Description
Leprechaun Bites are festive, colorful bite-sized cookies perfect for celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. These buttery, tender treats are mixed with green gel food coloring and vibrant nonpareil sprinkles, then baked to a delicate golden crisp. Easy to prepare, they are great for sharing at parties or as a sweet seasonal snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Dough
- ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (plus more to butter the pan)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients
- 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. Butter an 8-inch pan thoroughly and line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and to allow for easy removal of the dough.
- Cream butter mixture: In a large mixing bowl, beat the room temperature butter, granulated sugar, and almond or vanilla extract together for 1 to 2 minutes until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add dry ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until the dough has a crumbly consistency and begins to come together.
- Add food coloring: Stir in 4 to 6 drops of green gel food coloring evenly into the dough until you achieve a consistent green color throughout.
- Mix sprinkles: Fold in the Saint Patrick’s Day colored nonpareil sprinkles, distributing them evenly within the dough for colorful bursts in every bite.
- Press and shape dough: Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan, ensuring it is packed firmly and level. Transfer the pan to a cutting board for easy handling.
- Cut dough into squares: Using a sharp knife, cut the pressed dough into ½-inch square pieces while still in the pan or after removal, then place the individual squares on an ungreased baking sheet, spaced slightly apart.
- Bake: Bake the squares in the preheated oven for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the bottoms begin to brown lightly, indicating they are done and ready to be cooled and enjoyed.
Notes
- Butter should be at room temperature to ensure easy creaming and smooth dough.
- If you don’t have green gel food coloring, use green liquid food coloring but note it might slightly affect dough consistency.
- Press the dough firmly into the pan to ensure the pieces hold their shape after baking.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before serving to ensure they firm up nicely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week to maintain freshness.
