated.

5. Place a sheet of parchment paper on an AirBake cookie sheet. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to drop perfectly rounded half-circles of dough onto the paper. Before baking carefully insert a lollipop stick into each drop of dough. Twist and push the stick gently into the dough until you can feel it just about to come through on the opposite side.

6. Bake 10-12 minutes until cookies are golden brown. Let cookies cool completely.

7. Melt together the milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips in a double-boiler or in the microwave until smooth.

8. Carefully dip each cookie into the melted chocolate. Use a butter knife as needed to help spread and scrape the chocolate to completely cover each cookie smoothly. Place cookies back on a parchment paper covered tray in the refrigerator to cool completely, allowing the chocolate to harden.

9. Fill plastic decorator squeeze bottle half way with the white chocolate chips and place in a bowl of very hot water until the candy is melted and smooth. Squeeze white stripes across each chocolate covered cookie. Return cookies on the tray to the refrigerator to allow chocolate to harden.

10. To make the Zebra-Pop Cookies extra festive for a birthday party or other occasion tie a small piece of ribbon around each stick just below the cookie.

Makes 36 cookies

[image and recipe used with permission from Wearever]