Bring the luck of the Irish to your table with these delicious St. Patrick’s Day desserts!
From shamrock shortbread to fudgy brownies, you’ll love these tasty treats.
30 Irish-Inspired Desserts for St. Patrick’s Day
It won’t be a surprise to hear that I mostly go to BBQs and parties for the food. And St. Patrick’s is no exception.
It’s a great excuse to pull out the food dye and go for something loud and proud.
But don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of fun St. Patrick’s Day desserts that aren’t green! Enjoy!
1. Shamrock Cookies
Nothing is easier – or more popular – than tender sugar cookies dipped in chocolate.
They’re so simple but super effective, and the green sprinkles really pop against the dark chocolate.
Of course, they’ll look extra festive if you have a shamrock cutter, but the green sprinkles will cover you either way.
2. Bailey’s Chocolate Truffles
Yes, these are as good as they sound!
Made with vanilla wafers or Graham Crackers, they’re super moist and buttery.
But it’s the Baileys in the mix that’ll leave you reaching for seconds (and thirds!).
The trick is to refrigerate or freeze them before you dip them in the chocolate. Enjoy!
3. Shamrock Shake
I adore mint chip ice cream, so I make these year-round. But they’re extra special for St. Paddy’s.
Needless to say, mine always contain a generous glug of Baileys, which you can leave it out if you’re serving kids.
As for the color, I think the ice cream pastel is more than enough.
4. Lucky Charms Marshmallow Treats Recipe
Why make plain old Rice Krispie squares when you can make these Lucky Charms bars?!
I just love the pops of color you get from the charms. And did you know you can buy those mini marshmallows in a bag on their own?!
It’s true! So you could just add them to your usual Rice Krispie recipe.
5. St. Patrick’s Day Brownies
Cheesecake-swirled brownies are about as addictive as it gets. I mean, it’s two of the best indulgences in one heavenly square!
You don’t have to color them, and they’ll be just as tasty without the dye.
In that case, though, I suggest adding some festive sprinkles instead. That way, you still get the holiday fun!
6. Irish Coffee
I know plenty of people that prefer to drink dessert. And it doesn’t get better than a warm, sweet, booze Irish coffee!
It’s rich and creamy, and loaded with Baileys and Irish whiskey! The double dose of alcohol is sure to help you sleep.
Add some whipped cream and sip away. Yum!
7. Old-Fashioned Potato Candy
Potato candy…really?
Yes! This stuff is made with mash, powdered sugar, vanilla, and some kind of spread, like cookie butter or nut butter.
And the result is impossibly sweet, smooth, and full of flavor.
8. Dipped Marshmallows
Planning a party with kids? Then you have to make these simple yet delicious marshmallow pops.
They’re sweet, quick, and sure to please.
Better yet, they make terrific little take-home gifts. Just add a plastic cover and some glittery ribbon, and you’re all set.
9. Pistachio St. Patrick’s Day Cupcakes
If you’re looking for a fun way to incorporate color and flavor, these pistachio cupcakes are just the thing!
After all, you can’t beat a pistachio pudding dessert. They’re overloaded with flavor, color, and moisture.
I usually like pistachios with chili powder. But these cupcakes have swayed me to the sweet side!
10. Irish Yellowman Candy
Also known as honeycomb, sponge toffee, cinder toffee, seafoam, or hokey pokey, this stuff can be a pain to make – but the pay-off is worth it!
You’ll need a baking thermometer, as well as a quick hand. It burns very fast, so you need to get it into a pan asap.
11. Traditional Irish Shortbread
American sugar cookies are usually quite soft and contain at least half a dozen ingredients.
In contrast, this buttery biscuit is very “short” – in both texture and the ingredient list.
All you need is flour, sugar, and butter (some recipes also use cornstarch). That’s it, but boy, does it deliver!
12. Irish Oat Cookies
Thanks to the brown sugar, these bad boys are super chewy and full of caramel notes.
And while they’re pretty perfect as is, a few chocolate chips will really bring them to life.
13. Pot of Gold Cookie Cups Recipe
As far as cookie cups go, if they’re not filled with Rolos and frosting and topped with mini-rainbows, then I’m not interested!
These are pretty straightforward to make, and you can easily use store-bought cookie dough to speed things up.
Of course, you’ll need gold sprinkles and sugary rainbows for the full effect.
14. Baileys Cheesecake
If you liked the Baileys recipes from above, then you’ll love this!
Between the chocolate crust, creamy spiked filling, and silky-smooth Baileys-infused chocolate ganache, it’s a restaurant-worthy dessert.
That said, it’s insanely decadent. So maybe serve it with some whipped cream or ice cream.
15. Potato Apple Bread
It might be called bread, but this is more of a pie if you ask me. The only difference is the crust is made with potatoes!
You’ll make a dough with mash, butter, flour, baking powder, and salt.
Roll it and fill it with apples, and it’s ready to be devoured!
16. St. Patrick’s Day Popcorn
Who doesn’t love popcorn? Especially when it’s coated in marshmallows and tossed with M&Ms!
If you have any leftover cereal marshmallows, they will make a fantastic addition here.
But any cute St. Paddy’s decorations will look great.
17. Baileys French Toast
I’ve always felt that French toast is just breakfast dessert. So why not start your day with something sweet?
This recipe includes Irish cream in the custard and the whipped topping, leaving no doubt about the flavor.
The only thing missing is a drizzle of caramel sauce. Yum!
18. Shamrock Shake Cupcakes
Wondering how to make a milkshake into a cupcake? It’s all in the frosting!
These tender little sweets have a lovely mint flavor in the crumb, and they’re topped with a light cream cheese and whipped cream frosting.
It’s tangy, velvety, and impossible to resist.
19. Shamrock Pretzels
Here’s another fabulous sweet snack you can serve for dessert and give out as gifts.
We all love crunchy-salty pretzels. But when you coat them in chocolate and sprinkles, they’re so much more fun.
And if these are too tricky to cover, just use pretzel rods!
20. Mint Chocolate Chip Fudge
Fudge is one of those recipes we often save for Christmas. But it’s so creamy and sweet, I think we should make it all year!
This St. Patrick’s version has the same base as most – condensed milk and chocolate.
But you’ll also add mint extract and mini chips. Cute, huh?
21. Buttery Bundt Cake
St. Patrick’s day sits right at the start of spring. And my go-to spring dessert is the bundt cake.
This one has fun swirls of color in the batter and a wild array of glazes striped over the top.
Add some jimmies, and it’s ready for the show!
22. Green Oreos
I’m a huge fan of decorating Oreos. Just dip them in chocolate, and they’re like a whole new treat!
Take these super sweet green Oreos, for example.
Use any flavor you like, but do be sure to get good-quality white chocolate. It tastes better than melts and melts better than the cheap stuff.
23. Peek-A-Boo St. Patrick’s Day Cake
Feeling extra creative? Then why not try this adorable loaf cake with a rainbow shamrock hidden in the middle?
It’s easier than you think but does take a bit of time to get right.
Once you get the hang of it, though, you can make this for any holiday going forward. Just change the shape in the middle.
24. St. Patrick’s Day Dunkaroo Dip
Make your sweet table pop with this sweet Dunkaroo dip. It’ll bring just the right amount of nostalgia and plenty of smiles.
Just blend white cake mix, whipped topping, and Greek yogurt. Then add as much food coloring as you like.
Serve with nilla wafers, fruit, and more.
25. St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Bark
I know you’ve made (or been gifted) bark for the holidays.
It’s usually a layer of dark chocolate with white on top and crushed candy canes for color and a peppermint taste.
But as you can see, this one is light green and ideal for March 17th.
Add any decorations you like, and enjoy!
26. Irish Whiskey Cake with Whiskey Glaze
Planning a family dinner and want something big and impressive? Try this stunning Irish whiskey layer cake.
There’s booze in the sponge, buttercream, and the glaze. So it’s definitely not one for the kids.
But I love that it’s not smothered in sugary frosting. That middle layer with the glaze is more than enough!
27. Grasshopper Pie
Grasshopper pie is tasty all year. But that minty goodness and pastel green hue are just perfect for March 17th.
Feel free to use a pre-made Oreo crust to save on time.
That way, all you need is to add the mint-chip ice cream and Cool Whip. How easy is that?
28. Mint “Dirt” Cups
Dirt cups are such a fun treat for kids. But they’re tasty enough for grown-ups too!
And this version is pretty elegant.
The layers of crushed Oreos and minty sweetened cream cheese look incredible in a nice glass or bowl.
Add a gold coin on top to make them extra festive!
29. Easy Pistachio Lush
If you want something green without the food dye, try this nutty lush.
It’s a layered dish with cream cheese and pudding, and it tastes phenomenal.
You’ll use pistachio pudding for the color and taste. And feel free to use them instead of walnuts in the crust too!
30. Mint Oreo M&M’s Brookies
Thanks to all the colors of M&M’s, it’s super easy to make everyday favorites festive.
So really, these yummy brookies (brownies + cookies) would be perfect for St Patrick’s without the Oreos.
But it’s a holiday, so why not go all out?