Description
Savor the delicious flavor of Shamrock Sugar Cookies, a perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day. With simple prep and ingredients like butter, sugar, and vanilla, these cookies are an easy way to celebrate or share at gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- seeds scraped from 1 whole vanilla bean
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- salt, to taste
- optional: gel food coloring for tinting
- optional: sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together on high speed for about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla bean seeds and continue to beat until creamy. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until combined. If the dough is too sticky, add an extra tablespoon of flour.
- Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Roll each piece between lightly floured parchment paper until about 1/4-inch thick.
- Dust one rolled-out dough with flour and place parchment on top, then stack the second rolled-out dough. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1-2 hours or up to 2 days.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut cookies into shapes with cookie cutters and arrange them on baking sheets, leaving space between each.
- Bake cookies for 11-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- For the frosting, beat butter and vanilla bean seeds until creamy. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar and cream, beating until smooth, then color as desired.
- Decorate the cooled cookies with frosting and sprinkles. Store frosted cookies covered at room temperature for 1 day or refrigerated for a week.
Notes
Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for best results.
The cookies can be decorated in various colors for different occasions.
You can store unfrosted cookies covered at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg