Irish Cream Sandwich Cookies

When it comes to celebrating St. Patricks day, we Irish keep things pretty simple: Corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, Guinness, whiskey and Baileys Irish Cream. Baileys is smooth, creamy, goes great with coffee and aside from enjoying it on ice, I try to incorporate it into dessert whenever possible. (See: Baileys Marshmallows) Celebrate the luck of the Irish this year by making these delicious chocolate sandwich cookies, filled with Baileys spiked buttercream. They're festive, boozy and travel well. So whether you're stuck at the office, or lucky enough to be at the pub, bring them wherever your travels may take you this March 17th. 

Irish Cream Sandwich Cookies
Makes 2 dozen sandwiches
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons Baileys

Directions:
1. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside. 

2. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and Baileys and continue to mix until incorporated.

3. Add the flour mixture, mixing until dough just comes together. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm.

4. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with liners or parchment paper.

5. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/8-inch thick. Use a circle cookie cutter to cut out 2 to 3" rounds. (I used a 2 1/4" circle cutter.) Gather and re-roll scraps to make more cookies.

6. Place the cookies 1/2 inch apart on the baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes, then cool completely.

Irish Buttercream Filling

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
4 cups (about 1 lb.) confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons Baileys
Pinch of salt

Green decorating sugar

Directions:
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter for about 30 seconds. Turn the mixer on low, then add the confectioners’ sugar.

2. Drizzle in 3 tablespoons of the Baileys and continue to mix until creamy. Beat at medium speed for about a minute, adding more Baileys if needed to achieve desired consistency.

3. Scoop out filling into a zip top bag and snip off about 1/2 inch of the corner.

Assemble the Cookies
Place the green sugar in a shallow dish. Pipe about a tablespoon of filling around the bottom side of a cookie. Top with another cookie, then roll the edge in the green sugar. Cookies will keep in an airtight container in a cool place for about a week.