Look, St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t have to be all green beer and corned beef. Sometimes you just want to celebrate with something sweet, festive, and preferably covered in sprinkles. That’s where these St. Patrick’s Day cookies come in.
I’m talking about cookies that are so cute, so delicious, and so fun to make that you’ll want to bake them even if you’re not Irish. From classic sugar cookies decorated to perfection to creative flavor combos that’ll blow your mind, this list has everything you need to bring serious cookie magic to your March 17th celebrations.
Whether you’re baking for a classroom party, hosting friends, or just want an excuse to eat cookies in the name of cultural appreciation, these 21 recipes will make you look like a baking rockstar. And the best part? Most of them are way easier than they look. Let’s get baking.
1. Classic Shamrock Sugar Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: These are the gold standard of St. Patrick’s Day cookies—buttery, perfectly sweet, and just begging to be decorated with green icing.
Ingredients
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1½ cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- Green icing and sprinkles for decorating
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl.
- Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
- Roll out the dough and cut into shamrock shapes.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool completely before decorating with green icing and sprinkles.
Why You’ll Love It
These are the cookies everyone pictures when you say “St. Patrick’s Day.” They’re buttery, slightly crisp on the edges, and soft in the middle. Plus, decorating them is half the fun—even if your shamrocks end up looking more like blobs. No judgment here.
2. Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Mint and chocolate is already a winning combo, but add some green chips and you’ve got a festive cookie that tastes like heaven.
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup softened butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 2 cups green chocolate chips
- Green food coloring (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Beat butter and both sugars until creamy.
- Add eggs, vanilla, and peppermint extract.
- Gradually mix in the flour mixture.
- Fold in the green chocolate chips.
- Drop spoonfuls onto baking sheets.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
The peppermint extract gives these cookies that fresh, minty kick without being overwhelming. I made these last year and people literally asked if I bought them from a bakery. The answer was no, but I’ll take the compliment 🙂
3. Rainbow Cookies with Green Layers
Why It’s Awesome: Okay, these take a bit more effort, but they’re absolutely stunning and taste like almond-flavored heaven.
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond paste
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs, separated
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Green, white, and orange food coloring
- 1 cup apricot jam
- 8 oz dark chocolate, melted
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease three 9×13 pans.
- Beat almond paste and butter until smooth.
- Add sugar and egg yolks, mixing well.
- Fold in flour.
- Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into the batter.
- Divide batter into three bowls and color one green, one white, one orange.
- Spread each color into a separate pan and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Layer with jam between each color, top with melted chocolate.
- Chill and cut into squares.
Why You’ll Love It
These cookies are a labor of love, but they’re so worth it. The almond flavor is subtle and sophisticated, and the layers make them look like you went to pastry school. Pro tip: make these a day ahead—they taste even better after sitting overnight.
4. Leprechaun Hat Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: These are almost too cute to eat. Almost. They’re fun to make with kids and guaranteed to get compliments.
Ingredients
- 1 package Keebler Fudge Stripe cookies
- 1 bag green Sixlets candies
- 1 package orange Starburst candies
- Yellow icing
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Flip the Fudge Stripe cookies upside down.
- Use icing to attach a green Sixlet to the center.
- Cut small rectangles from orange Starbursts for the buckle.
- Use yellow icing to create the buckle on the orange piece.
- Attach to the cookie base.
Why You’ll Love It
Listen, not every cookie needs to be made from scratch. These no-bake beauties are perfect when you need something festive fast. Plus, kids go absolutely wild for them, and assembly is actually kind of fun.
5. Baileys Irish Cream Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Because sometimes you want your cookies to have a little grown-up flair. These are boozy, delicious, and perfect for adult celebrations.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup Baileys Irish Cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Baileys buttercream frosting
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar until light.
- Beat in egg, Baileys, and vanilla.
- Gradually add dry ingredients.
- Roll into balls and flatten slightly on baking sheets.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Cool and frost with Baileys buttercream.
Why You’ll Love It
The Baileys flavor is present but not overpowering—just enough to make these taste special. FYI, you can also make these without the booze if you’re serving kids, but where’s the fun in that?
6. Pistachio Pudding Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: These soft, chewy cookies have this gorgeous natural green color and a subtle nutty flavor that’s addictive.
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 package instant pistachio pudding mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- ½ cup chopped pistachios
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix cake mix and pudding mix in a bowl.
- Add oil and eggs, stirring until combined.
- Fold in white chocolate chips and pistachios.
- Drop spoonfuls onto baking sheets.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
Using pudding mix is a total game-changer for soft cookies. These stay chewy for days, and the pistachio flavor is way more sophisticated than your average sugar cookie. Plus, they’re naturally green-ish, which saves you from dumping a bottle of food coloring into the batter.
7. Pot of Gold Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Chocolate cookies topped with a “pot of gold” made from Rolos? Yes please. These are as fun to make as they are to eat.
Ingredients
- 1 package chocolate cake mix
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 bag Rolo candies
- Black icing
- Gold sprinkles
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix cake mix, eggs, and oil until combined.
- Roll dough into balls and place on baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Immediately press a Rolo into the center of each cookie.
- Cool completely.
- Use black icing to create a “pot” around the Rolo.
- Top with gold sprinkles.
Why You’ll Love It
The melty caramel center from the Rolo is absolutely delicious, and these cookies look way fancier than the effort required. I mean, who doesn’t love finding a “pot of gold” at the end of their cookie?
8. Lucky Charms Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Childhood nostalgia meets cookie perfection. These are sweet, colorful, and ridiculously fun.
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups Lucky Charms cereal
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugars.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla.
- Gradually add dry ingredients.
- Fold in Lucky Charms and white chocolate chips.
- Drop onto baking sheets.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
The cereal adds this amazing crunch and pops of color throughout. Plus, eating Lucky Charms in cookie form feels way more acceptable than eating them straight from the box as an adult. Not that I’ve done that. Multiple times. This week.
9. Green Velvet Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Think red velvet, but make it festive. These are soft, slightly tangy, and topped with cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Green food coloring
- Cream cheese frosting
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Add eggs, vanilla, and green food coloring.
- Gradually mix in dry ingredients.
- Roll into balls and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.
Why You’ll Love It
The subtle chocolate flavor combined with that tangy cream cheese frosting is perfection. These taste like a special occasion, and the bright green color makes them perfect for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
10. Irish Flag Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Show off your decorating skills with these tricolor beauties that represent the Irish flag.
Ingredients
- 1 batch sugar cookie dough
- White icing
- Green icing
- Orange icing
- Rectangle cookie cutter
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make and chill your sugar cookie dough.
- Cut into rectangles and bake according to recipe.
- Cool completely.
- Divide each cookie into three sections.
- Pipe green icing on one third, white in the middle, orange on the last third.
- Let the icing set completely.
Why You’ll Love It
These are surprisingly easy to decorate, and they look so impressive on a cookie platter. IMO, using a piping bag makes this way easier, but you can also just use a butter knife if you’re not worried about perfection.
11. Grasshopper Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Mint, chocolate, and Oreos come together in a cookie that’s refreshing and decadent at the same time.
Ingredients
- 1 package Oreos, crushed
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 package mint chocolate chips, melted
- Green sprinkles
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix crushed Oreos with cream cheese until combined.
- Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet.
- Freeze for 30 minutes.
- Dip each ball into melted mint chocolate.
- Top with green sprinkles.
- Refrigerate until set.
Why You’ll Love It
These no-bake cookies are insanely easy and taste like those fancy thin mints you buy once a year. The Oreo base gives them this amazing texture, and the mint chocolate coating is chef’s kiss.
12. Matcha White Chocolate Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Matcha gives these cookies a natural green color and an earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with white chocolate.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp matcha powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Whisk flour, matcha, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Beat in egg and vanilla.
- Gradually add dry ingredients.
- Fold in white chocolate chips.
- Drop onto baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
Matcha haters might want to skip this one, but if you love that slightly bitter, earthy flavor, these are fantastic. The white chocolate balances the matcha perfectly, and the natural green color means no artificial dyes.
13. Guinness Chocolate Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Beer in cookies? Absolutely. The Guinness adds depth to the chocolate flavor without making them taste boozy.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ cup Guinness beer
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream butter and brown sugar.
- Beat in egg and Guinness.
- Add dry ingredients gradually.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Drop onto baking sheets and bake for 11-13 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
The Guinness adds this rich, malty flavor that makes these cookies taste incredibly complex. They’re not overly sweet, which makes them perfect for people who like dark chocolate and sophisticated flavors.
14. Ombre Green Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: These gradient cookies are stunning and way easier to make than they look.
Ingredients
- 1 batch sugar cookie dough
- Green food coloring in varying shades
- White icing
- Green sanding sugar
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Divide cookie dough into 4 portions.
- Leave one white, make the others progressively darker green.
- Roll each color into logs and refrigerate.
- Slice and bake according to your sugar cookie recipe.
- Arrange cookies from light to dark on your serving platter.
- Optionally frost and sprinkle with green sanding sugar.
Why You’ll Love It
The ombre effect is so pretty, and you can customize the intensity based on your preference. These are perfect if you want something that looks professional without needing advanced decorating skills.
15. Rainbow Cookie Bars
Why It’s Awesome: All the deliciousness of traditional rainbow cookies but in easy bar form. Less work, same incredible taste.
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond paste
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- Green, white, and orange food coloring
- Raspberry jam
- Chocolate for topping
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Beat almond paste, butter, and sugar.
- Add eggs one at a time.
- Stir in flour.
- Divide batter into three pans, color each layer.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes.
- Layer with jam, top with chocolate.
- Chill and cut into bars.
Why You’ll Love It
Cutting these into bars is way easier than trying to make perfect little cookies. Plus, the raspberry jam adds this fruity tartness that makes them irresistible.
16. Shamrock Shake Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Capture that iconic McDonald’s flavor in cookie form. Minty, creamy, and dangerously addictive.
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- Green food coloring
- Vanilla frosting
- Crushed Andes mints
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugars.
- Add eggs, vanilla, peppermint extract, and food coloring.
- Gradually add dry ingredients.
- Drop onto baking sheets and bake 9-11 minutes.
- Cool and frost.
- Top with crushed Andes mints.
Why You’ll Love It
These taste exactly like a Shamrock Shake but in cookie form. The crushed Andes mints on top add extra mintiness and a gorgeous finish.
17. Gold Coin Sugar Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Simple sugar cookies decorated to look like gold coins. Perfect for a leprechaun-themed party.
Ingredients
- 1 batch sugar cookie dough
- Round cookie cutter
- Gold luster dust
- Clear extract (vodka or lemon juice)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make and chill sugar cookie dough.
- Cut into rounds and bake.
- Cool completely.
- Mix gold luster dust with a few drops of clear extract to make paint.
- Brush onto cookies to create a gold finish.
Why You’ll Love It
Luster dust makes these look legitimately metallic and special. Kids love the treasure hunt aspect, and adults appreciate how elegant they look on a dessert table.
18. Creme de Menthe Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Rich, fudgy, and packed with that classic mint liqueur flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1½ cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup chocolate syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1½ cups flour
- ½ cup creme de menthe
- Chocolate ganache for topping
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Add eggs, chocolate syrup, and vanilla.
- Mix in flour and creme de menthe.
- Pour into greased 9×13 pan.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Cool and top with chocolate ganache.
- Cut into squares.
Why You’ll Love It
These are like brownies but better. The creme de menthe adds this sophisticated flavor, and the ganache makes them feel bakery-quality.
19. Four-Leaf Clover Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Use a simple flower cookie cutter to create adorable four-leaf clovers.
Ingredients
- Sugar cookie dough
- Flower-shaped cookie cutter
- Green icing
- Green sprinkles
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cut cookies using a four-petal flower cutter.
- Bake according to your recipe.
- Cool completely.
- Outline and flood with green icing.
- Add a stem with darker green icing.
- Sprinkle while icing is wet.
Why You’ll Love It
The clever use of a flower cutter makes these so easy. No need to hunt down specialty shamrock cutters when you can improvise beautifully.
20. Green Tea Shortbread
Why It’s Awesome: Buttery, crisp, and subtly flavored with green tea. These are elegant and perfect with afternoon coffee.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tbsp green tea powder (matcha)
- ¼ tsp salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Cream butter and powdered sugar.
- Mix in flour, matcha, and salt.
- Roll dough and cut into shapes.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes.
- Cool on wire racks.
Why You’ll Love It
Shortbread is ridiculously simple to make, and the matcha gives it this beautiful color and flavor. These are perfect if you want something less sweet than typical St. Patrick’s Day treats.
21. Irish Coffee Cookies
Why It’s Awesome: Coffee, whiskey, and cookies come together for an adult treat that’s absolutely divine.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp instant coffee
- 2 tbsp Irish whiskey
- Coffee buttercream frosting
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Beat in egg, coffee, and whiskey.
- Add dry ingredients gradually.
- Drop onto sheets and bake 10-12 minutes.
- Cool and frost with coffee buttercream.
Why You’ll Love It
These taste like your favorite Irish coffee but in cookie form. The whiskey flavor is subtle but definitely present, and the coffee buttercream ties everything together perfectly.
Final Thoughts
There you have it—21 incredible St. Patrick’s Day cookies that go way beyond basic green sugar cookies. From boozy treats like Baileys Irish Cream cookies to kid-friendly options like Lucky Charms cookies, there’s something here for every skill level and every celebration.
The best part? Most of these recipes are super approachable, even if you’re not a professional baker. Whether you’re making shamrock sugar cookies with the kids or impressing adults with green velvet cookies and cream cheese frosting, you’re guaranteed to bring smiles to the party.
So grab your mixing bowls, stock up on green food coloring, and get ready to become everyone’s favorite person on March 17th. Happy baking!
Printable Recipe Card
Want just the essential recipe details without scrolling through the article? Get our printable recipe card with just the ingredients and instructions.
