There's a reason peppermint bark recipes call for flavoring the candy with peppermint oil rather than peppermint extract -- the water in the extract reacts with the candy so that it won't set properly.

Oops.

I thought I was going to have to give up on making peppermint toads and just bake the crumbly mixture into brownies instead, but it turns out that the water-addled mash will still hold the form of the mold. I just have to let them set a little longer than usual.

The last of the toads are almost done; then it's on to chocolate frogs. I won't make the flavoring mistake again.

I'm still pleased with myself for making my own peppermint flavoring, even if it wasn't the ideal form for what I used it in. I was looking at flavoring bottles in the supermarket a couple of weeks ago when the thought occurred to me: girl, you have a flourishing mint plant on your back porch. And a bottle of vodka waiting for just such a time as this. So I came home, stuffed a small bottle full of mint leaves, and poured the vodka over them. Let sit for a week or two, and voila!

Now I just need to keep an eye out for other recipes where I can use my peppermint.