St. Patty's Cookies

Princess "O"-- my daughter-- and I decided to do a fun project for St. Patty's while little boy slept.
I found some paper plates at Joanne's for half price and I took advantage of Maceys' one day deal yesterday to get huge bags of Skittles and Starbursts for just .99 each.
The recipes I used are from my cooking class in high school. They turned out so freakin yummy that I will be including them for your baking enjoyment.

The Princess did most of the dry ingredients.

She helped with the wet ingredients but I did most of it. Holy BUTTER!!! This recipe is NOT for the diet conscious. It called for 4 sticks of butter just for the batter. Butter sure does make for yummy treats though!

Cleaning off the paddle to change to another one that would be suitable for adding in the dry ingredients.

Adding green food coloring to the batter!

 The Princess and the cookies.

Green cream cheese frosting. Seriously the BEST frosting I have EVER eaten!! I know that's a big claim, make it yourself and you will see what I mean!

 Frosting the cooled cookies.

Getting ready to plate them for a few neighbors.

Princess and Little Boy with the cookies they decorated and ate.

Daddies and Mommies need yummy, colorful treats too!!!

Recipes

Sugar Cookies

4 c flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 C butter, softened

1 1/2 C granulated sugar

1 egg

1/2 C dairy sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

Sift flour with baking powder, soda, salt and nutmeg. Set aside. In large bowl, beat butter, sugar and egg until light and fluffy. At low speed, beat in sour cream and vanilla until smooth. 

Gradually add flour mixture, beating after each addition until well combined. Here I added the green food coloring. Form dough into a ball, wrap in waxed paper or foil, refrigerated several hours or overnight. I omitted the cooling. Still worked great!

Divide dough into 4 parts. Preheat oven to 375. I did 350 on mine as it bakes hot.

Lightly grease cookie sheets. On well floured surface, roll dough one part at a time to 1/4" thickness. Cut with cutter and using spatula, move cookie to cookie sheets. I didn't bother rolling the dough out. Instead, I sprayed Pam on my hands and made balls of dough and then slightly flattened them.

Bake 10-12 minutes. I did 9 minutes for mine. You may have a great oven and not have to mess with the called for times or temps but don't be sad if you have to experiment a bit. I feel your pain. ;)

Cream Cheese Frosting 

I had to double this recipe to cover all of my cookies. The cookie recipe makes LOTS of cookies!

 3 T butter, softened

1 1/2 C powdered sugar

2 tsp lemon juice

1/4 C Cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla 

Beat butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, lemon juice and cream cheese, beating until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Here's where I added the food coloring. Frosts 12-14 cupcakes or one 9-inch cake. Or about half the above cookie recipe.

Enjoy!!!

Please let me know if you try this recipe out and how you like it!!!