Shamrock Sugar Cookies

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Shamrock Sugar Cookies are perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any Irish Day occasion! Decorate these yummy cookies with Royal Icing in the natural Pearl White or colored with green food coloring. Finish with white or green pearl candy, sprinkles, mint covered almonds or any creative ideal fitting the Irish theme. I like to make and decorate the cookies over a three-day time period. Read on for my tips! We provide answers to questions we receive on making sugar cookies. Let us know if there are other questions we can address.

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Many decorated shamrock cookies on a plate

Q & A’s on Making Shamrock Sugar Cookies

Below are a few questions we receive on making Shamrock Sugar Cookies. Let us know if you have any other questions we can address.

What type of icing should we use for the cookies?

Your best option is an edible icing that hardens. We use Royal Icing which is perfect for these cookies. The Royal Icing provides enough time to decorate the cookies which then hardens for a beautiful finish!

Can sugar cookies be frozen?

Absolutely! The time to make, bake, and decorate cookies can be time consuming. I manage these activities by first baking the cookies and freezing until the big day. Place cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze, and place cookies in a freezer zip lock bag separated by wax paper. Take them out of the freezer to thaw for an hour or overnight.

Should I chill the dough?

Yes, chilling the dough makes rolling the dough and cutting out the Shamrock Sugar Cookies so much easier. I make my dough the prior day letting it chill in the refrigerator. If you do not have time, then refrigerate the dough for an hour or place in the freezer. Divide the dough into small sections to speed up the chilling process.

Can I bake and decorate the cookies on different days?

Yes you can! Often, I make my Shamrock Sugar Cookies over a 3-day time period. I make the dough Friday night placing in the refrigerator. Saturday’s focus is cutting out the cookies and baking them. Then on Sunday my focus is on the creative part of decorating the cookies! My preference is to focus on the cookie dough and clean up separately from baking and decorating them.

When to decorate sugar cookies?

Wait until the Shamrock Sugar Cookies are cool to decorate with Royal Icing. While the icing is still wet, add any sprinkles or other edible decorations. Let the Royal Icing harden at room temperature before storing in an airtight container.

St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Sugar Cookies

When it is time to decorate your cookies, assemble your decorative items before making the Royal Icing. Divide the icing into small bowls adding green food coloring to one of the bowls. I like to complete one cookie at a time with first adding the icing and then decorate. This helps ensure there is variety among the finished cookies. Store the finished cookies in an air-tight container in a cool area.

Shamrock cookies on a plate with gold coins

Shamrock Sugar Cookies

Pin Recipe
Shamrock Sugar Cookies are perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any Irish Day occasion! Decorate these yummy cookies with Royal Icing in the natural pearl white or colored with green food coloring. Finish with white or green pearl candy, sprinkles, mint covered almonds or any creative ideal fitting the Irish theme.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert, Holiday, St. Patrick’s Day
Cuisine: Irish
Keyword: Shamrock Sugar Cookies
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 37 minutes
Servings: 40 Cookies
Cookies
Calories: 113kcal
Author: Bernice

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl and mixer (ie., stand up mixer or hand mixer)
  • Flour sifter
  • Medium bowl
  • Cookie sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Cookie cooling rack
  • Cookie cutters
  • Board to rollout cookie dough
  • Rolling Pin

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 cups Bread Flour sifted
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup Margarine softened
  • 1 cup White Sugar
  • ½ cup Dark Brown Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 tsp Vanilla

Instructions

Making the Shamrock Cookie Dough

  • In a medium size bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Using a stand up mixer cream together the margarine white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Beat in the eggs one at a time, and then stir in the vanilla.
  • Gradually blend in the sifted ingredients.
  • Cover dough, and chill for a couple of hours or overnight.

Making the Shamrock Cutout Cookies

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line baking pans with parchment paper.
  • On a clean floured surface roll out small portions of the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
  • Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.
  • Bake 5 to 7 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are barely brown.
  • Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks
  • Decorate with Royal Icing and holiday sprinkles if so desired. They also store nicely without any icing until you need them.

Recipe Notes

Calories does not include the Royal Icing and decorations. Cookie size and thickness can change the calories.
Nutrition Facts
Shamrock Sugar Cookies
Amount Per Serving (40 cookies)
Calories 113 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 86mg4%
Potassium 32mg1%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 0g0%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 215IU4%
Calcium 12mg1%
Iron 0.2mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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