Sparkly St Patricks Day Cookies (Print Version)

Soft green sugar sandwich cookies filled with creamy vanilla frosting and coated in sparkling sugar.

# What You'll Need:

→ Green Sugar Cookies

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
09 - Green gel food coloring
10 - 1/2 cup green sparkling sugar or sanding sugar

→ Vanilla Frosting

11 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
14 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
15 - Pinch of salt

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Beat in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined.
05 - Add green gel food coloring and blend until desired shade of green is achieved.
06 - Gradually mix in dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
07 - Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Coat each ball in green sparkling sugar.
08 - Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Gently flatten each ball with your palm.
09 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft. Cool completely on a wire rack.
10 - In a medium bowl, beat softened butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
11 - Spread or pipe a generous layer of frosting onto the flat side of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies to form sandwiches. Roll sides in additional sparkling sugar if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • They look absolutely showstopping on a plate without requiring any fancy decorating skills.
  • The frosting stays creamy and soft, so you actually enjoy eating them instead of fighting through a rock-hard cookie.
  • You can make the dough ahead and bake fresh cookies whenever the craving hits.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the cookies completely before filling them—warm cookies will melt the frosting and create a soggy mess.
  • Gel food coloring makes all the difference between a muddy olive green and a bright, cheerful emerald shade that actually looks festive.
03 -
  • Roll your dough balls in sparkling sugar while they're still slightly warm from your hands—it sticks better and looks more luminous on the finished cookie.
  • If your frosting is too stiff to spread, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes instead of adding more liquid, which can make it grainy.
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