What better time to try your luck with a new recipe than for St. Patrick’s Day while luck is on your side? Most people who celebrate are looking for something fun and festive that allows them to connect with their community. As we know, there is no better way to come together than food.
Plan a fun activity day and make some of these with friends or throw a party and add a few to your menu for the day. Some of these recipes lean completely into the theme with green, shamrocks, and rainbows galore. Others are based on traditional Irish recipes, perfect if you are looking for authenticity. So, let’s take a look at some of these super festive St. Patrick’s Day desserts!
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Festive St. Patrick’s Day Cakes to Celebrate!
Traditional Irish-inspired recipes, fun St. Patrick’s Day-themed recipes, and some that give you the green you need.
1. Irish Apple Cake
This simple but decadent apple cake is an authentic Irish recipe according to the author. The cake itself is light but rich with warm cinnamon and apple flavors and is perfect for any time of the day. Consider starting your St. Patrick’s Day with it over coffee or finishing off with this at the end of the day.
2. Irish Whiskey Cake
Don’t let this Irish Whiskey Cake intimidate you, you need it on your table. You can even customize it to your preferred Whiskey. The sweet Whiskey buttercream and Whiskey glaze balance out the biting flavors from the spirit.
3. Irish Tea Cake
Sometimes, simple is better. Instead of leaning into the theme of the day, this recipe leans into true tradition with a traditional Irish tea cake. It’s a buttery, vanilla flavored cake that is perfect for any time of the day.
4. Boozy Shamrock Shake Cupcakes
It’s a trifecta! Cupcakes, a Shamrock Shake, and a bit of Irish cream come together in this adorable dessert to make the perfect St. Patrick’s day dessert! Make a batch of these for guest, or keep them all for yourself. Whatever you do, don’t forget the adorable sprinkles.
5. Pistachio Pudding Cake
Looking for something a bit more daring but still want to fit the theme? Consider this incredibly easy pistachio cake. It’s made with a pudding mix so it’s moist and the vibrant green color is just adorable.
6. Irish Apple Amber Pie
Heading back to the traditional side of things is this Amber Meringue pie. Drowning in apple flavor this is a simple pie with a big impact. The light and fluffy meringue is the perfect addition to the rich pie.
7. Irish Cream Chocolate Pound Cake
Looking for something more decadent? Look no further. This chocolatey goodness combines chocolate, caramel, and Irish cream for one sweet treat. The Irish Cream Caramel glaze is unique in itself, this whole thing just steals the show!
8. Guinness Chocolate Cake
If you want to lean as far as possible into the chocolate flavors as you can, this decadent and soft, rich chocolate cake is deepened with the addition of Guinness Beer. A good chocolate cake is usually made with coffee and Guinness has coffee flavors in its profile, so this is destined to be delicious.
9. Bailey’s Irish Cream Cake
This cake is like the Yang to the Guinness Chocolate Cake’s Yin. Instead of deep with a hit of bitter this cake is made with Irish Cream. What results is a delicate and creamy confection that is sure to please.
Create Your Own St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow!
Colorful treats to bring the magic!
10. Leprechaun Bark
Chocolate bark is one of the easiest ways to celebrate a holiday, it doesn’t take long to make and it’s completely customizable! Take a look at this festive and fun take on chocolate bark with rainbow candies and green M&M’s, along with other goodies.
11. Pot of Gold Cupcakes
Make these moist and fluffy chocolate cupcakes and top them with a rainbow buttercream! This technique isn’t too hard and you can always top it with a shiny chocolate coin to distract, and for an extra little treat.
12. Rainbow Sugar Cookies
While they look a bit intimidating and complex, these are delicious soft sugar cookies that melt in your mouth. They have a light vanilla flavor so they are bound to be a crowd favorite. Don’t let the layering technique get to you, it’s easy to make these and the author of this recipe explains it perfectly.
13. Rainbow Truffles
You can’t get much easier than these no-bake truffles! Just a couple of ingredients and some time, these incredibly easy but delicious treats can be your show-stopper. Consider pre-mixing your doughs and making the truffles with others as an activity.
14. Rainbow Rice Krispy Treats
A rainbow take on the nostalgic childhood treat! This Rice Krispy makes for a perfect group activity because they only take a few minutes to make, and a few more to cool! You’ll be sharing some fruity gooeyness in no time!
15. Rainbow S’Mores Dip
Who knew it only takes a few sprinkles to make a show stopper? This creative take on the popular S’mores dip takes it up a notch with sprinkle-topped marshmallows in a rainbow design!
16. Leprechaun Bait
If you’re a sweet and salty lover, this one is for you. There is no baking needed for this enticing treat so you can make it easily and often. You can also balance the ingredients out to your liking, like adding in even more marshmallows 😉 .
17. Lucky Charms Truffles
One of the cutest treats to ever exists, this super cute truffle combines two favorites: Luck Charms and Golden Oreos. These are bright and colorful, making them the perfect St. Patricks Day dessert!
Looks Like You Found Some Pots o’ Gold!
Potted treats that make great individual servings
18. Irish Cream Panna Cotta
You can’t talk about St. Patricks Day or St. Patrick’s Day desserts without considering your own personal pot of gold! This Irish Cream panna cotta is definitely that treat! It is creamy with a hint of smokiness from the Irish Cream. Go ahead and make them ahead of time and share the wealth the day of!
19. St. Patrick’s Day Jello Parfait
This two ingredient treat might be the easiest on the list, and definitely the easiest way to get your green in. Chill some jello at an angle and top with whipped cream or cool whip. And don’t forget the sprinkles!
20. Irish Dirt Cakes
How about a throwback to childhood? This minty treat is a St. Patrick’s Day spin on the familiar dirt cakes and mud puddings. This recipe is quite minty so it elevates the flavor profile a bit but it also easily adjustable if you want to share it with kids.
Puddin’ the Magic in St. Patrick’s Day Desserts!
Stretching the meaning of pudding a bit to make sure you get these.
21. Irish Lemon Pudding
Looking for something on the lighter side, consider this sublty sweet lemon pudding inspired by traditional Irish dessert. With how easy this one is, it also makes the perfect addition to end a St. Patrick’s Day dinner.
22. Matcha Tiramisu
As you may have been able to tell, not everything on the list is strictly irish-inspired or St. Patrick’s Day themed. This treat is something more familiar with this Tiramasu like dish, but with matcha making it perfectly green for the occasion. And before you say it, no, it’s not technically a pudding but it was the closest category, ok!
A Different Kind of Bar for St. Patrick’s Day!
Skipping the pub? Opt for one of these bars instead!
23. Guinness Brownies
If there is one way to amp up a brownie, making those rich flavors deeper and complex with Guinness is definitely a top choice. The proof is not in the pudding but in these decadent Guinness brownies that are dense, but moist, and absolutely delicious.
24. Green Velvet Cheesecake Bars
Baked cheesecake bars are the perfect dish to go to for crowds because they are simple enough to appeal to many, but also decadent enough to satisfy. These green guys are also perfectly thematic with a green graham cracker crust.
25. Irish Cream Pistachio Fudge
Fudge is probably one of the best, but most overlooked desserts. Especially the non-traditional flavors. If you want to step out of the box a bit and just lean into the green theme more than the Irish theme, consider this pistachio fudge. It’s complex, and rich, and irresistible.
26. Green Velvet Brownies
If you’re really looking to amp it up this St. Patrick’s Day, you will definitely want to consider this vivd green spin on a classic chocolate brownie with cream cheese frosting. All of the familiar rich goodness and well-balanced tang, just in the perfect shade for the occasion!
St. Paddy’s Spins on Classic Cookies
Festive sharables that are easy to make.
27. Leprechaun Bites Shortbread Cookies
Bite-sized, sweet, and buttery? Can’t really ask for much more. Consider making these adorable cookie bites that are perfect for parties, treat bags, or just gifting. The cute green color contrasting with the colorful sprinkles make these look like something right out of a fantasy!
28. Irish Ginger Cookies
These cookies are definitely marketed more for the winter holidays but they also fall into our Irish, and Irish-inspired recipes. With how soft and moist they are, they couldn’t be left off the list. Enjoy a beautiful balance of spicy and ginger, even if it is March.
29. Shamrock Cookie Cups
There are not many things cuter than this sugar cookie cup with a buttercream frosting. It’s even topped with a super easy M&M design. The best part is how bite-sized these are so you can enjoy them, or share them, however you want.
30. Cake Mix Cookies
Cake mix cookies are always a good idea because they only take a few minutes to prep and a few more to make. They can be customized in so many ways, and you can add in whatever additions you like. You can opt for a flavored cake mix, or like this recipe go with a white cake and use food coloring to match your theme!
31. Pistachio Cookie Bars
Sweet sugar cookies subtly flavored with pistachio pudding make up these adorable sugar-dusted treats. Bring them to a party or put them out in the kitchen to be festive. Either way they will be a hit.
What’s Dessert Without Ice Cream?
Festive and cold, sweet treats!
32. Shamrock Ice Cream Sandwiches
Creamy, minty ice cream and chocolate cookies come together in this adorable shamrock-shaped ice cream sandwich. Ice cream is often left out of the dessert discussion, especially homemade ones, this is your chance to change that.
33. Shamrock Shake
it’s fair to say that the Shamrock Shake is one of the main things to look forward to for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s also fair to say that your chances of getting it are the same as hitting the lottery with McDonald’s forever broken ice cream machines. Now you can skip the hassle and make the classic minty treat at home with little hassle!
So many good options to set the tone for how you celebrate this year! If you’re lucky, you might be able to have more than one!
Looking for more holiday recipe inspiration? Check here!
