And a wee roof over their heads...

The thing about blogging for six years is that sometimes you want to repeat things.  (Maybe that's just me.)  This year when thinking about St. Patrick's Day cookies, I really wanted to make these little leprechauns again.  They just speak to me.
decorated cookies for St. Patrick's Day: leprechaun cottages!
In the spirit of trying something new, though, I thought maybe those little guys needed a place to live.
I present...Leprechaun Cottages.

I was really excited to incorporate some Lucky Charms cereal into the cookie design, but it turns out, they aren't the same Lucky Charms I had at age 12.  (My friend Kelly's mom bought "sugar cereals" while my mom bought "Bran Buds."  Sleepovers at Kelly's house are burned into my memory for sugar cereal breakfasts and listening to K-Tel records. They also had HBO(!!!). But, I digress...)  

No more are there "yellow moons, green clovers, blue diamonds."  There's now an hourglass...and a red balloon (which makes me think of 99 Luftballons, not leprechauns.)
decorated cookies for St. Patrick's Day: leprechaun cottages!
So, the rainbow marshmallows became the door knockers for the leprechaun cottages. 

Leprechaun cottage cookies are easy to make.  Here's how:


leprechaun cottages outline photo leprechauncottages.jpg
Outline the cottages, dividing off the roof, door, window and chimney in the darker green icing using a #3 tip.

Reserving some of the white and darker green outlining consistency piping first, thin the icings with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup.  You'll want to drop a "ribbon" of icing back into the bowl and have it disappear in a count of "one thousand one, one thousand two." Four is too thick, one is too thin.  Count of 2-3 is good.  Cover with a damp dishcloth and let sit for several minutes.

Stir gently with a silicone spatula to pop and large air bubbles that have formed.  Pour into squeeze bottles as needed.

leprechaun cottages door photo leprechauncottages-2.jpg
Fill in the outlines with the thinned icing, using a toothpick to guide to the edges and to pop large air bubbles.
leprechaun cottages flood mint photo leprechauncottages-3.jpg
Let the cookies dry at least one hour.

leprechaun cottages window detail photo leprechauncottages-4.jpg
Use a #2 tip to pipe the detail on the window with white icing.

leprechaun cottages details photo leprechauncottages-5.jpg
Use a #1 tip to add shamrock detail under the window in green icing.  Add a bit of icing to the back of the marshmallow and place onto the cottage door.

Let the cookies dry uncovered 6-8 hours, or overnight.
decorated cookies for St. Patrick's Day: leprechaun cottages!
You know what?  The Chocolate Lucky Charms cereal I bought to fish out these marshmallows is pretty darn good.  Sorry, Mom! ;) 
decorated cookies for St. Patrick's Day: leprechaun cottages!

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