These green shamrock sugar cookies are the best sweet treats for St. Patrick's Day. Nothing says St.Patrick's Day more than a shamrock so a dessert shaped like one is perfect for celebrating the March holiday. Get ready to mix, roll, cut, & devour these festive yummy cookies.
For any Irish holiday or family gathering these cookies are so fun. They also taste so good & irresistible even enjoyed plain. No glaze or frosting is needed. But the cute shape is fun to frost, decorate, & design if you wish to make them more festive.
This green-colored dessert is so fun and a family-friendly recipe. This sugar cookie recipe is chewy, crisp, & sweet. If you are looking for a boozy dessert, try celebrating with some delicious St. Patrick's Day Pudding Shots with green pistachio pudding & Irish cream. Cheers!
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Ingredients for Shamrock Cookies
These sugar cookies start with the traditional baking ingredients that most cookies have. This simple recipe is made with common pantry staples like flour, baking soda, salt, vanilla, & sugar.
Homemade sugar cookies also need softened butter and a room-temperature egg. This recipe adds green liquid food coloring to make them pretty & perfect for the shamrock theme. Plus some powdered sugar & other ingredients to make a rich buttercream frosting.
- Salted Butter - bring to room temperature so it is soft.
- Egg - bring to room temperature
- Granulated Sugar - classic sweetener for sugar cookies.
- Vanilla Extract - key flavoring.
- Salt - balance the sugar.
- Baking Soda - to add a bit of rise & tenderness to the cookies.
- All-Purpose Flour - nothing fancy here.
- Green Liquid Food Coloring - to color the shamrock shaped treats.
- Optional - almond, mint, or lemon extract
- Optional - Frosting ingredients: powdered sugar, milk, butter, & extracts for flavoring.
See the recipe card for quantities.
For optional flavors, to these cookies, you can add an additional 1 teaspoon of other extracts. I find lemon or almond extract adds a lovely seasonal flavor.
Or if you want something green & minty, add mint extract. See below for my fun way to turn these into frosted cookies that taste like a shamrock shake. If you love the McDonald's seasonal mint shake you may want to try out this dessert twist.
How to Make Green Shamrock Sugar Cookies
This easy dessert recipe for sugar cookies that don't spread is not just delicious but ideal for shamrock cookie cutters. Begin by planning a bit ahead so that the butter and egg can be ready to go.
This starts with a simple recipe for a classic No Spread Sugar Cookie.
1 - Make the Green-Colored Cookie Dough
Once the ingredients are ready, it is time to mix up the sugar cookie dough. This dough will be thick & dense. It is that texture that ensures they hold their festive shamrock shape while they bake.
In a mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients; flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside while you mix together the wet ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl add the softened butter with the sugar. Using an electric hand mixer, cream these together on medium for 2 minutes.
Add the egg and mix for one minute. Add vanilla & other optional extracts & mix.
Add ½ of the flour mixture & beat on medium for 1-2 minutes. Add remaining flour mixture & mix for 2 minutes or until combined.
This dough will be dense, thick, & crumbly at this point. Once you add the coloring and press it, it will come together. This dough will be perfect for rolling & cutting with cookie cutters.
Add food coloring to the sugar cookie dough to make it as green as you like. Mix with the electric mixer until combined.
5 drops of liquid food coloring bring out a light or pastel color to the sugar cookie dough.
Continue adding 2-3 drops of color until you reach the color you desire. I recommend adding 5 drops, to begin with, which gives you the color as seen above.
10 drops yielded this beautiful kelly green color that is perfect for St. Patrick's Day shamrock-shaped cookies. Below is what 10 drops of green liquid food coloring did to my sugar cookie dough. This bright green color is so pretty for cookies.
Hint: Try to not overbeat the dough by stopping, adding drops, mixing & repeating. If you mix the dough too much it will become tough & not as soft or tender on the inside once baked.
2 - Chill the Sugar Cookie Dough
For the best results when using making cookies with a cookie cutter, chilling the dough is important. Place the green sugar cookie dough in your refrigerator and chill for 30-60 minutes.
Just before it is done chilling, prepare the rest of what you need. Preheat the oven to 350°. Also prepare your baking sheet with parchment paper, a silicone baking mat, or nonstick cooking spray.
3 - Roll & Cut the Shamrock Shapes
Once the dough is ready, it is time to roll it out and cut it using the shamrock cookie cutter. Begin by lightly dusting a large cutting board or your clean kitchen counter with flour. Add a dusting of flour to your rolling pin also.
Roll out the dough so that its thickness measures about ½". Try and make sure it is evenly rolled so all the cookies have the same thickness. This allows them to cook evenly once baking them.
Cut out the dough using your shamrock cookie cutter. Mine is about medium in size, almost 4 inches across diagonally. I can fit 6 - 8 cookies on a cookie sheet at a time. Sizes may vary.
4 - Bake the Cookies
Repeat rolling & cutting until your baking sheet is full. Once the oven is preheated at 350° you can begin baking them. Place the cookies in the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes.
Once baked remove them carefully from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes. Use a spatula and remove the cookies carefully to a baking rack for them to continue cooling.
Top Tips
All of these great tips are shared in the recipe. But these are so good and important they are worth mentioning again so you don't miss them.
- Make sure the butter is softened & the egg is at room temperature.
- No need to preheat the oven before mixing the dough, wait until the sugar cookie has chilled.
- Add drops of food coloring & mix - then add more gradually until you get the color you desire.
- The dough will be dense, but that's ok.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes. Also, return the dough to the refrigerator between rolling & cutting batches to keep it chilled.
- Roll cookie dough to the correct thickness and make sure they are uniform in shape so they bake evenly.
Substitutions & Variations
Baking is a science that often needs exact ingredients and measurements to work out. For that reason, there are not many changes you can make when baking these cookies. Here are also some fun decorating ideas for the shamrock cookies.
- Green food coloring - you can use gel coloring instead of liquid food coloring.
- Almond extract - you can use all vanilla instead or use the lemon extract as an alternative to the almond extract.
- Cooking Icing - use my recipe for the best cookie icing to decorate these shamrock cookies. It is shiny, delicious, & dries hard.
This cookie dough that is colored green is not just perfect for St. Patrick's Day. Try it for other holidays too.
Use different cookie cutters to make Christmas Trees or any shaped cookie that you want for a green-themed party or holiday. Try some Hershey's Kisses on Sugar Cookies for another holiday favorite.
Shamrock Shake Cookies
The ultimate shamrock cookie for St. Patrick's Day. A fun take on the classic McDonald's Shamrock Shake like my Shamrock Shake Ice Cream recipe. Here is how you can make this cookie with that classic mint flavor.
- Almond Extract - omit the almond extract in the dough and use mint extract instead.
- Frosting - make the optional frosting recipe, use the mint extract in the frosting instead of almond extract.
- Toppings - sprinkle with green sugar sprinkles & optional maraschino cherry - like any yummy milkshake should have!
This will be a mint explosion. If you only want a slightly minty flavor, I suggest only making the frosting mint flavored. Leave the cookie recipe with the vanilla & almond extracts - do not add mint there also.
Equipment
To make these sugar cookies you will need a few key pieces of kitchen equipment. To mix the dough you will need an electric hand or stand mixer. To get the St. Patrick's vibe, a shamrock cookie cutter & rolling pin will be needed.
Plus everyday items like baking sheets and pantry ingredients are needed. Here are the recommended kitchen tools & ingredients you need to make this recipe.
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Storing Sugar Cookies
These cookies store well if sealed in an air-tight container or Ziploc bag. Place them in a cool dry location like your pantry or cupboard. The sugar cookies will be good for up to 5 days.
If they are frosted, try and enjoy them the same day. If you plan to have leftovers, I recommend frosting them when you want to enjoy them. The frosting can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring it to room temperature so it is spreadable before frosting your cookies.
Freezing Dough or Cookies
I do not recommend freezing these cookies once baked and frosted. You can freeze the dough ahead of time. Defrost it in the refrigerator for 48 hours before rolling, cutting, & baking.
These cookies freeze well after they have been baked, as long as they have not been frosted. Freeze cookies in an air-tight container or Ziploc for up to 3 months. Remove them from the freezer and let them defrost at room temperature for 2-3 hours before enjoying them.
FAQ
This sugar cookie dough I have been using this for years and it should not spread. When rolling & using cookie cutters, they should hold their shape. Cookie dough that is not chilled long enough may spread.
Make sure you are chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. Also, make sure you keep it cold in the refrigerator between batches.
It is the unofficial follower of Ireland for centuries. It dates back to when St. Patrick used the 3 petals of the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. The rest is history.
Other St. Patrick's Day Recipes
Looking for other recipes to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Try these:
Green Shamrock Sugar Cookies
Equipment
- shamrock cookie cutter
- Rolling Pin
- baking sheet & cooling rack
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter one stick room temperature
- 1 egg room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 5-10 drops green liquid food coloring
- 1 teaspoon almond, lemon, or mint extract OPTIONAL
Optional frosting ingredients
- 3 tablespoons softened butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, or mint extract
Instructions
- Bring the egg and stick of butter to room temperature.
- In a mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients; flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside while you mix together the wet ingredients.
- In a large mixing bowl add the softened butter with the sugar. Using an electric hand mixer, cream these together on medium for 2 minutes.
- Add the egg and mix for one minute. Add vanilla & other optional extracts & mix.
- Add ½ of the flour mixture & beat on medium for 1-2 minutes. Add remaining flour mixture & mix for 2 minutes or until combined.
- This dough will be dense, thick, & crumbly at this point. See the image above.
- Add 5 drops of food coloring to the sugar cookie dough to get a light green color. Mix with the electric mixer until combined.Continue adding 2-3 drops of color until you reach the color you desire. I recommend adding 5 drops, to begin with, which gives you the color as seen above.SEE THE IMAGES ABOVE FOR COLORS TO BE EXPECTED.
- Place the green sugar cookie dough in your refrigerator and chill for 30-60 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick cooking spray.
- Begin by lightly dusting a large cutting board or your clean kitchen counter with flour. Add a dusting of flour to your rolling pin also.Roll out the dough so that its thickness measures about ½".
- Cut out the dough using your shamrock cookie cutter. Place on the prepared baking sheet once at a time. These cookies will not spread so you do not need much space between them.
- Repeat rolling & cutting until your baking sheet is full. Once the oven is preheated at 350° you can begin baking them.
- Place the cookies in the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes.Once baked remove them carefully from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes. Use a spatula and remove the cookies carefully to a baking rack for them to continue cooling.
Optional Buttercream Frosting
- In a small mixing bowl add the softened butter and half the powdered sugar. Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer to combine. Scrape the edges with a spatula.
- Add remaining powdered sugar and beat to combine. Add the mint extract if you are making the Shamrock Shake flavor - or add vanilla or almond extract instead.
- Mix and beat until fluffy and smooth. If it seems a bit thick add drops of milk & beat until you get your desired consistency. ** Powdered sugar and butter can vary by brand. You may need to add additional powdered sugar to get it as thick & sweet as you wish. This will be a thick frosting that will harden on the edges after it sets out for a while.
- Spread the frosting on the cookies carefully. Add green sugar sprinkles too if desired.
Notes
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 24 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 89 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 4.1g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat 2.5g | 13% |
| Cholesterol 17mg | 6% |
| Sodium 105mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate 12.2g | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.2g | 1% |
| Total Sugars 6.3g | |
| Protein 1.1g | |
| Vitamin D 3mcg | 16% |
| Calcium 3mg | 0% |
| Iron 0mg | 2% |
| Potassium 12mg | 0% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 24 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 125 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 6g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat 3.7g | 19% |
| Cholesterol 22mg | 7% |
| Sodium 119mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate 17.2g | 6% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.2g | 1% |
| Total Sugars 11.2g | |
| Protein 1.1g | |
| Vitamin D 5mcg | 23% |
| Calcium 4mg | 0% |
| Iron 0mg | 2% |
| Potassium 13mg | 0% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Richella J Parham says
These are darling AND they look delicious! What a fun treat for St. Patrick's Day.
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I'm featuring you this week!
Angela says
Thanks so much!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Happy St. Patty's Day! Thanks for sharing at the What's for dinner party. I'm looking forward to what you'll bring tomorrow!
Leslie says
Just baked these & ate 3 already! Hopefully they keep until tomorrow when I bring them to school for my students. Thank you for a recipe that holds the cookie shape & tastes so good.
Angela says
You are welcome and Happy St. Patrick's Day!