Shamrock cream cheese cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They’re super soft and are a Lofthouse cookie copycat with cream cheese frosting.
I have always loved the Lofthouse sugar cookies. They’re so soft and practically melt in your mouth with every bite.
Lately though, I find them to be too sweet for my liking. The frosting overly sweet, and feeling a little too processed for me.
That’s where these cream cheese cookies come into play.
The soft sugar cookie base has the same melt-in-your-mouth characteristics as the Lofthouse cookies. Instead of heavy frosting, it’s a schmear of cream cheese frosting.
Plus for the impending St. Patrick’s Day holiday, we’re making cute little shamrocks out of green gel frosting and green M&M’s.
Are you ready for some tasty cookie magic? Of course you are. So here we go.
How to Make Shamrock Cream Cheese Cookies
Cream Cheese Cookie Batter
The ingredient list for these cookies is actually pretty simple, and of course starts with cream cheese.
It’s always so important to start with softened cream cheese {and butter}. Beating softened cream cheese helps make sure there are no lumps or bumps in your batter.
I found it easiest to make this batter with a hand mixer. It gets everything nice and smooth. Plus the batter becomes quite thick towards the end.
So unless you’re really looking for an intense arm workout, do yourself a favor and beat it. Beat it real good.
It’s important to then refrigerate the batter so that the cookies don’t spread and become flat. I mean, that’s not what Lofthouse cookies are all about, so take the time to refrigerate.
Shamrock decorating
This was probably one of my favorite easy decorating moments. I have some more extensive holiday decorating, like these Easter chick cupcakes {super cute though}. But these cookies are insanely simple to make into shamrocks.
All you need are some green M&M’s and green write-on gel. You can usually find it in the baking aisle next to the frosting.
Simply place one M&M towards the top of the frosted cookie. Then press two more M&M’s side by side, just below the top one to make it look like the start of a shamrock.
Finally, draw a stem with the gel coloring and you’re done!
If you don’t want to decorate ALL the cookies as shamrocks, grab some green sprinkles and sprinkle the remaining cookies with them.
This makes for a super festive cookie.
The best part is that these cream cheese cookies can really be made any time of year. They’re such a classic.
One bite will have you definitely wanting more.
Looking for more cookie recipes? Check these out:
Guinness Snickerdoodle Cookies
Bourbon Caramel Oatmeal Cookies
Guinness Chocolate Rolo Cookies
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup {1 stick} butter softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp. corn starch
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ cup {1 stick} butter softened
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 Tbsp. milk of choice
- 1 tsp. vanilla
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In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
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Add sugar and beat until combined. Add egg and vanilla and mix to incorporate.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt.
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Add half the dry ingredients to the wet and mix to incorporate. Add remaining dry, and mix until combined.
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Cover bowl and place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
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Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a cookie sheet with baking spray.
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Scoop about 1 Tbsp. of batter and roll into a ball. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove and let cool.
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meanwhile, make frosting in a medium-size bowl by beating butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, and beat until combined.
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Add in milk and vanilla and beat until smooth.
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Frost cooled cookies and decorate as shamrocks by placing three green M&M’s in the shape of a shamrock. Draw a green line with the gel coloring to create a stem.
