Like it or not, Valentine’s day is fast approaching. For college students whose hearts are spoken for, there are romantic dinners, wine, and sushi to look forward to, or, a lovely evening in. For college students not in a committed relationship, there are pints of Haagen Dazs… but let’s rewrite that sad story. There are also Valentine’s day parties!

Peppermint Patties are great, but Peppermint Patty Shots are better. They are a sugar-soaked combination of peppermint schnapps, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream, perfect for toasting love or singledom. Note: they must be consumed in a very particular way. See below.

Sarah Trautman writes for Small Kitchen College from Northfield, Minnesota-the town of cows, colleges, and contentment. Her favorite (and most skillful) way to multitask is talking on the phone while changing clothes.

**Recipe**

Peppermint Patty Shots
Makes as many shots as you’d like

Ingredients
Chocolate syrup
Peppermint schnapps
Whipped cream

Sit the lucky victim in a chair and have her tilt her head over the back, so that she is looking at the ceiling. Assemble your ingredients. Pop the chocolate syrup top, pour a shot of schnapps, and shake the whipped cream. Enlist two accomplices.

Ask, “Are you ready to have an AWESOME Valentine’s Day?” (Answer: “Yes!”)

Squirt a small amount (approximately 2 teaspoons) of chocolate syrup onto her tongue (not down her throat).

Quickly follow this with the shot of schnapps; the calmer helper can (nicely) pour the shot into her mouth.

Finally, the second (preferably extremely enthusiastic) assistant gets to spray whipped cream on top. In the ensuing chaos of whipped cream, the victim closes her mouth and shakes her head to mix the ingredients together before swallowing. Yum! Repeat!