10 Traditional Irish Cookies (+ Easy Recipes) (2024)

Welcome to the delicious world of Irish cookies!

Have you ever indulged in the rich flavors of Irish butter, milk, and cheese? Then you know just how divine they can be when baked into cookies.

Whether you call them cookies or biscuits, they’re a beloved treat in Ireland. They’re also part of the grand tea tradition in the British Isles.

10 Traditional Irish Cookies (+ Easy Recipes) (1)

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These treats are beyond scrumptious, from lace cookies to soda bread cookies and everything in between.

Whether you’re a fan of classic or adventurous flavors, I have you covered with these 10 Irish cookie recipes.

Ready your pot of tea or glass of milk, and let’s begin.

1. Irish Shortbread

Irish shortbread cookies are a classic treat with a buttery, crumbly texture that melts in your mouth.

These cookies are made with just a few simple ingredients: butter, sugar, and flour.

They’re the epitome of simplicity and deliciousness.

They have a rich, indulgent flavor and a light, delicate texture that makes them perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea or coffee.

One bite of these cookies, and you’ll be hooked. Enjoy them plain or with a sprinkle of sugar.

Irish shortbread cookies will satisfy any sweet tooth craving.

2. Irish Oat Cookies

Irish oat cookies, also known as oatcakes, are a traditional Irish treat made from oats, flour, and butter.

They’re plainer than the American oatmeal cookies that tend to be loaded with chocolate chips, cranberries, etc.

But what they lack in mix-ins they make up for in their ridiculously buttery flavor.

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Crunchy and slightly crumbly, Irish oat cookies are perfect for dunking in your favorite hot beverage.

They’re also easy to make and require just a handful of simple ingredients, making them a popular choice for baking at home.

3. Small Batch Lace Cookies

Irish lace cookies are delicate, crispy, and lacy cookies made with butter, sugar, flour, and oats.

They’re known for their thin, lace-like appearance, which gives them their name.

These cookies have a light, buttery flavor, and a slightly sweet taste.

They’re the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee.

Enjoy Irish lace cookies as a snack or dessert, or serve them to guests at a tea party or special occasion.

Overall, these cookies are a delightful treat sure to please any dessert lover.

4. Irish Soda Bread Cookies

Irish soda bread cookies have a soft, chewy texture and a slightly crisp exterior.

The combination of caraway seeds and raisins gives them a distinct and delicious flavor reminiscent of traditional Irish soda bread.

The raisins add a subtle sweetness to the cookies, while the caraway seeds provide a slightly savory and earthy taste.

The lemon glaze adds a tangy and sweet finishing touch to the cookies.

These cookies are commonly eaten during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations but can be enjoyed year-round.

5. Irish Shamrock Sugar Cookies

These Irish shamrock sugar cookies are a scrumptious treat.

They’re made with a simple combination of flour, sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, and green food coloring.

The cookies are shaped like shamrocks and sprinkled with white sugar, providing sweetness and crunch.

They have a classic sugar cookie taste, a hint of vanilla, and a fun, festive touch.

These cookies fit the bill if you’re looking for the perfect dessert for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

6. Irish Triple Threat Cookies

Irish triple threat cookies are the ultimate indulgence for cookie lovers.

These little guys pack a punch with three main ingredients: rich Kerrygold Irish butter, hearty steel-cut oats, and a generous splash of Irish whiskey.

The cookies are a sight to behold, with a beautiful crackled top and a soft and chewy center.

You’ll love the satisfying texture of the steel-cut oats, which add a delicious nutty flavor to every bite.

And, of course, the Irish whiskey is the pièce de résistance, giving these cookies an irresistible boozy kick.

It lingers long after you’ve finished your last bite.

7. Irish Ginger Cookies

Irish ginger cookies are like a warm hug in cookie form.

These golden nuggets of deliciousness have a soft and chewy center that’s bursting with deep, spicy ginger flavor.

But that’s not all!

These cookies are also coated in a sugary, crunchy layer that adds the perfect amount of sweetness and texture.

From the first bite, you’ll be transported to a cozy Irish kitchen, with the scent of ginger and sugar wafting through the air.

Whether you enjoy them for St. Patrick’s or any day with a cup of tea, Irish ginger cookies are sure to delight.

8. Homemade Digestive Biscuits

Irish digestive biscuits are like the sophisticated cousin of the classic American graham cracker.

Made with whole wheat shortbread, these biscuits are crispy, buttery, and perfectly semi-sweet.

These biscuits may be called “digestive,” but they’re certainly not lacking in flavor.

The rich, buttery taste pairs perfectly with a cup of tea or coffee, making them a favorite snack among the Irish.

And just like their name suggests, these biscuits aid in digestion.

They’re a perfect treat for any time of day.

9. Guinness Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip Guinness cookies are the perfect treat for beer and chocolate lovers alike.

These decadent cookies combine Guinness’s deep, malty flavor with the sweetness of white and dark chocolate chips.

With a chewy, buttery texture and the perfect sweetness, these cookies will satisfy your cravings for something indulgent.

They’re the ultimate comfort food that’ll warm your heart and satisfy your tastebuds.

10. Irish Potato Cookies (Potato Candy)

Round out your St. Patrick’s Day festivities with these adorable Irish potato cookies!

Despite the name, these delicious bites are actually made from cream cheese, coconut, butter, and sugar.

There are no potatoes involved.

What makes Irish potato candy truly special is its fun, potato-like shape.

The dusting of cinnamon adds even more to its spud-tastic appearance.

With a creamy, coconutty truffle-like center, these little bites are bursting with flavor.

They’ll satisfy your sweet tooth without being too overpowering.

Plus, they’re easy to make and require no baking!

They’re definitely a great option for a quick and easy St. Patrick’s Day treat.

10 Traditional Irish Cookies (+ Easy Recipes) (2)

10 Traditional Irish Cookies (+ Easy Recipes)

These traditional Irish cookies are a stroke of good luck! From shortbread to ginger to Guinness chocolate chip, you’ll love these easy recipes.

Ingredients

  • Irish Shortbread

  • Irish Oat Cookies

  • Small Batch Lace Cookies

  • Irish Soda Bread Cookies

  • Irish Shamrock Sugar Cookies

  • Irish Triple Threat Cookies

  • Irish Ginger Cookies

  • Homemade Digestive Biscuits

  • Guinness Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Irish Potato Cookies (Potato Candy)

Instructions

  • Select your favorite recipe.
  • Organize all the required ingredients.
  • Prep an Irish cookie batch in 30 minutes or less!
10 Traditional Irish Cookies (+ Easy Recipes) (3)

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10 Traditional Irish Cookies (+ Easy Recipes) (2024)

FAQs

What is the famous cookie in Ireland? ›

"This is the most amazing shortbread ever. Flaky and rich, and very very simple; I've never had a shortbread that compares to it.

What's the difference between Irish and Scottish shortbread? ›

Irish Shortbread Is Distinct From Scottish Shortbread

As cornstarch is a potent thickener relative to flour, this creates a denser cookie. Whichever version of shortbread you prefer, though, the original -- which is often just called "shortbread" -- came from Scotland.

What do the Irish call cookies? ›

In Ireland the treat one often takes with a cup of tea is called a biscuit. In America the same treat is called a cookie.

What are Irish biscuits called? ›

Irish cookies, also called “biscuits,” are part of the grand tea tradition in the British Isles. It's impossible to talk about Irish tea cookies, Irish lace cookies, Irish soda bread cookies, and Irish shortbread without a discussion of tea time. The two go hand-in-hand.

What is the national dessert of Ireland? ›

The national dessert of Ireland is the traditional Irish apple pie. This delicious dessert is made with sweet, tart apples, warm spices, and a buttery pastry crust. How is Irish apple pie different from other apple pies? Irish apple pie is often made with a lattice crust on top, giving it a distinctive appearance.

What is the oldest cookie? ›

Pizzelles are the oldest known cookie and originated in the mid-section of Italy. They were made many years ago for the “Festival of the Snakes” also known as the “Feast Day of San Domenico”.

What was shortbread originally called? ›

The story of shortbread begins with the medieval “biscuit bread”. Any leftover dough from bread making was dried out in a low oven until it hardened into a type of rusk: the word “biscuit” means “twice cooked”. Gradually the yeast in the bread was replaced by butter, and biscuit bread developed into shortbread.

Why is it called millionaires shortbread? ›

The name "millionaire's shortbread" appears to have originated in Scotland. The "millionaire" prefix to millionaire's shortbread or millionaires slice implies a level of decadence and wealth to the sweet treat, that it is an upgrade from regular shortbread.

What is shortbread called in Scotland? ›

Shortbread or shortie is a traditional Scottish biscuit usually made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three to four parts plain wheat flour. Shortbread does not contain any leavening, such as baking powder or baking soda.

What is cracker in Irish? ›

The origin of Cracker is to be found in the word craic , from Gaelic, the old language family of such Celtic peoples as the Irish and the Scots. Among the Irish it could mean entertaining talk or boisterous and bragging , and as the Irish enjoy immensely such spirited talk craic also meant fun or a good time .

What is a biscuit in Irish slang? ›

Bicky = slang term for biscuit. Bollix, is an Irish Slang term, comes from Bollocks, meaning testes but generally means someone who is annoying.

What is the most popular biscuit in Ireland? ›

Ireland's Top Five Biscuits
  1. 1 Jacob's. Jacob's retains its top spot as Ireland's favourite biscuit brand, though it falls in the overall Checkout Top 100 Brands rankings by one spot, to 11. ...
  2. 2 McVitie's. ...
  3. 3 Cadbury Snack. ...
  4. 4 Nestlé Kit Kat. ...
  5. 5 Tuc.
Apr 12, 2024

What are Ringo biscuits? ›

Pavesi Vanilla Ringo Biscuits are Barilla Cookies made with two cookies filled with vanilla cream, two cookies are one and one milk cocoa, Palm Oil Free. Great snack for kids. These cookies are in a practical box that contains 6 portions 6 biscuits, suitable for a snack outside the home.

What are mourning biscuits? ›

The writer described them as "a kind of sugared biscuit, which are wrapped up, generally two of them together, in a sheet of wax paper, sealed with black wax." The biscuits were given to each person attending the funeral, and were a custom of the funerals of "lower and the middling class of people." In Lincolnshire, ...

What is the most famous cookie? ›

America's favorite cookie and the one dubbed “the American cookie” is the Chocolate chip cookie. Chocolate chip cookie is simply tantalizing both in flavor and in texture.

What do the Irish call biscuits? ›

What is a "biscuit" in England and Ireland? They are what other countries call cookies.

What bread is Ireland famous for? ›

Irish soda bread is prepared without yeast. Traditionally it has just four ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. The baking soda and buttermilk react to cause the dough to rise. In Ireland, soda bread is often made from stone-ground whole-wheat flour, though white flour versions are available.

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