A la mode. That’s right, it’s like a root beer float in a bowl minus the extra burps. After a few failed attempts at creating a root beer cookie suitable for a hand-held ice cream sandwich, I revisited an old family recipe as home base. My great-grandmother’s Brown Sugar Cookies* are subtly spicy and soft cookies, some of the coziest I know. I returned to my mom’s old recipe keeper for the directions (a snapshot of my cookie-loving childhood), then made a Root Beer Buttercream frosting for the tops. Looking at the photos I took, these are more root beer perches than floats, but you get the idea. Ice cream on top or bottom: tasty pairing either way.
Root Beer Buttercream
Heat up 1/4 C Root Beer – great time to use flat pop.
(for exceptional root beer intensity, reduce a can on the stovetop for ~15 min.)
Mix in 2 T brown sugar till it dissolves.
Add 2 T butter and stir until melted.
Whisk in confectioner’s sugar until you reach desired consistency.
*You may have the cookie recipe if you join my family or offer a suitable exchange. In my mom’s words, “you’re not putting that recipe on the internet, are you?!”
WOW…these really sound too good to be true!
believe it!
Great pictures as usual! I love your moms comments. Sometimes its really hard putting family recipes online and I feel like there’s a struggle between what you want to do and what you think you should do. It’s so funny!
too funny
Love your mom, I’ll have no issues joining your famiy:)
Amy! These look amazing! Just the thought of root beer buttercream makes me weepy.
don’t cry, my friend! root beer buttercream off the spoon = happiness
Yum!! And I love that recipe book. It sure looks well-loved.
I agree with you, Emmy!
I feel so stupid asking you this, but is confectioner’s sugar the same as powdered sugar? I can’t wait to try out this recipe…Thanks!
As far as I know they are used synonymously (spell that?) the only difference is that there are three different finenesses- the kind you can buy in supermarkets, then two used by industrial bakers.. Somebody please correct me if I’m wrong!
Also, just occurred to me that it could be more of a geographical thing, cause in the UK they call it “icing sugar” or something like that…
Thank you for your help, Julia! The art of baking sometimes requires teamwork….because it can be so intimidating! But that’s why when I get a positive end result, I feel SO incredibly proud of myself!
both work!
Thank you, Amy!
your pictures…and memories…are truly lovely.
vignettehome, thank you.
Yum! And the french toast clouds! So full of awesome! I never thought to use Challah for french toast so thanks for that.
And I agree with your mum about not sharing family recipes on the ‘net. Unfortunately, sometimes “family” members won’t share them with family because they don’t consider them “real” family. Why can’t people just grow up?
Sorry for the digression. Love the recipes; I’ll definitely be trying the rootbeer buttercream!
hope you like the buttercream.
Amy: I’ve never seen this recipe book – where did your Mom get this? Is this my Mom’s recipe (grandma porter) for the cookie? I just made 6 batches of different cookies/brownies and took them up to Julie’s teachers and the front office yesterday. Homemade cookies are the best, huh?
homemade cookies ARE the best – I am sure they appreciated yours! The recipe is Margaret Beck’s. My mom will have to let you know how old this recipe book of hers is… at least 35 years old by now.
whoa. these look….WHOA. AMAZING.
ROOT BEER BUTTERCREAM?!? You are both an angel and the devil. Great idea, thanks for the recipe. And I love that you got busted by Aunt Kamie. Blogs and family…they go together like root beer and buttercream.
ha!
Nice recipe and pics- and congrats on Freshly Pressed!
these pictures are awesome! I just love the recipe book! excellent. bet the cookies were grand!
My Dear Wonder, It makes me ask the question: Is my Shrimp Scampi Recipe worthy of family trade offs? Ha ha, great idea, I will soon be cooking down a couple of root beers (a very special treat in this to have soda whatsoever, but your cherry coca cola cupcakes were a huge hit!
Thanks.
Pingback: Cultural Considerations: Color Requiem « The World Writ Small
Pingback: Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches-SRC Post! | Beautiful Disasters
Pingback: Cultural Considerations: Color Requiem