It’s Christmas in July at our house and what better way to celebrate than to bake a seasonal mash up cookie. We are combining our tradition around Christmastime (12 Days of Cookies) and a favorite summer flavor – root beer floats. This worked out perfectly! We had made a root beer float cookie back in December of 2013 so a throwback to that Christmas season was fitting. So grab an iced coffee, and if you’re like us at embracing this whole Christmas in July celebration, some Christmas music, and let’s get baking!

Cookie Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp root beer concentrate
• 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp baking soda

Filling Ingredients:

• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/3 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tsp water
• 1 tsp root beer concentrate

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and root beer concentrate. Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda in a separate bowl. Gradually add dry ingredients to creamed mixture and mix well.

Shape dough into ¼-in balls. Place 2 in. apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

For the filling: Beat the filling ingredients until smooth. Spread on the bottom of half of the cookies and top with remaining cookies.