Go green for St. Patrick's Day

It's easy to be green with help from McCormick.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here are a few recipes to help you celebrate.

The best part? You don't even need to be Irish!

Easy Green Velvet Cupcakes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Makes 24 servings

1 package (2-layer size) German chocolate cake mix with pudding

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup water

cup unsweetened cocoa powder

cup vegetable oil

1 bottle McCormick Green Food Color

3 eggs

2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Green sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat cake mix, sour cream, water, cocoa powder, oil, food color, eggs and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed just until moistened, scraping sides of bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes.

Pour batter into 24 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup full.

Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire rack. Frost with cream cheese frosting. Decorate with sprinkles.

Green Ombre Cake

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Makes 12 servings

Cake:

1 package (2-layer size) white cake mix

2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract

McCormick Green Food Color

Frosting:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract

1 package (16 ounces) confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons milk

Prepare cake mix as directed on package, using whole eggs. Stir in vanilla. Divide batter evenly into 3 bowls. Stir 50 drops (about 1/2 teaspoon) food color into one of the bowls, tinting batter dark green. Stir 15 drops food color into another of the bowls, tinting batter medium green. Stir 2 drops food color into last of the bowls, tinting batter light green.

Pour each bowl of batter into a greased and floured 8-inch round cake pan.

Bake as directed on package. Cool cakes on wire rack.

For the frosting, beat butter and vanilla in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating well after each addition and scraping sides and bottom of bowl frequently. Add milk; beat until light and fluffy. Place dark green cake layer on serving plate. Spread with cup of frosting. Top with medium green cake layer. Spread with cup of frosting. Top with light green cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Makes 36 (1 cookie) servings

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick Green Food Color

1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, food color and peppermint extract; mix well.

Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by heaping tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

Green Beer

Prep Time: 1 minute

Makes 1 serving

1 can (12 ounces) light colored beer

5 to 6 drops McCormick Green Food Color

Pour beer into beverage glass. Add food color.

Stir gently until evenly tinted. Serve.

Emerald Mint Milkshake

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Makes 3 servings

1 pint (2 cups) vanilla ice cream

1 cup milk

to 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract

teaspoon McCormick Green Food Color

Place ice cream, milk, peppermint extract and green food color in blender container; cover.

Blend on high speed until smooth.

Pour into glasses. Top with whipped cream and sprinkles, if desired.

Serve immediately.