Description
Festive st. patricks day sugar cookie bars deliver Irish-inspired sweetness with green sprinkle excitement. Buttery cookie base and creamy frosting create a celebratory treat perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional, for extra flavor)
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) heavy cream or milk (adjust for consistency)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- St. Patricks Day sprinkles (for decoration)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a rectangular baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring smooth edges for easy removal.
- Mixing Wet Ingredients: Cream butter and sugar until light and airy, then blend in egg, vanilla, and almond extracts to create a smooth liquid base.
- Combining Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together to eliminate lumps and ensure even distribution.
- Creating Cookie Dough: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, maintaining a tender texture and avoiding overmixing.
- Baking Process: Spread dough evenly in prepared pan and bake for 18-22 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges and a set center.
- Cooling: Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack to preserve optimal texture.
- Frosting Preparation: Whip butter until smooth, then gradually incorporate powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream, beating until light and fluffy.
- Decorating: Add green food coloring to frosting, spread evenly over cooled cookie bars using an offset spatula, and sprinkle with festive St. Patrick’s Day decorations.
- Serving: Slice into neat squares, creating uniform servings ready for celebration or personal enjoyment.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients to maintain a tender, soft cookie bar texture without developing tough gluten strands.
- Temperature Control: Allow butter and eggs to reach room temperature before mixing to ensure smooth, even incorporation and consistent baking results.
- Precise Baking Time: Watch closely during the 18-22 minute baking window, checking for golden-brown edges and a set center to avoid dry or undercooked bars.
- Cooling Technique: Let cookie bars cool completely on a wire rack to prevent moisture buildup and maintain the ideal crisp-yet-soft texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 265
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg