How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Some of us simply ignore the day. Others might wear green (to keep from getting pinched) but otherwise just go about a normal day. Others really, really celebrate with parades and drink and a big party.
One town celebrates by hosting the world’s smallest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Seriously. One person, dressed appropriately in green or other St. Paddy’s Day décor, walks down the street. Folks like the sidewalks and cheer. It’s great fun and a little ridiculous when you think about it. But, hey, it brings folks downtown and gives us all a reason to smile.
This recipe comes from the March 2013 issue of Family Circle magazine. It seems like the perfect hostess gift or festive snack for this awesome day.
St. Patrick’s Day Green-and-White Cookies
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar and granulated sugar for 2 minutes. Add buttermilk, egg and vanilla, beating until smooth. Gradually beat in dry ingredients until combined.
Chill batter for 15 minutes.
Drop batter in 2 tablespoon mounds onto ungreased baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 13 minutes, until just set. Remove from sheet onto a wire rack and cool.
Frosting
2 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar2 tablespoons milk
1/8 teaspoon mint extract
Green food coloring
Beat together confectioners’ sugar and milk until smooth and a good consistency, adding an extra 1 to 2 teaspoons milk if needed.
Into half the icing, beat in mint extract and a few drops green food coloring.
Spread half of the flat side of each cooking with white frosting. Let dry. Spread other half with green icing and allow it to dry.
Makes 24 cookies
