How to make shamrock cookies without a cookie cutter?

Don't worry if you don't have a cookie-cutter shaped like a shamrock. It's very easy to make them with just a stencil made from cardboard . All you need to do is to make the stencil in a shamrock shape. Then, using a sharp knife, trace around the edges of the cookie dough after you roll it out.

What does the shamrock represent in St. Patrick's Day?

Patrick used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity with each leaf representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit . The three leaves of a shamrock are also said to stand for faith, hope and love. A fourth leaf is where we get the luck from.

What is the legend of the three leaf clover?

But have you ever wondered about the origins of this beloved symbol of good fortune? Legend has it that Saint Patrick himself used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people he was trying to convert to Christianity .

What can I use if I don't have cookie cutters?

A standard drinking glass with about a 3-inch opening is a great stand-in for cookie cutters. Round cookies can be decorated in a variety of ways to add festive color to any cookie tray.

What do I do if I dont have a cookie cutter?

You can use the tip of a small, sharp knife (like a paring knife) to cut the dough into any shape you like . Use a stencil or cardboard cutout to help, if you like. You can roll the dough into a long strip and twist it into a “pretzel” shape, or a candy cane shape.

Should I freeze cookie dough before cutting?

To freeze before cutting cookies, Prepare cookie dough according to recipe. If chilling is called for, chill as indicated. Wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap and place in a Ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Can I freeze sugar cookies before I frost them?

Need a last minute birthday or thank-you gift? Defrost and decorate and/or stencil in the same day. Done! You can also freeze cookies that have not been iced and just defrost and ice as needed .

How to make cutout cookies without cookie cutters?

Use a small, sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut any shape of cookie you like after rolling out the dough . If needed, use an aid to help cut specific shapes: Create a stencil out of cardboard or parchment, wax, or plain paper for simple shapes like hearts, shamrocks, eggs, and flowers.

How to make leaf cookies without cookie cutter?

Roll out a standard sugar cookie dough on a lightly floured surface. Take the cleaned and dried fallen leaves and place them directly onto the rolled-out cookie dough. While lightly pressing down on the leaves, trace their shapes with a sharp paring knife, working around the individual parts of the leaf.

How to make ghost cookies without cookie cutter?

Cut out a tear drop shape with a tear drop cutter or with a small knife and place the cookies 2" apart on the cookie sheets. Pinch the tapered end of the tear drop and shape it to give it more of a "tail", like a little swoopy ghost shape.

How to make flower cookies without a cutter?

Take a sharp pairing knife and cut slits through the dough ball about 3/4 of the way to the middle, from the edge. If the dough sticks to your knife, chill it so it's easier to slice. Make 6 cuts per dough ball. With a clean finger tip, press down in the center of the dough ball to separate the petals from each other.

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (2024)

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by Haley//March 14, 2018 (updated March 8, 2022)

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Shamrock St Patrick’s Day cookies are cut-out sugar cookies in the shape of shamrocks. They are dipped in chocolate and garnished with green sprinkles!

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (1)

Who here likes a classic cut-out sugar cookie? I certainly do for the primary reason that it is adaptable to any holiday. For St. Patrick’s Day I used my shamrock cookie cutter and green sprinkles for a festive treat! I wanted to keep things nice and simple for these sugar cookies.

I used my go-to sugar cookie recipe, which requires no chilling the dough. No time in the fridge means the cookies are ready to eat sooner! I like this sugar cookie recipe because it calls for confectioners’ sugar. It makes an ultra smooth dough and a melt-in-your-mouth cookie. When Halloween comes around, I use this same recipe for my cut out pumpkin cookies!

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (2)

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (3)

Table of Contents

How to make shamrock cookies

Shamrock cookies are made with sugar cookie dough and green sprinkles. Sugar cookie dough ingredients include the following:

All purpose flour
Baking powder
Salt
Unsalted butter
Confectioners’ sugar
Eggs
Pure vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated.

Transfer the dough onto a floured work surface and roll the dough out until 1/4-inch thick. Use a shamrock cookie cutter to cut the dough. Bake on a parchment-lined cookie sheet at 400 F for 8 minutes.

Cookies are done when set. There should be no spreading with this recipe. The edges might be very light golden. Prepare the melted chocolate and sprinkles for decorating.

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (4)

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (5)

Where to buy shamrock cookie cutter

I found my shamrock cookie cutter at a local chef store, but they also pop up in larger stores near St. Patrick’s Day. Try Target or Williams Sonoma. Shamrock cookie cutters can also be found online. Amazon has the exact same model I own. You can find it here.

How to decorate shamrock cookies

You can decorate shamrock cookies with green sprinkles. I used nonpareils, but green sugar sprinkles and mini shamrock sprinkles work well too. Royal icing is another option, which is how I decorate my snowflake cookies.

How to store sugar cookies

Sugar cookies may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. Baked cookies make also be frozen for up to a month.

Sugar cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost dough in the refrigerator before bringing to room temperature, rolling and baking. For more tips on sugar cookies, check out my recipe for easy cut-out sugar cookies.

Desserts for St. Patrick’s Day

If you’re baking for St. Patrick’s Day, try these dessert recipes!

Lucky Charms Cookies (quick and easy)

Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey’s Frosting

Bailey’s Irish Cream Cookies

Bailey’s Chocolate Whoopie Pies

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (11)

If you’re looking for an easy dessert recipe for St. Patrick’s Day, this is it. Sometimes I skip the chocolate and just add green sprinkles to the cookies before baking. Get your apron and rolling pin out and start baking these shamrock sugar cookies!

Be sure to tag @ifyougiveablondeakitchen if you make these cookies so I can see your baking creation. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Get the Recipe: Shamrock St Patrick’s Day Cookies

Yield: 24 Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 7 minutes mins

Total Time: 17 minutes mins

Shamrock St Patrick’s Day cookies are cut-out sugar cookies in the shape of shamrocks. They are dipped in chocolate and garnished with green sprinkles!

5 (25 ratings)

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Ingredients

▢ 2 ½ cups (312 grams) all-purpose flour
▢ 2 teaspoons baking powder
▢ ½ teaspoon salt
▢ 1 cup (two sticks or 226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
▢ 1 ½ cup (165 grams) confectioners’ sugar
▢ 1 large egg
▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract , (or almond if preferred)
▢ 1 cup (170 g) semisweet chocolate chips
▢ 1 tablespoon shortening
▢ ¼ cup green sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together softened butter and confectioners’ sugar. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat until thoroughly incorporated. Scrape down sides as necessary.
With mixer on low, slowly add flour mixture to the bowl. The dough is ready when most of it sticks to the paddle. When touched it, it has a little give, but does not stick to fingers.
Flour the work surface and roll dough to about 1/4 inch thick, using flour for dusting as necessary. Use a shamrock cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Place cookies on prepared baking sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Gather up scraps and reroll dough. Repeat until no dough remains.
In a double boiler (or a makeshift one), melt chocolate with shortening (see tips for melting chocolate here). Dip half of the cookie in the chocolate and place on a wire rack set over a cookie sheet (to catch the drips and sprinkles). Immediately add the green sprinkles on the chocolate. Wait for chocolate to set and then enjoy!

Notes

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 203kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 78mg, Potassium: 96mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 250IU, Calcium: 25mg, Iron: 1mg

Author: Haley D Williams

Course: Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: American, Irish

Shamrock St Patrick's Day Cookies Recipe (13)

Cookies St. Patrick's Day

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