Snow Shovels

Here we go again guys...it's another snowy day here in Lynchburg. No school...anywhere. That means there are lots of mamas trying to rack their brains to figure out how to keep their cabin-fevered whipper snappers from tearing the house apart. I ran into my anatomy professor yesterday and he told me it's been a ROUGH week trying to keep his kids occupied while stuck at home. So, I thought I'd do my part today and give you some super cute recipe ideas that would help fill the time on a snowy day such as today. First one...snow shovels.

Ingredients
-1 pkg. (16.5 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Dough
-12 pretzel rods, broken in half
-1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Premier White Morsels, divided
-2 teaspoons vegetable shortening
-1/3 cup mini marshmallows
-White decorator sprinkles or sugars, sweetened flakes coconut (optional)

Directions
1) Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease three baking sheets.

2) Break dough along pre-scored lines. Place 8 squares of cookie dough about 3 inches apart onto each prepared baking sheet. Insert broken end of pretzel rod into each square of cookie dough; flatten dough slightly to form a rectangle. Flatten each square slightly with fingers to form a rectangle, about 1 1/2-inches long by 1 1/4-inches wide. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

3) Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and immediately pat sides of each shovel with edge of knife to form straight sides. Cool on baking sheets for two minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

4) Line cooled baking sheets with wax paper.

5) Microwave 2/3 cup morsels and shortening in small, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 45 seconds; STIR. Morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.

6) Dip bottom 1-inch edge of each cookie shovel in melted morsels; scraping bottom of shovel along edge of bowl to remove excess. Place on prepared baking sheets. Immediately sprinkle dipped end of each shovel with remaining 1/3 cup morsels, mini marshmallows and sprinkles. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until set. Store shovels between layers of wax paper in covered containers at room temperature.

NOTES:
• 1 3/4 cups NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Tub Dough can be substituted for the bar dough. Roll dough into 24, 1 1/4-inch balls.
TIP:
• Refrigerating dough shovels before baking helps to prevent cookies from spreading and retain their shape during baking.