St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday that has many iconic features, such as its shamrocks, leprechauns, and green and gold color scheme. One of the best and most simple ways to incorporate these items into your St. Patrick’s Day celebration is through baking sugar cookies that you can make and decorate with friends and family, and down below is a great recipe to do just that! 

Ingredients: 

• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon orange peel, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 4 teaspoons milk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

And for the Frosting: 

• 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons meringue powder
• 3 tablespoons milk
• Green food coloring, optional
• Yellow food coloring, optional
• White food coloring, optional
• Edible pearls, optional, for decoration
• Sprinkles, optional

Instructions: 

• Add the softened butter, sugar, orange peel, and vanilla extract to the bowl of a stand mixer.  You can also use a regular medium-sized bowl and a hand mixer. Blend until the ingredients are creamed together.
• Add the egg and beat until light and fluffy.
• Add the milk to the mixture and blend again. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Sift together the dry ingredients and gradually add them to the creamed mixture. After the dough is combined, divide it in half, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour. 
• Preheat the oven to 375 F.
• Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll out to about 1/8-inch thick.  
• Cut out the dough using a cookie cutter of your choice. Add the cookies to a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet. 
• Bake for about 6 to 8 minutes or until set. Keep a careful eye on them while baking so they do not get over-baked. 
• Roll out dough scraps into another sheet and repeat cutting out the shapes. 
• Allow the cookies to cool slightly on the cookie sheets and then transfer them to a cooling rack to finish cooling. 
• While the cookies are cooling, prepare the royal icing. Beat together the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and milk until completely combined. Separate the icing into separate bowls. 
• If so desired, in one bowl, add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar. This will be a bit thicker and great for edging your cookies. Place the icing in a piping bag with a small hole attachment. 
• In the separate bowls, add the food coloring of your choice and mix until completely combined. Place the icing in a piping bag with a larger hole opening attachment. 
• After decorating, allow the cookies to completely dry — it should take 1 to 2 hours. Use the leftover icing to add designs to the tops of the cookies and to attach edible pearls and sprinkles to the cookies.

I really hope you enjoy this recipe and have a fantastic St. Patrick’s Day!