About
Oh ho! Top o' the morning to ye! Leprechaun Shortbread is here awaiting you at the end of the rainbow. For our money, it's a true pot of gold! These emerald, crumbly, buttery sweets are St. Patrick's Day in little colorful squares! Crispy and scrumptious, Leprechaun Shortbread is something even mythical creatures can enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- green food coloring, gel or liquid, to taste
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 9 teaspoons multi-colored sprinkles, divided
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Step 2 -Line a 9-inch square baking pan with foil, leaving a 1-inch overhang on two sides.
Step 3 -Coat the foil and sides of the pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 4 -In a large bowl, add the butter, the sugar, the almond extract, and the vanilla extract and stir until creamy and well-combined.
Step 5 -Add the green food coloring to the butter mixture, one drop at a time, and beat until the desired color is reached and it is well-mixed.
Step 6 -Add the flour and the salt to the butter mixture and stir with a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon until all of the flour is incorporated. The mixture should be crumbly.
Step 7 -Add 7-8 teaspoons of the sprinkles, reserving the remainder for the top, and stir to combine.
Step 8 -Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and pat it out into an even layer.
Step 9 -Sprinkle the remaining sprinkles evenly over the top, pressing them down gently.
Step 10 -Refrigerate the dough for 10 minutes.
Step 11 -Use the foil to lift the dough from the pan onto a cutting surface.
Step 12 -Cut the dough into 1-inch squares.
Step 13 -Place the squares 1 inch apart on two cookie sheets.
Step 14 -Refrigerate the cookie sheets for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
Step 15 -Bake until the bottoms have just begun to brown, about 13-15 minutes.
Step 16 -Transfer the shortbread squares to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely.
Step 17 -Serve.
