Description
Leprechaun Bites are festive, colorful shortbread cookies perfect for celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. These buttery, crumbly treats are infused with green food coloring and topped with vibrant nonpareil sprinkles in holiday colors, creating a fun and delicious snack that’s sure to delight all ages.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (plus more for buttering the pan)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 to 6 drops green gel food coloring
- 4 teaspoons Saint Patrick’s Day color nonpareil sprinkles (green, yellow, and orange)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Butter an 8-inch pan and line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and almond or vanilla extract together until the mixture is creamy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until it becomes crumbly.
- Incorporate Food Coloring: Add 4 to 6 drops of green gel food coloring and mix until a smooth dough forms with uniform color.
- Add Sprinkles: Gently stir in the Saint Patrick’s Day nonpareil sprinkles to distribute them evenly throughout the dough.
- Form Dough in Pan: Press the dough evenly into the prepared 8-inch pan. Then transfer the pressed dough onto a cutting board for easier cutting.
- Cut into Squares: Cut the dough into ½-inch square pieces, arranging them on an ungreased baking sheet with a little space between each piece.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 13-15 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies turn golden brown.
Notes
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for easy creaming with sugar.
- Using gel food coloring gives vibrant green color without altering dough consistency.
- Cut cookies to uniform size for even baking.
- Watch baking time carefully to avoid overbrowning.
- Allow cookies to cool completely for best texture before serving.
