Chocolate Studded Shamrock Cookies

St. Patrick's day is around the corner =)  Everyone likes to do green colored things on that day.  But when you put green food coloring in cookies.....to me it kinda resembles something like what you see when your baby starts eating strained peas.....not the most appetizing thought or visual, I know.  So make something green and pretty by sprinkling it with sugar crystals instead =)  These cookies are something that I like to make every year.  they are fun and festive.

Chocolate Studded Shamrocks:

2 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 c. butter or margarine, softened

2/3 c. sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 eggs.

1 pkg. semi-sweet mini morsels (I used regular sized ones and just half a bag to make up for the size)

Green colored sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Combine flour and baking soda in a bowl.  Cream butter, sugar and vanilla.  Add eggs, one a ta time.  Gradually mix in dry ingredients.  Stir in morsels.  Refrigerate until firm.

Shape dough into 3/4- inch balls; place three together to form a shamrock shape on ungreased baking sheets.  Roll a small amount to form the stem.  

Sprinkle the cookies with green sugar.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges lightly browned.  Cool on sheets for 2 minutes then put them on a wire rack to cool.

This cookie dough isn't overpoweringly sweet.  The chocolate chips add enough sweetness and then you sprinkle sugar on it and it's perfect!  Another great thing, the dough doesn't spread too much.  The cookies do get a bit bigger, but they don't spread out (but make sure your dough is chilled or it could spread a bit more....).  I hope you enjoy these and feed them to your little leprechauns this year!