These soft mint Shamrock Shake Sugar Cookie Bars are a fun and easy treat. White frosting, green sugar, and a cherry make them look like the popular shake.

Season: Spring

Holiday: St. Patrick's Day

~Ingredients:

-Cookie Bars:

1/2 Cup Butter, softened.

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar.

1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar.

1 Egg.

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract.

1/2 Teaspoon Mint Extract.

2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour.

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder.

1/2 Teaspoon Salt.

Green Gel Color.*

-Frosting:

1/2 Cup Butter, softened.

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract.

1/2 Teaspoon Mint Extract.

1/2 Teaspoon Salt.

3 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar.

6 Tablespoons Heavy Whipping Cream.

-Topping:

Green Sanding Sugar.**

1 10 Ounce Jar Maraschino Cherries with stems.

~Directions:

-Making the Sugar Cookie Base:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil and spray it with non stick baking spray . Set aside. 

Step 2: In a large bowl, beat together the butter and both sugars until creamy.

Step 3: Add the egg and both of the extracts and beat again.

Step 4: Add the baking powder, salt, and half of the flour and mix until a soft dough forms.

Step 5: Add the rest of the flour and beat until mixed in.***

Step 6: Using a butter knife, add the green gel food color to your desired shade.

Step 7: Press the dough firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. 

Step 8: Bake for 14 minutes. Cool completely before frosting. 

-Making the Frosting:

Step 9: Beat the butter, extracts, and salt until creamy.

Step 10: Add the powdered sugar and heavy cream alternately until everything is mixed in.

Step 11: Beat on high for 1 - 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.

Step 12: Spread the frosting on top of the cooled cookie bars.

Step 13: Lift the foil out of the pan and cut the bars into 24 squares.

Step 14: Drain the maraschino cherries and pat each cherry dry.

Step 15: Top with green sanding sugar and dry cherries.

Step 16: Eat and Enjoy!

~Recipe Notes:

*You can use as little or as much green food coloring you want. It depends on your taste and what kind of food coloring you are using (gel, powder, liquid etc...)

**You can find the sanding sugar at any store (Walmart, Aldi, Target etc...) in the baking aisle.

***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.

1) Using a spoon or stand mixer works better to mix the dough.

Enjoy!

Please leave us a picture in the comments below if you make it or have any questions!

XoXo Hailey and Hannah :)