St. Patricks Shamrock Cookies (Printable)

Buttery shamrock-shaped cookies with vibrant green icing, perfect for a festive celebration.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Sugar Cookie Dough

01 - 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
04 - 0.75 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 0.5 teaspoon almond extract

→ Green Royal Icing

09 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 2 tablespoons meringue powder
11 - 3 tablespoons water, room temperature
12 - 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Green gel food coloring

# How To Make:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
03 - Beat in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together.
05 - Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 0.25 inch thickness.
08 - Cut out shamrock shapes using a cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
09 - Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges are just beginning to golden. Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Combine powdered sugar and meringue powder in a bowl. Add water and vanilla, then beat with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth and glossy, 5 to 7 minutes.
11 - Add green gel food coloring and mix until desired shade is achieved.
12 - Transfer icing to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Outline and flood the cooled cookies. Allow icing to set for at least 1 hour before serving.

# Top Suggestions:

01 -
  • Classic buttery sugar cookies with a festive shamrock shape perfect for St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
  • Vibrant green royal icing adds both color and a smooth, glossy finish.
  • Medium difficulty level makes it an enjoyable baking project for home cooks.
  • Includes options like almond extract for subtle flavor variation.
  • Makes 24 cookies—perfect for sharing or gifting.
02 -
  • Use room temperature ingredients for easier mixing and better texture.
  • Chill dough discs tightly wrapped to prevent drying out.
  • Pipe royal icing outlines first and let them crust before flooding the centers to prevent colors from blending.
  • Keep royal icing covered with a damp cloth while working to prevent it from drying prematurely.
  • Store finished cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
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