Let’s Eat: Add a minty dessert to your St. Patrick’s Day celebration
By Heidi Sutton
St. Patrick’s Day may call to mind hearty meals and pots o’ gold, but that doesn’t mean sweets can’t be part of the equation, too. If you’re in a crunch for St. Patrick’s Day and need something glowing with green, these two desserts are sure to have everyone coming back for seconds.
Served with a tall glass of milk, these Lucky Shamrock Cookies are as green as four-leaf clovers and have delicious chocolate chips mixed throughout for some extra sweet flavor and this green Minty Shake is a cold, refreshing way to honor the colorful tradition.
Lucky Shamrock Cookies
YIELD: Makes 24 cookies
INGREDIENTS:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
30 drops green food coloring
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 package (12 ounces) chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 375 F. In large bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt until blended. Set aside. In medium bowl, beat butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs, food coloring and peppermint extract; beat until combined.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients; beat until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto baking sheet. Bake 11 to 14 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.
Minty Shake
YIELD: Serves 1
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 3/4 ounces Baileys Irish Cream liqueur
3 scoops mint chocolate chip ice cream
chocolate syrup
chopped sugar cookies, for garnish
pistachios, for garnish
mint chocolate candy, for garnish
green sanding sugar for garnish (optional)
green sprinkles for garnish (optional)
maraschino cherry for garnish (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Using mixer, whisk whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add peppermint extract and powdered sugar; mix until well blended. Set aside. In blender, blend milk, liqueur and ice cream until smooth. Drizzle chocolate syrup inside soda glass. Pour ice cream mixture into glass. Top with whipped cream and garnish with cookies, pistachios and mint chocolate candy, if desired. Garnishes can also include green sanding sugar, green sprinkles and a cherry on top.
