If you love festive desserts that feel fun, nostalgic, and just a little extra, these shamrock sugar cookie bars are about to become your go-to St. Patrick’s Day treat. They’re soft, chewy, lightly minty, and topped with a fluffy cream cheese frosting that melts right into the cookie layer. Finished with green sanding sugar and a bright maraschino cherry, they’re playful, cheerful, and impossible not to smile at.
These bars are perfect when you want all the flavor of a classic sugar cookie without the fuss of rolling and cutting. One pan, simple ingredients, and a whole lot of charm. Whether you’re baking for a classroom party, a family gathering, or just to add a little green to your dessert table, these cookie bars are always a hit.
Tips for Perfect Results
A few simple tips will help your cookie bars turn out soft, colorful, and perfectly frosted.
- Cream the butter and sugars well. This gives the bars that soft, chewy texture instead of a dense crumb.
- Don’t overbake. Fourteen minutes is just right—the center should look set but still soft. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool.
- Use gel food coloring. Gel gives you a vibrant green without thinning the dough.
- Press the dough evenly. Taking a minute to spread it evenly ensures every bar bakes the same.
- Cool completely before frosting. Warm bars will melt the frosting and make it slide.
- Pat the cherries dry. This keeps the frosting looking clean and helps the cherries stay in place.
Before You Begin – Here’s What You’ll Need :
Variations and Serving Ideas
These shamrock cookie bars are easy to dress up or simplify.
- No mint version: Skip the mint extract and stick with vanilla for a classic sugar cookie flavor.
- Extra festive: Pipe the frosting and sprinkle with shamrock-shaped sprinkles.
- Mini bars: Cut into smaller squares for party platters or classroom treats.
- Cookie shapes: Use a shamrock cookie cutter to cut shapes after baking for an extra themed look.
- Dessert tray: Pair with brownies or mint truffles for a fun St. Patrick’s Day spread.
They look especially cute stacked on a green plate or arranged in neat rows for serving.
Print
Shamrock Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookie bars 1x
Description
These soft mint Shamrock Shake Sugar Cookie Bars are a fun and easy treat for St. Patrick’s Day. White frosting, green sugar, and a cherry make them look like the popular McDonald’s shamrock shake.
Ingredients
For the Cookie Bars
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon mint extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 6 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- green sanding sugar
- 1 – 10 ounce jar maraschino cherries with stems
- ½ teaspoon mint extract
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- green gel color
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9×13 pan with foil and spray it with nonstick baking spray.
- Beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the egg and extracts and beat again.
- Add the baking powder, salt, and half the flour and mix until a soft dough forms. Add the rest of the flour and beat until mixed in. If you are using a hand mixer, you may need to use the back of a spoon or your hands to knead the dough until stiff.
- Use a butter knife to add the green gel color to the desired shade. Again if using a hand mixer, it will take time to mix the color in. Using a spoon or stand mixer does work better.
- Press the dough firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 14 minutes. Remove and cool completely.
- Beat the butter, extracts, and salt until creamy. Add the powdered sugar and heavy cream alternately until everything is mixed in. Beat on high for 1-2 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Spread the frosting on top of the cooled cookie bars. Lift the foil out of the pan and cut the bars into 24 squares. Top with green sanding sugar and a cherry that has been patted dry.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is soft when you start to beat the sugar.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients. The dough will be stiff.
- If you are using a hand mixer, you will need to mix it for a lot longer until the dough comes together.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
These bars are just as convenient as they are cute.
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator: Because of the frosting, they’ll keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: Bake the bars a day ahead and frost the day of serving for the freshest look.
- Freezing: Freeze unfrosted bars for up to 2 months. Thaw, frost, and decorate before serving.
Final Encouragement
Shamrock sugar cookie bars are the kind of dessert that instantly sets the mood. They’re colorful, soft, and full of playful charm—perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day or just adding a little fun to your week. With their chewy base and creamy frosting, they strike that perfect balance between nostalgic and indulgent.
If you’re looking for a festive dessert that’s easy to make and guaranteed to make people smile, these bars are absolutely worth saving. A little green, a little sweet, and a whole lot of happy ☘️💚🍪
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