Description
Leprechaun Bites are festive, easy-to-make St. Patrick’s Day treats featuring buttery, tender shortbread-like squares tinted green and decorated with colorful nonpareil sprinkles for a fun holiday twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons Saint Patrick’s Day color nonpareil sprinkles (green, yellow, and orange)
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (plus more to butter the pan)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
- 4 to 6 drops green gel food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Butter an 8-inch pan and line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease removal.
- Cream Butter Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, beat the room temperature unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and almond or vanilla extract together until creamy and smooth, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt, mixing on low speed just until the mixture becomes crumbly and combined.
- Add Food Coloring: Incorporate 4 to 6 drops of green gel food coloring and mix until the dough forms a cohesive green ball, evenly colored throughout.
- Mix in Sprinkles: Stir the Saint Patrick’s Day colored nonpareil sprinkles into the dough until they are evenly distributed, adding a festive appearance.
- Form Dough in Pan: Press the dough evenly into the prepared 8-inch pan, creating a flat, compact layer.
- Cut the Dough: Transfer the pan to a cutting board, then cut the dough into approximately ½-inch square pieces directly in the pan.
- Transfer and Bake: Carefully place the cut squares onto an ungreased baking sheet to ensure even bottoms. Bake in the preheated oven for 13-15 minutes, or until the bottoms begin to turn golden brown, indicating doneness.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant green without affecting dough consistency.
- Butter should be at room temperature to cream properly with sugar.
- Do not overmix once flour is added to prevent tough cookies.
- Nonpareil sprinkles add a festive touch, but can be substituted or omitted.
- Bake until bottoms brown lightly to achieve perfect crispness.
- Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.
