St. Patrick’s Day is all about celebrating Irish heritage, luck, and of course—delicious treats! Whether you’re hosting a festive gathering or just want to bake something fun with the family, these Easy St. Patrick’s Day Cookies are the perfect way to bring a little extra green to your day.
These cookies are soft, buttery, and packed with festive charm. With their bright green color and fun decorations, they’re guaranteed to be a hit with kids and adults alike. The best part? You don’t need to be an expert baker to make them! With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of these lucky treats in no time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super simple to make – No complicated steps or fancy techniques, just easy mixing and baking.
- Perfectly festive – Bright green cookies with fun decorations make them a great addition to any St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
- Great for kids – A fun baking project that little hands can help with! Let them mix the dough or add sprinkles for extra fun.
- Deliciously soft and sweet – These cookies have the perfect balance of buttery goodness and vanilla sweetness.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, for extra flavor)
- Green food coloring
- Green sprinkles or St. Patrick’s Day-themed decorations
How to Make Easy St. Patrick’s Day Cookies
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. This will prevent your cookies from sticking and make cleanup easier.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This ensures all the dry ingredients are evenly distributed and will help your cookies bake up perfectly.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This step is crucial for creating soft, tender cookies, so make sure to beat the mixture for about 2-3 minutes. Then, add in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Mix until well combined.
Step 2: Add the Color
Now comes the fun part—turning the dough that perfect shade of green! Start by adding a few drops of green food coloring and mixing well. If you want a more vibrant green, continue adding food coloring until you reach your desired shade.
Step 3: Form the Cookies
Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make your cookies tough instead of soft and chewy.
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out dough and roll it into balls. If you want a little extra festive flair, roll each dough ball in green sprinkles before placing them on the baking sheet.
Step 4: Bake and Cool
Place the cookies about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden. The centers may still look slightly soft, but they will firm up as they cool.
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Helpful Tips
- Don’t overmix the dough – Once the dry ingredients are added, mix just until everything is combined. Overmixing can make your cookies dense.
- Use gel food coloring – Gel food coloring gives a more vibrant green color without affecting the texture of the dough.
- Chill the dough if needed – If your dough feels too soft or sticky, pop it in the fridge for about 15 minutes before rolling. This makes it easier to work with.
- Customize your decorations – Add white chocolate chips, gold sprinkles, or even edible gold glitter for an extra festive touch!
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Notes
- Soft vs. Crispy Cookies – If you prefer softer cookies, bake them for 8 minutes and let them cool on the baking sheet. For slightly crispier edges, bake for 10 minutes.
- Make It Extra Festive – Drizzle melted white chocolate over the cookies or add gold sprinkles for a fun St. Patrick’s Day touch.
- No Cookie Scoop? No Problem! – Use a tablespoon to measure out the dough and roll it into balls by hand for even-sized cookies.
- Baking in Batches – If baking multiple trays, rotate them halfway through for even baking.
- Room Temperature Ingredients – Make sure your butter and egg are at room temperature before mixing. This helps create a smooth, even dough.
Storage Instructions
Room Temperature: Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days to keep them fresh and soft.
Freezer: If you want to make them ahead, freeze the baked cookies in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Just let them thaw at room temperature before serving.
Make-Ahead Tip: You can also freeze the cookie dough! Roll it into balls and place them on a baking sheet to freeze. Once solid, transfer to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, simply bake straight from frozen—just add an extra minute or two to the baking time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different color instead of green?
Absolutely! If you want to switch things up, you can use any color you like. But green is definitely the most festive choice for St. Patrick’s Day!
What if I don’t have almond extract?
No problem! You can leave it out or substitute it with extra vanilla extract for a classic flavor.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Simply use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour. The texture may vary slightly, but they’ll still be delicious.
Can I add chocolate chips?
Of course! White chocolate chips or even dark chocolate chips would be a tasty addition to these cookies.
Related Recipes
If you loved these St. Patrick’s Day Cookies, here are a few more festive treats you might enjoy:
Conclusion
These Easy St. Patrick’s Day Cookies are the perfect way to bring a little extra luck and sweetness to your celebration. With their soft texture, buttery flavor, and fun green color, they’ll be a hit at any gathering. Plus, they’re simple enough to make with kids, making them a great holiday baking project.
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Easy St. Patrick’s Day Cookies
Description
St. Patrick’s Day is all about celebrating Irish heritage, luck, and of course—delicious treats! Whether you’re hosting a festive gathering or just want to bake something fun with the family, these Easy St. Patrick’s Day Cookies are the perfect way to bring a little extra green to your day.
These cookies are soft, buttery, and packed with festive charm. With their bright green color and fun decorations, they’re guaranteed to be a hit with kids and adults alike. The best part? You don’t need to be an expert baker to make them! With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of these lucky treats in no time.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, for extra flavor)
- Green food coloring
- Green sprinkles or St. Patrick’s Day-themed decorations
Instructions
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. This will prevent your cookies from sticking and make cleanup easier.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This ensures all the dry ingredients are evenly distributed and will help your cookies bake up perfectly.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This step is crucial for creating soft, tender cookies, so make sure to beat the mixture for about 2-3 minutes. Then, add in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Mix until well combined.
Now comes the fun part—turning the dough that perfect shade of green! Start by adding a few drops of green food coloring and mixing well. If you want a more vibrant green, continue adding food coloring until you reach your desired shade.
Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make your cookies tough instead of soft and chewy.
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out dough and roll it into balls. If you want a little extra festive flair, roll each dough ball in green sprinkles before placing them on the baking sheet.
Place the cookies about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden. The centers may still look slightly soft, but they will firm up as they cool.
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Soft vs. Crispy Cookies – If you prefer softer cookies, bake them for 8 minutes and let them cool on the baking sheet. For slightly crispier edges, bake for 10 minutes.
- Make It Extra Festive – Drizzle melted white chocolate over the cookies or add gold sprinkles for a fun St. Patrick’s Day touch.
- No Cookie Scoop? No Problem! – Use a tablespoon to measure out the dough and roll it into balls by hand for even-sized cookies.
- Baking in Batches – If baking multiple trays, rotate them halfway through for even baking.
- Room Temperature Ingredients – Make sure your butter and egg are at room temperature before mixing. This helps create a smooth, even dough.