Description
These Irish Shamrock Cookies are a delightful and festive treat perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! With their buttery, soft texture and green sprinkles, these shamrock-shaped cookies are sure to bring joy to your St. Paddy’s Day celebrations. Easy to make and perfect for sharing with friends and family, these cookies are a must for any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 tsp Almond Extract (optional for flavor)
- 1/4 cup Green Sprinkles (or colored sugar, for decoration)
For the Royal Icing (optional, for decorating):
- 1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 tbsp Meringue Powder
- 1–2 tbsp Water (as needed)
- Green Food Coloring
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Dough:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), and beat until well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
- Chill the Dough:
- Divide the dough into two portions and wrap each in plastic wrap. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Chilling helps the dough firm up, making it easier to roll and cut.
- Roll and Cut the Dough:
- Once chilled, place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll it out to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Using a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- If desired, sprinkle the tops of the cookies with green sprinkles or colored sugar for added festivity.
- Bake the Cookies:
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate the Cookies (optional):
- If using royal icing for decoration, whisk together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water to make the icing. Add water a little at a time until you reach a thick but pipeable consistency.
- Add green food coloring to the icing and use it to pipe decorations onto the cooled cookies, such as outlining the shamrock shape or adding small details.
- Serve:
- Once the cookies are fully decorated (if desired), allow the icing to set for about 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy these festive treats with friends and family!
Notes
- If you don’t want to use royal icing, you can simply add a dusting of powdered sugar or enjoy the cookies plain with sprinkles.
- To make these cookies even more festive, you can add a few chocolate chips or mini M&Ms as the centers of the shamrocks!
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg