Description
These buttery and festive Leprechaun Bites are the perfect St. Patrick’s Day treat! Tiny, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies with a hint of almond or vanilla, a touch of green, and plenty of colorful sprinkles make them irresistible. Great for parties, gifting, or a lucky snack!
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (plus extra for greasing the pan)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 to 6 drops green gel food coloring
- 4 teaspoons St. Patrick’s Day-themed nonpareil sprinkles (green, yellow, and orange)
Instructions
- Preheat & Prepare: Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter an 8-inch pan, then line it with parchment paper, pressing the sides and corners to help it stick.
- Cream the Butter & Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar, and extract at medium speed until creamy (about 1-2 minutes).
- Form the Dough: Add flour and salt, then mix on low speed until crumbly. Add food coloring and continue mixing until the dough comes together. Stir in the sprinkles until evenly distributed.
- Shape & Slice: Transfer dough to the prepared pan, pressing it evenly into the bottom. Lift the dough out using parchment paper and place it on a cutting board. Use a pizza cutter or knife to slice into ½-inch squares.
- Bake to Perfection: Arrange squares ½-inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the bottoms just start to brown.
- Cool & Store: Let the cookies cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container or freeze for later.
Notes
- For extra flavor, swap almond extract for vanilla or even a drop of mint extract.
- Keep dough chilled for 15 minutes before cutting for cleaner edges.
- These cookies can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 13-15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish, American