St. Patrick’s Day

Matcha White Chocolate Chip Cookies

March 14, 2018

I have to admit, I saw a photo of some matcha white chocolate chip cookies on Instagram this week and knew I had to immediately try to recreate them! Not only are they perfect for St. Patty’s Day (being green, and all), but they sounded like a fun take on my favorite cookie – the chocolate chip.

How to Make Them

This recipe starts off just like your typical chocolate chip recipe, with just a few tweaks.

Start by creaming together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.

Then mix in the egg and vanilla. If you want to live life on the edge a little bit (and you have it in your pantry), also add a touch of lemon extract! Matcha and lemon are a match(a) made in heaven!

Once all the wet ingredients are well combined, mix in the flour, baking powder, salt and matcha powder.

I used the same matcha powder that I stir into hot water to make tea. Definitely use a tea that you would like to drink because the flavor will carry throughout the cookie. I personally like the Trader Joe’s matcha tea packets and The Republic of Tea’s green tea powder.

Finally, stir in some white chocolate chips!

I recommend chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. Not only will the flavors meld together a bit, but chilling the dough before baking ensures that the cookies don’t completely flatten out in the oven.

Once it’s chilled, spoon or scoop out some balls of dough and place them on a baking sheet at least 2 inches apart. These cookies do spread, so give them plenty of space.

Then bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until they just start to brown around the edges. You don’t want to leave them in the oven too long because they will turn brown and you will no longer be able to tell they are green!

If you are curious what a matcha white chocolate chip cookie tastes like, well, it tastes like a white chocolate chip cookie with a very subtle matcha flavor. The green tea lovers out there may want to increase the amount of matcha in these cookies for even more flavor!

But the subtle green tea flavor is surprisingly delicious when paired with the white chocolate chips. It really makes the white chocolate stand out! So this cookie may really be for white chocolate fans.

Or just for anyone looking for a green treat for St. Patrick’s Day! 😉

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Four-Leaf Clover Cookie Cake

March 13, 2018

This may be called a cookie cake, but it is not the same giant chocolate chip cookie cake you buy at the mall. This cookie cake is a cross between a sugar cookie and a cake. They are all the rage on Instagram right now! And they are basically like my new favorite thing! I am slightly obsessed.

If you aren’t as obsessed as I am, this version of a cookie cake is two giant sugar cookies layered together with buttercream and topped with even more buttercream. The original version, also includes some flowers, macarons, and other adornments. They are super cute.

But for this four-leaf clover version, I stayed with my favorite style of decorating cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Which is just using a bunch of different piping tips to cover the surface.

How to Make It

If you can make a cake or decorate a cookie, you can make this cookie cake!

Start by cutting out two really large cookies in the shape of a four-leaf clover. Don’t have a giant four-leaf cookie cutter? No worries!

I print out a large four-leaf clover then cut it out to use as a template for cutting out my cookie dough. I found it easier to roll out the dough, then transfer it to the baking sheet before cutting the dough. It ensures that the dough doesn’t lose its shape.

On top of the first layer pipe dots of buttercream around the edge, then top with the second cookie layer.

Use various large piping tips to create different shapes.

Piping tips used:

Round Dots – Wilton #1A
Roses & Drop Flower – Wilton #2D
Spikey Dots – Wilton #8B
Drop Flower – Wilton #1M

I also like using different shades of the same color, which isn’t really very well represented here.

For an extra little flair, top with sprinkles or glitter.

I used this gold dust I found at Michaels, and while it’s not super visable in photos, it adds a really pretty shine to the buttercream in person.

All that’s left is to dig right in. You can cut this anyone way you like! Or just break off a piece here and there. Make your own rules for this unconventional cake!!

Recipes Used:

Sugar Cookies

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

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Lucky Charms Snack Mix

March 8, 2017

How did you eat your Lucky Charms as a kid? Were you a cereal first, marshmallow first, or all at the same time kind of Lucky Charms eater? I ate the cereal first and left all the marshmallows for the very end. I wonder what that says about me?

Actually, I really don’t want to know.

Since National Cereal Day was yesterday and St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, I thought I would do something fun with my favorite childhood cereal. I already have a great cereal candy recipe (thanks, Mom). So I just adapted that recipe a tad to make a fun Lucky Charms Snack Mix that’s perfect for St. Patty’s Day!

The recipe is incredibly easy and would be perfect activity for you and your kiddos, or if you don’t have kiddos, just make some for yourself. We are never too old for sugary cereal!

There are only 6 ingredients in this entire recipe: Lucky charms (of course), pretzel sticks, Rice Krispies, and slices almonds. Dump all of that into a bowl and mix in some white chocolate that has been spiked with a touch of almond extract. That’s pretty much all you have to do. But in case you don’t believe me, I will show you.

The best part is that it takes just minutes to make! Don’t let the speediness of the video fool you. I think from start to finish, this mix only took me 15 minutes, and that includes the time it takes for the chocolate to dry!

The almond extract also adds a bit more sweetness (like this really needs any more sweetness) and really plays up the flavor of the marshmallow pieces; which of course, are the best part.

I couldn’t keep my grubby little hands out of the snack mix even before the chocolate had totally dried. I am pretty sure I gave myself a cavity eating this stuff, but what’s new. It was just like eating Lucky Charms back when I was a kid, but even better! Because they were covered in chocolate.

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