These shortbread St.Patrick's Day cookies cutouts make for a great first cooking project for the kiddos—even better as a fun indoor activity on a cold day. Five ingredients make it a simple holiday recipe for the whole family, and best of all, you can eat the finished project at your St. Patrick's Day party!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup green sprinkles or green colored sanding sugar

Instructions

1. 

   In a mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and vanilla; add in flour very gradually.

2. 

   On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness.

3. Let your kids go to town by cutting dough with 2-inch cookie cutters.

4. 

   Transfer cookies from counter to lined baking sheet using a thin metal spatula. Place cookies 1 inch apart on a silpat or parchment lined baking sheets. Sprinkle cookies with colored sugar, if desired.

5. Bake at 300 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes, until lightly browned

6. Place cookies on wire racks until they cool.