St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching and I thought I would share some fun dessert ideas, because who doesn’t love an excuse for sweets? So grab your spatulas, pre-heat those ovens and let’s get started!

First Up:

Leprechaun Sugar Cookie Lemon Bars

A sugar cookie crust with a creamy lemon filling and more sugar cookie crumbles on top.

What you need:

Crust and Crumble

• I bag of green sugar cookie mix – my Neighborhood Market carries this brand but you could just add green food coloring to any sugar cookie mix
• 1/2 cup butter, softened

Leprechaun Filling

• 1 cup Lemon Curd

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350° and grease bottom of 9 x 9 baking dish with shortening.
• Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave for about 1 minute until completely melted.
• Remove from the microwave, add the sugar cookie mix and stir
• Mixture will be dry and crumbly. Set aside about 3/4 cup of the crust/crumble topping.
• Spoon remaining crust mixture into a greased 9×9 baking pan. Distribute the crust mixture evenly and press down with a spoon so that it forms the crust.
• Add the cup of lemon curd on top of the crust, and sprinkle the top with the remaining crumble mixture.
• Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 40 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool for approximately 15-20 minutes. Place into the refrigerator for approximately 1 hour to further set the bars prior to cutting and serving.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar once set
• Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Luck of the Irish Cake Balls

A minty, creamy, decadent cake ball that will melt in your mouth; they are so easy you’ll thank your lucky charms you found this recipe.

What you need:

• 1 Box of green cake mix or you can add green food coloring to any white cake mix

• 1 tsp pure mint extract (optional)

• 1 can cream cheese frosting

• White melting chocolate

• Sanding Sugar

Instructions:

• Bake cake according to instructions on package and allow to cool completely
• Once cake is cool, crumble it up and mix in entire container of cream cheese (your hands will get messy!)
• Form cake balls and place on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper and freeze for 20-30 minutes
• Once cake balls are frozen, dip them in the melted white chocolate (add 1 tsp of mint extract to melted chocolate, optional)
• Sprinkle with sanding sugars and freeze once more for 20-30 minutes

Tip: For best results when dipping the cake balls, place them in the bowl, and using the fork, gently swirl them around. Once coated scoop them up with the fork allowing the chocolate to drip off the bottom of them.

If you make either dessert, make sure to tag me and let me know how they turned out!!!