Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Make the Cookie Dough:
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla extract and continue beating until well combined.

Combine the Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until the dough comes together. If you want to make your cookies extra festive, add the green food coloring at this stage and mix until the dough is evenly colored. Add a tablespoon of milk if the dough is too thick to handle.

Shape the Cookies:
Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gently flatten each ball with the back of a spoon or your hand to form a rounded cookie shape.

Add Sprinkles:
Sprinkle the top of each cookie with rainbow sprinkles or green sprinkles for a St. Patrick’s Day touch.

Bake:
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set. Keep an eye on them to prevent overbaking, as you want them soft and chewy!

Cool:
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve:
Serve your Perfect St. Patrick’s Day Cookies at your party or enjoy them with a cup of tea or coffee. They’re sure to bring some festive cheer to your celebration!