Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy St. Patrick‘s Day!

What have you done to celebrate?  The extent of my celebration includes these cookies (I’ll take any reason to bake!) and to wear green.    Have you ever heard of the tradition that you’re allowed to pinch someone who isn’t wearing green on St. Patty’s day?  I’d never heard this before I met Alex.  When he first told me, I thought he was using it as an excuse to flirt with me (which was totally okay by me :-)).  But then over the past few years, I started hearing it from other people.  It’s a strange tradition, no?  At any rate, since that year onward, I’ve made sure to wear green!

Now, let’s talk cookies.  These cookies are tasty and so festive!  I followed a chocolate chip recipe from Janetha (at meals & moves <– LOVE her site!).  She claims this is the best chocolate chip recipe ever and I’d have to agree.  These cookies always turn out soft and chewy in the center.  They seriously melt in your mouth!  I made a few changes and added some green food coloring to make them more festive 🙂

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/4 cup and 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 to 3/4 tsp peppermint extract
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
• 1/4 and 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 and 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 rounded tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp green food coloring (optional)
• 1 cup mint chocolate chips (I used Andes mint baking chips)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugars, egg, vanilla and peppermint extracts.
3. In a separate bowl, measure flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Mix thoroughly.
4. Slowly add your dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined.
5. Mix in green food coloring, if using.
6. Slowly fold in the mint chocolate chips.
7. Using a tablespoon, roll dough into balls and place onto baking sheets.
8. Bake for 10 minutes.
9. Let them cool and enjoy!

Tell me one thing you like to do every St. Patrick’s Day!