Description
These Shamrock Sugar Cookies are bursting with vanilla flavor, simple to prepare, and perfectly decorated for St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Enjoy them as a delightful treat for your celebrations, loved by both kids and adults alike!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 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
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- seeds scraped from 1/2 of a vanilla bean
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream, half-and-half, or whole milk, at room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- salt, to taste
- optional: gel food coloring for tinting
- optional: sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the vanilla bean seeds, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients at low speed until the dough forms, adjusting with flour if necessary to avoid stickiness.
- Separate the dough into two equal portions, roll each on flour-dusted parchment or a silicone mat to 1/4-inch thickness, then chill for 1-2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut cookies into desired shapes from the chilled dough.
- Arrange cookies on sheets and bake for 11-12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on a rack before decorating.
- For frosting, beat together butter and vanilla bean seeds, then add confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract, adjusting sweetness if necessary.
- Decorate cooled cookies with frosting using a piping bag or knife, adding sprinkles if desired.
Notes
For easier rolling, keep the dough chilled until ready to cut out shapes.
Store frosted cookies covered at room temperature for up to 1 day or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Use gel food coloring for vibrant shades in your frosting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg