There are many benefits to cooking with alcohol. Wine adds an extra depth of flavor to certain meat dishes, a splash of brandy brings a special zing to a fruit tart, and when it comes to Christmas cookies, Irish cream is the perfect addition. Case and point: Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies, which I first experienced a few years ago when my aunt made them for the post-Christmas dinner cookie platter. If you consider your holidays incomplete without enjoying a Baileys on the rocks at some point during the party season, then these are for you. Even if you’re not a big Irish cream fan, the slight hint of whisky makes them worth a try. 

Bailey’s Irish Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies
Yield: 3 dozen
-1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
-1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
-1/2 cup granulated sugar
-1 egg
-1 tsp. vanilla
-1/2 cup Irish cream
-2 cups flour
-1/2 tsp. baking soda
-1/2 tsp. baking powder
-Pinch of salt
-1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
-1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds

1) Preheat oven to 375º

2) Cream together butter, sugars, and the egg in a large bowl. 

3) Add vanilla and Irish cream and stir until fully incorporated. 

4) In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Incorporate the dry ingredients into the butter mixture in two equal parts. 

5) Gently stir in chocolate chips and chopped nuts.

6) Drop spoonfuls of batter onto a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 8-11 minutes. Cookies will be golden brown around the bottom edges, as well as lightly browned on top.