St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Sugar Cookies Recipe
Introduction
These St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Sugar Cookies are a festive and delightful treat for celebrating the holiday. With a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a touch of almond and vanilla, they’re as tasty as they are charming. Perfectly shaped and decorated, they bring cheer to any celebration.
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- Green royal icing (for decorating)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Step 2: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Step 4: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.
- Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
- Step 6: Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about ¼ inch thick.
- Step 7: Use a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Step 8: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Step 9: Allow the cookies to cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
- Step 10: Once cooled, decorate with green royal icing and add sprinkles if desired.
Tips & Variations
- For a softer cookie, reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes and watch closely to avoid overbaking.
- Swap almond extract for lemon extract for a citrus twist.
- Use colored sanding sugar instead of royal icing for easier decorating.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling to make cutting shapes easier.
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If decorated with royal icing, let the icing dry completely before stacking. For longer storage, freeze the baked cookies without icing for up to 3 months and thaw before decorating.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before rolling and cutting the cookies. Let it sit at room temperature a few minutes before rolling out.
What is the best way to decorate these cookies?
Using green royal icing works best for detailed decoration and a smooth finish. Sprinkles add a fun touch, but sanding sugar or colored sugars can be used for simpler decorating.
PrintSt. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Sugar Cookies Recipe
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these delightful Shamrock Sugar Cookies! Featuring a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a sweet, simple flavor, these cookies are cut into festive shamrock shapes and decorated with vibrant green royal icing and optional sprinkles. Perfect for parties, gifting, or enjoying with a cup of tea, these cookies bring charm and cheer to your holiday festivities.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
Decoration
- Green royal icing (for decorating)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Add Egg and Extracts: Beat in the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the creamed butter and sugar until thoroughly combined.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Roll and Cut Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Using a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies and place them carefully on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are just beginning to turn lightly golden.
- Cool and Decorate: Allow the cookies to cool completely on wire racks. Once cooled, decorate with green royal icing and add sprinkles if desired to enhance the festive look.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature to achieve the best creaming texture.
- Be careful not to overbake; cookies are done when edges are lightly golden to maintain tenderness.
- If royal icing is not available, you can substitute with green-tinted powdered sugar glaze.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
Keywords: St. Patrick’s Day cookies, shamrock sugar cookies, festive cookies, holiday baking, green iced cookies
