Shamrock Shortbread Cookies are classic shortbread cookies cut into shamrock shapes and glazed with green icing. Use a Ziplock bag to roll out dough for easy clean-up.
Do you celebrate holidays at your office with food?
Somebody at my work decided we should all bring green food for a potluck in March. I threatened to bring a green salad. Then I remembered my favorite shortbread cookies.
What do I need to make these cookies?
You will need only a
The best thing about these cookies?
NO DECORATING!
Wait! There’s more…
If you haven’t tried these cookies in any of the various forms I’ve already blogged about (Pink Shortbread Cookies and Iced Shortbread Cookies for My Valentine), you may not realize how easy they are to make. Luckily, rolling out the dough doesn’t have to a sticky mess.
That’s where this secret I learned from Dorie Greenspan comes into play.
How to roll out shortbread cookies using a zippered plastic bag
Open the bag on 3 sides and let your cookie-cutter go wild. Because the dough has been thoroughly chilled, the cut-out cookies are easy to pick up with your hands or peel off the plastic before transferring to a cookie sheet, ready to bake.
Here’s the best part…
Clean-up is as simple as throwing the bag away. No flour to sweep up. No sticky dough to scrape from your counter or cutting board.
Dorie’s technique is adaptable to almost any roll-out-the-dough-and-cut-into-a shape recipe. Give it a try!
WARNING:
More recipes for the cookie monster in your tribe
Pink Shortbread Cookies
A simple but delicious shortbread cookie with a smooth butter icing. Kids and adults alike love these.
Meyer Lemon Yogurt Squares
Lemon Bars with a coconut shortbread base and a creamy lemon layer over the top. Recipe calls for
using the entire lemon (minus seeds)--no grating or squeezing required.
Iced Shortbread Cookies for My Valentine
A simple but delicious shortbread cookie with a smooth butter icing. Kids and adults alike love these.
Lemon Snowdrops
A lemon-flavored shortbread-type cookie studded with finely chopped pecans and dressed liberally with powdered sugar
Ruth's Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate Toffee Bits
Ruth's Shortbread Cookies with Milk Chocolate Toffee Bits are simple shortbread cookies with dipped in chocolate and decorated with more toffee bits.
Homemade Graham Crackers
They are more trouble than opening a package from the store but the taste of these homemade graham crackers is over the top fresh and downright wonderful. Made with whole wheat, honey, and brown sugar.
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Paula
Shamrock Shortbread Cookies
Shamrock Shortbread Cookies are classic shortbread cookies cut into shamrock shapes and glazed with green icing. Use a Ziploc bag to roll out dough for easy clean-up.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups flour, all-purpose
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract (optional)
- 2 + drops green food coloring
Instructions
- Combine butter and sugar into a large bowl. Beat on medium-high speed until fluffy. Add vanilla and beat until combined.
- Combine flour and baking powder separately. Add slowly to butter using low speed. Stop beating as soon as the flour mixture is incorporated. Over-beating will result in toughness.
- Form the dough into a slightly-flattened ball. Place into a zippered plastic bag. Chill about 30 minutes. With bag cracked open slightly to allow air to escape, roll dough until evenly distributed throughout bag. Place back into refrigerator until firm--at least another 30 minutes or up to 2 days. Can be frozen at this point.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Remove cookie dough from fridge and carefully cut two sides of bag with kitchen shears or scissors, leaving one side intact. Lay top layer of plastic back and use cookie cutter to make cookies. Because the dough is cold and firm, they should peel off the plastic easily. Place onto prepared cookie sheet. Re-roll scraps after replacing plastic over top of new ball and refrigerate a few minutes until firm again. Repeat as needed until all dough is used.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until light brown around the edges. Time will vary greatly depending on the size and shape of cookies. Check early and often. Cool 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack and wait until cold before icing.
Icing:
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and extract. If too thick, add more milk a few drops at a time. If too thin, add more powdered sugar or let sit for awhile. Tint with food coloring. Ice cookies and allow to rest until dry. I prefer to turn cookies upside down and dip into icing just enough to cover surface. Goes faster, although a little messy, until you get the hang of it. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week or tightly wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap for 1 month in the freezer.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 2 cookiesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 105Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 15mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 8gProtein: 1g
Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen by Rebecca Rather Technique inspired by Dorie Greenspan.
The post “Shamrock Shortbread Cookies” was originally published in 2011. Updated and republished in March 2019.
Rochelle
Thursday 22nd of November 2012
Do you think these would work with peppermint extract in Christmas Shapes?
Rochelle
Friday 16th of March 2012
Can't wait to try these. I have sooo many ideas. Pink hearts as you mentioned for Valentines Day, lots of pastel eggs for easter. Red maple leaves for Canada Day, (or for my American friends red, white, and blue stars for July 4th) red orange yellow and brown leaves for back to school or Autumn. Brown turkeys and those previously mentioned leaves for Thanksgiving. How about white ghosts, yellow moons, black bats and orange pumpkins for Halloween. It's endless.
Paula
Sunday 18th of March 2012
Love your ideas!
Gina
Friday 18th of March 2011
Update: I took a plate of the cookies to work in the ED tonight and everybody LOVED them! Definite success. :-)
Gina
Thursday 17th of March 2011
I've been wanting to try this cookie recipe and I finally got around to it today. They were easy and tasty! Thanks for all the great recipes and pictures!
mike
Tuesday 15th of March 2011
What gorgeous cookies AND opening photo! Is that pie/tart pan? Stunning.... and who wouldn't like this site? I think your co-workers are nuts... :) Beautifully-glazed cookies - they're perfection. I made sandwich cookies. Huge ones... not nearly as nice though!