Festive St Patrick cookies! Get ready to bake up some luck with these delightfully green and gold treats. St Patrick’s Day has always been a special time in my family, filled with traditions both old and new. I’ve always loved baking, and turning that passion toward holiday celebrations is extra special. Our festive St Patrick cookies are a fun way to spread the holiday cheer, and they’re absolutely delicious! Whether you’re Irish or simply Irish at heart, these decorated holiday cookies are the perfect addition to your St Patrick’s Day festivities.
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Why You Will Love This festive St Patrick cookies Recipe
These aren’t just any decorated holiday cookies; they’re a delightful bite of St Patrick’s Day joy! What makes this recipe so special? The cookies are soft, chewy, and bursting with a subtle hint of almond extract that perfectly complements the green and gold decorations. They are easy to make, and the decorating part is a wonderful activity to include the kids!
These cookies are practically foolproof, even for beginner bakers. The recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, making it a no stress baking experience. Plus, who can resist anything green and gold? They are pure festive fun in a cookie form. Imagine sharing a plate of these festive St Patrick cookies while enjoying some Festive Green Pasta for dinner!
Ingredients Needed for This festive St Patrick cookies Recipe
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Green food coloring
For the Frosting:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gold sprinkles or edible gold dust
How to Make This festive St Patrick cookies Recipe
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This is important for a smooth dough!
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the almond extract and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
- Divide the dough into two equal parts. Add green food coloring to one portion and mix until evenly colored.
- Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Use shamrock shaped cookie cutters to cut out the cookies. Reroll scraps as needed.
- Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each cookie.
- Bake for 810 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cookies are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until smooth.
- Gradually add the milk and vanilla extract, mixing until the frosting reaches your desired consistency. Add more milk if needed.
- Once the cookies are completely cooled, frost them with the prepared frosting and decorate with gold sprinkles or edible gold dust. For alternative festive ideas, you could pair them with Festive Green Tarts for a dessert spread.
How to Serve This festive St Patrick cookies Recipe
Serve these festive St Patrick cookies on a platter for a vibrant and delicious display! They’re perfect as a standalone treat, paired with a cup of coffee or tea, or as part of a St Patrick’s Day dessert buffet. Consider arranging them with other green and gold themed goodies.
For plating, try stacking them artfully or arranging them in a shamrock shape on a serving tray. Adding a sprinkle of extra gold dust can elevate the presentation. You can also wrap them individually as party favors.
How to Store This festive St Patrick cookies Recipe
Refrigeration: Store frosted festive St Patrick cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This will help to keep the frosting fresh.
Freezing: You can freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 2 months. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer safe bag or container. Thaw completely before frosting.
Reheating: These cookies are best served at room temperature, so no reheating is needed. If they’ve been refrigerated, allow them to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.
Shelf life: Frosted cookies will last for about 2 days at room temperature, but they are best stored in the refrigerator to maintain their freshness.
Tips to Make This festive St Patrick cookies Recipe
- Ingredient Swaps: If you don’t have almond extract, you can substitute it with an equal amount of vanilla extract or lemon extract. Adjust the extracts to your personal preferences; extracts will largely determine the final cookie flavor.
- Success Tips: Make sure your butter is softened but not melted for the creaming process. This will ensure a light and fluffy dough.
- Common Mistakes to Avoid: Overmixing the dough can result in tough cookies. Mix until just combined.
- Pro Tips for Best Results: Use gel food coloring for a more vibrant green color without adding too much liquid to the dough.
Helpful Notes for This festive St Patrick cookies Recipe
For the almond extract, I use a high quality pure extract for the best flavor. You can also use a shamrock shaped cookie cutter, but any shape will work. Edible gold dust can be found at most baking supply stores or online. If you are planning a St Patrick’s Day feast, you might consider adding some Festive Green Desserts alongside these cookies.
Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature unless otherwise stated. This ensures ingredients mix together properly.
Variation of This festive St Patrick cookies Recipe
Seasonal Twists: For Christmas, use red and green food coloring and different shaped cookie cutters. For Easter, pastel colors and egg shaped cutters work beautifully.
Optional Versions: You can add chocolate chips or chopped nuts to the dough for added flavor and texture.
Creative Modifications: Try using different types of frosting, such as cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting. You can also add a layer of jam or jelly between two cookies for a sandwich cookie variation.
What makes these St Patrick cookies festive?
These St Patrick cookies are festive due to their green and gold decorations, often incorporating shamrocks, leprechauns, and other Irish-themed designs. The use of vibrant colors and creative shapes helps to celebrate the holiday spirit.
How do I keep my St Patrick cookies from spreading while baking?
To prevent your cookies from spreading, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. Also, make sure your oven is at the correct temperature and avoid over-greasing your baking sheet.
What’s the best way to decorate St Patrick cookies?
Royal icing is a popular choice for decorating St Patrick cookies because it dries hard and allows for intricate designs. You can also use fondant, sprinkles, and edible markers to add details and personal touches.
Can I freeze St Patrick cookie dough?
Yes, you can freeze St Patrick cookie dough. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and then in a freezer bag. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before rolling out and baking.
Conclusion
These festive St Patrick cookies are the perfect way to celebrate the holiday with a touch of sweetness and a whole lot of fun. From their vibrant green color to their delightful almond flavor, they’re sure to be a hit with everyone. So grab your cookie cutters, gather your ingredients, and get ready to bake up some St Patrick’s Day magic! Don’t forget to share your creations, and happy baking!
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Festive St Patrick Cookies: The EASIEST Decorated Holiday Cookies EVER
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Description
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with these festive green and gold cookies! Soft, chewy, and almond flavored, they’re easy to make and fun to decorate.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Green food coloring
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gold sprinkles or edible gold dust
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the almond extract and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Divide the dough into two equal parts. Add green food coloring to one portion and mix until evenly colored.
- Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Use shamrock shaped cookie cutters to cut out the cookies. Reroll scraps as needed.
- Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each cookie.
- Bake for 810 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cookies are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until smooth.
- Gradually add the milk and vanilla extract, mixing until the frosting reaches your desired consistency. Add more milk if needed.
- Once the cookies are completely cooled, frost them with the prepared frosting and decorate with gold sprinkles or edible gold dust.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: st patricks day, cookies, festive, green, gold, holiday, decorated cookies