Any of These 11 Festive Desserts Will be a Hit on St. Patrick’s Day

Unless you’re talking corned beef and cabbage or beverages of the more, ah, “adult” variety, most people don’t really think of St. Patrick’s Day as a holiday that’s all about the food. We think it’s about time that changed, don’t you?! And we know just how to do it: with desserts!

That’s why we’ve put together a list of our all-time-favorite, St.-Paddy’s-Day-ready treats! From the traditional to the inventive, simple to the decadent, these desserts are ready for an all-Irish celebration. Read on and pick your favorite!

    1. Prevent any leprechauns from “pinching” a bit of dessert by dressing it up in all-Irish green! This minty treat is far tastier than some other shamrock-inspired treats we won’t name just yet – keep scrolling! – and you can dress it up with as many mints, Oreos, and other extra treats you like. An even bigger bonus? If you want a more adult spin, you can flavor it with crème de menthe!

 

    1. Catch one of those tricky leprechauns with those green desserts? Make him lead you to his pot o’gold— and hope it’s one you can eat! If you’ve got the luck o’ the Irish, it’ll be “gold” like these macarons, all dressed up like coins and filled with just a hint of lemon zest. Shiny, tasty and homemade— it doesn’t get any better!

 

    1. The tasty festivities should start as soon as you wake up on St. Patrick’s Day, don’t you think? That’s when you need to break out these gorgeous homemade scones. You can add whatever dried fruits you want to them – or even chocolate chips! – and enjoy them with clotted cream or traditional Irish butter, like Kerry Gold. However you make them your own, you’ll want to eat them for dessert after every meal and with some Irish breakfast tea!

 

    1. Want another dessert you can start eating at breakfast and still enjoy all day long? Then you’ve got to try this Irish Cream Coffee Cake! It’s perfectly moist and flavorful, and topped with a gorgeous icing that’ll have you licking your fingers. What makes it an Irish coffee cake? That’s the best part: there’s Irish cream liqueur in the cake and the icing!

 

    1. Liking this idea of including beverages with a little extra “zip” in your St. Patrick’s Day desserts? Then you’re going to LOVE this all-adult chocolate cake made with an all-Irish beer, Guinness. The rich, fudgy cake is made all the better with an Irish cream drizzle that can be green for a festive look, or white for that food-coloring-free, beer-foam-like topper.

 

    1. Prefer a dessert that’s a little more traditional and kid-friendly? Then you’ve got to try this bread and butter pudding. Not only does it require only a few ingredients you’re guaranteed to have at home already, you can make it in only two minutes in your microwave and in a mug!

 

    1. Don’t have the time or, frankly, the baking skills to make some of the more elaborate desserts on this list? Then this cake is for you! All you need is a basic white cake mix, and these directions for doctoring it up into the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day dessert. You friends and family will be so impressed by the swirls of green and layers of festive frosting, they’ll think you got it at a bakery!

 

    1. The best treats are often are the most kid-friendly— for eating

and

    1. for making! Your whole family will love making these easy shamrock pops together with pretzels, M&M’s and Rolos . . .

 

    1. . . . AND they’ll love these fun, springtime-ready cookies made with the most leprechaun-approved cereal, Lucky Charms!

 

    1. What’s better than the infamous fast-food “Shamrock Shake”? A minty homemade version, full of ingredients you recognize, that you can make all year long! (Green food coloring optional, of course.)

 

    1. This ain’t your basic supermarket boxed pudding, friends. Oh no; this one’s much better. The incredibly creamy pudding is more of a baked custard, and it’s absolutely packed full of lemon flavor that’s not too sweet and not too tart. It’s the perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day and its not-quite-winter, not-yet-spring season.

    Yum! I’m thinking I might just eat dessert all day this March 17, what about you? Which treat on this list are you dying to try first? Do you have any of your own St. Patrick’s Day dessert traditions? Share you sweet and festive menu with us, and tell us what you think of ours!