Leprechaun Lair

The first spring sprouts are finally emerging from the ground, and the March transition from lion to lamb is well underway.  As a mostly-Irish boy from New Jersey, I celebrated St. Patrick’s Day each March the way many Americans do: with a local parade, corned beef, cabbage, and Irish soda bread.  

To be honest, despite being my patron saint's day, it was never my favorite holiday.  I hated wearing Kelly green, HATED corned beef and cabbage, and felt Irish soda bread was a disappointing dessert, regardless of how much butter you smeared on it.  The truth is, there never seemed to be a specific and traditional dessert to be served, so for me the best part of the meal was a bust.  Unlike Christmas, Easter, and other holidays, each with their own menu of traditional specialities, St. Paddy’s Day presented with mostly grocery store shamrock sugar cookies.  

It was always puzzling to me why the commercial aspects of the holiday never took off.  After all, Lucky Charms had successfully tapped into Leprechaun culture and applied it to selling sweet.  Why shouldn’t there be something specific, something special, to serve on St. Patrick’s Day??  It was time for a new tradition.   I decided my March 2025 design would feature shamrocks, a leprechaun, and a pot o’ gold, and called it Leprechaun Lair.  

Leprechaun Lair cookie house with Leprechaun Lair cookie cutter construction set

Once the cookie house design was complete, it was time to develop a recipe.  I wanted something that had a naturally green hue, would have an unusual flavor profile, and would lend itself well to clean cookie cutouts and crisp, sturdy cookies.  With a little bit of trial and error, I came up with Hebaceous Mint Chocolate Chip cookies.  This unique recipe leverages fresh mint to create a bright herbal flavor in a beautiful and crunchy cookie.  And to pair with it, Chocolate Royal Icing.  Together, they worked perfectly for our Leprechaun Lair!  

Herbaceous mint chocolate chip cookies, baked into a Leprechaun Lair cookie house

This cookie pairs well with chocolate and more chocolate.  This St. Paddy’s, I recommend serving your Herbaceous Mint Chocolate Chip Leprechaun Lair cookie house at the center of your table, and give each guest a bowl of dark chocolate mousse or chocolate ice cream.  Smash the house, then dip the pieces in your chocolate.  Your guests will leave licking their lips and feeling lucky!  

For next year, I am working on an Irish thatched cottage design, featuring an Irish soda bread cookie recipe (with raisins, of course!).  I want to provide an elevated option alongside the kid-friendly leprechaun design.  What do you think of this new tradition for St. Patrick’s Day?  Are there any other holidays in need of a special way to celebrate?  I’d love to hear from you!  

Patrick