Description
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these delightful and festive cookies that are soft, chewy, and packed with colorful sprinkles. Perfect for parties or a cozy treat, these classic sugar cookies get a fun twist with optional green food coloring and rainbow sprinkles to bring a cheerful holiday vibe to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon milk (or more if needed)
- 1/2 teaspoon green food coloring (optional, for festive color)
Topping
- 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles (or green sprinkles for a more St. Patrick’s Day vibe)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Make the Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. This aeration helps create a tender cookie. Then add the egg and vanilla extract and beat again until fully incorporated.
- Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough forms. If you want festive green cookies, add the green food coloring now and mix it evenly. If the dough feels too stiff, add a tablespoon of milk or more, little by little, until the dough is pliable.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Gently flatten each ball with the back of a spoon or your hand to create a rounded cookie shape.
- Add Sprinkles: Generously sprinkle the tops of each cookie with rainbow or green sprinkles to add a festive and colorful finish.
- Bake: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set but still soft. Watch carefully to avoid overbaking, which can make the cookies hard instead of chewy.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to set. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve: Serve these Perfect St. Patrick’s Day Cookies at your celebration or enjoy them alongside a cup of tea or coffee. They are sure to bring festive cheer and delight all who taste them!
Notes
- For softer cookies, do not overbake; pull them out as soon as edges turn golden.
- If dough is too sticky, chill it for 15-20 minutes before rolling.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Substitute green food coloring with natural alternatives like spinach powder if preferred.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
