Recipe: Root Beer Cookies

Root Beer Cookies

Makes 24 cookies

Root beer concentrate, used in making homemade root beer, plays a key role in both the cookies and the icing. We found McCormick's brand at larger Giant Food stores. Adapted from "The Red Hat Society Cookbook" (Rutledge Hill Press, 2006).

Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 10 days. We suggest freezing them, well wrapped, without icing.

For the cookies:

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

4 ounces canola oil margarine

2 ounces ( 1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 3/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons root beer concentrate, such as McCormick's brand

For the icing:

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 to 4 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon root beer concentrate

For the cookies: In a large bowl, using a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer on medium speed, beat the brown sugar, margarine, butter and egg for several minutes until well blended and fluffy. Reduce the speed to low and add the vanilla extract, baking soda, salt, the flour in increments, and the root beer concentrate. The batter will be stiff. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line several large baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls, spaced about 2 inches apart, onto the prepared sheets. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes; the cookies will spread. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the icing: In a medium bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar with the butter and mix well. In a measuring cup, combine the water and root beer concentrate; add to the sugar-butter mixture and mix well, adding more water as needed to reach the desired consistency. Spread on the cooled cookies. Let set for about 30 minutes before serving.

Per cookie: 163 calories, 1 g protein, 24 g carbohydrates, 7 g fat, 16 mg cholesterol, 3 g saturated fat, 126 mg sodium, 0 g dietary fiber

Recipe tested by Aimee Sanders; e-mail questions tofood@washpost.com