The original name of the ladybug is “Our Lady’s Bug.” It seems that during the Middle Ages, a plague of small insects (probably aphids) attacked the crops, threatening Europe with starvation. The people had recourse to Our Lady, and petitioned her to save them from this plague….. Finish reading this awesome story on Catholicism.org.

In honor of Our Lady we have Ladybug cookies every year at our Marian Tea Party!! (See this year\’s party pics. HERE) These \”ladybug\” cookies they are yummy –No, they are not made with real ladybugs like my oldest daughter, Rachel, once thought when she was very little! But they are cute and fun to make!

You will need:

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter (soften)
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 square unsweetened chocolate melted.
    (I used chocolate chips ~ about 15 regular sized chips – I think)
  • Mini chocolate chips for the bug\’s spots
Red Cookie Paint (OR – You could use red sugar sprinkles instead of the paint)

  • egg yoke
  • 1 tsp water
  • red food coloring

Blend sugar, butter, vanilla, and eggs. Slowly add flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix until well blended.
Take 6 tablespoons of the dough and stir in the melted chocolate.
Refrigerate the two balls of dough in different bowls for about an hour or until firm and easy to handle.

Preheat oven to 350. Grease cookie sheet.

Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place on a greased cookie sheet – 1 inch apart. Flatten them a little and use a knife to cut a deep line length wise down the center of each cookie.
Create a head for the bug: Shape the chocolate dough into finger-tip-size oval shapes and add one to each of the cookies to form a head. 

Make the \”red paint\” by added 1 tsp of water and 5 to 10 drops of red food coloring to an egg yoke.
Use a small spoon or clean (new) brush to add the red paint to the bug\’s body. The cookie area will need to be flat so the red doesn\’t roll off. 
Press three mini chocolate chips (upside-down) into each side of the bug\’s body. 
Bake 12 to 15 minutes until lightly brown. 
Makes about 3 doz.

We also made these in the past without the \”paint\”. 
We just added maraschino cherries that had been chopped into small pieces:

They were good this way, too, but a few of my kids didn\’t like the cherries.
Next year, I was thinking it might be fun to sprinkle them with red sugar and add the mini chocolate chips!
Hope you enjoy these, too!
God Bless.
~Jennifer

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