#13. Chocolate Mint Sandwich Cookies

St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching and as a woman of second-generation Irish descent it is my cultural duty to consume as many green things as possible in the days approaching March 17th. Tinging cookies simply with some food coloring is a cheap trick, but one, I think, made more forgivable if the the source of the flavor of your baked goods is naturally green.  Like mint!

This is why I give zero fucks about coaxing an emerald hue out of the frosting for these cookies via a few drops of McCormick food coloring. 

And for all the omadhauns who will cry foul at this post for its lack of 'authenticity' when it comes to a 'real' Irish cookie, look for my #14 post.

Ingredients (Cookies)

• 1 cup  flour

• 1/4 cup baking cocoa

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients (Frosting)

• 4 cups powdered sugar

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1/8 tsp salt

• 1 tsp mint extract

• 4 tbs milk

Save some for the sandwiches!!

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl. Set aside

3. In a separate (larger bowl), cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with hand-held mixer. Add egg and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.

4. Gradually add dry ingredient mixture until thoroughly incorporated.

5. Drop equal-size scoops of dough evenly apart on sheets. Using an ice cream scoop really helps! Place in oven and bake approximately 17 minutes until surface is a bit wrinkly and cookies are only slightly soft to touch.

6. Transfer cookies from sheets to cooling racks. Cool thoroughly. If not, you will be very sorry.

7. In a medium bowl, beat 2 cups of powdered sugar with butter until creamy. Add salt and mint extract until thoroughly combined.

8. Add remaining (2 cups) of powdered sugar and milk, mixing well.

9. When your cookies have cooled sufficiently, place approximately 1 tablespoon of frosting on underside of one cookie. Top with another cookie. It's really not that hard.

10. Repeat for as many cookie sandwiches you desire. Consume any excess frosting as a 'snack' to tide you over before a cheeseburger dinner.