36 Colorful St. Patrick’s Day Desserts
A perfect St. Patrick’s Day dessert should be nice to look at, wonderful to taste, and festive for the holiday. Whether you’re whipping up a treat for kids, friends, family, or yourself, there are plenty of creative and tasty options for every palate and any setting.
Mint Pudding Cups
For a St. Patrick’s Day themed dessert that works for both kids and adults, mint pudding cups are a perfect solution. The crunchy bottom layer consists mainly of Mint Oreos, with instant vanilla pudding (plus green food coloring) as the middle layer, and finally a delicious whipped topping with green sprinkles on top. Serve it in glass bowls so you can see the different layers while enjoying your treat.
Pot of Gold Jell-O
St. Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday to celebrate with the kids—especially the part about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Use this idea to bring some creativity to dessert. All you need to do is make some lemon Jell-O, cut it up into squares, and add it to a cute pot (or a regular bowl, if you’re short on time).
Sweet Shamrock Pretzels
A shamrock pretzel is a great dessert option if you’re trying to go for something a little healthier, or if you’ve already overloaded on sweets throughout the day. These pretzels are only as sweet as you want them to be, since you control the amount of sugar and sprinkles that go on top.
Lucky Cupcakes
Feeling lucky? These cupcakes will have you feeling festive and lucky for St. Patrick’s Day. Serve them as dessert at the dinner table, or add them to the spread at your child’s classroom party. Creativity is an absolute necessity with these, so don’t be afraid to break from the toppings template and just go with it.
Mint Chocolate Fudge
For a more elegant dessert that still fits in with the green theme of St. Patrick’s Day, try some delectable mint chocolate fudge. Peppermint extract gives it that subtle mint flavor, and a little bit of green food coloring helps create a minty green color. The mint and chocolate marbled look is both pretty and appetizing.
Green Velvet Cupcakes
A perfect St. Patrick’s Day dessert is one that pleases both your eyes and your taste buds, while staying on theme with the holiday. Green velvet cupcakes fit the bill, with a delicious velvety chocolate flavor and a beautiful shade of dark shamrock green. Top it all off with some white frosting and clover shaped sprinkles.
Shamrock Rice Krispy Treats
For dessert, treat your kids to some yummy shamrock Rice Krispy treats. Add some green food coloring to get your desired shade. You can leave it at that, or you can take it one step further by using a shamrock cookie cutter to make it an even cuter treat for St. Patrick’s Day.
Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers
For a dessert that’s different from the usual cakes, cookies, and cupcakes, serve some delicious chocolate covered graham crackers. White melting chocolates and green sprinkles make it festive for the holiday without overdoing it on the sweet factor. You can always switch things up by using pretzels, Oreos, or other treats in place of the graham crackers.
Green Pudding Dessert
Pudding is always an easy and delicious dessert option. Dress it up for St. Patrick’s Day by adding green food coloring to vanilla pudding and topping it off with some sweet shamrock candies, cookies, or green and white sprinkles. Additional layers of crumbled Oreos add some extra crunch and flavor that kids and adults alike will love.
Shamrock Marshmallow Pops
Use heart shaped marshmallows and candy melts to make these delicious shamrock pops. Get creative with yummy embellishments such as sprinkles and colored sugar. They’re a sweet and mostly mess-free dessert for the little ones, and they’re also perfect as St. Patty’s Day party favors for both kids and adults.
Pistachio Cake
A batch of pistachio nuts gives this cake its natural green hue. The pistachio flavoring and coloring are subtle, but if your family loves the taste of pistachio nuts, you can experiment by adding pistachio extract to enhance the flavor, and using a few drops of green food coloring to make the color more vibrant.
St. Patrick’s Day Chocolate Mint Cookies
If you have a favorite cookie recipe, it’s easy to dress it up for St. Patrick’s Day or any holiday. Bake the cookies, and while they’re hot out of the oven, carefully press some green M&Ms onto the tops for a quick way to make them extra festive. For a great St. Patty’s Day dessert, use a chocolate mint cookie recipe.
Rainbow Jell-O
Jell-O makes a perfect dessert because you can make it early in the day or even night before, and then it’s ready in time for dessert. With rainbow Jell-O, you’ll need a little extra patience, but it’s worth it to see the look on your family’s face when you set it out for dessert. Use all the colors of the rainbow to make it festive for St. Patrick’s Day, or alternate between green and orange to represent the Irish flag.
Green Marble Cookies
Cookies are always a classic dessert, but you can give them a St. Patty’s Day twist by adding green food coloring to the dough. Use a batch of green dough and non-green chocolate dough, and take a little from each to make a ball of marbled cookie dough. When they’re finished baking, the cookies will have a nice green and chocolate marbled look.
Shamrock Pretzel Treats
Turn a bag of pretzels, some M&Ms, Hershey’s Kisses, and green candy melts (or frosting) into a kid-friendly recipe for St. Patrick’s Day. Place a Kiss on each folded pretzel and then semi-melt them in the oven. Press some green M&Ms on top to make the shamrock shape, and then use candy melts or frosting to make the shamrock’s stem.
Boozy Chocolate Cupcakes
St. Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday for the kids, but be sure to have some treats on hand for the adults, too. Whip up a batch of boozy chocolate cupcakes for an adults-only treat. These are easy to make, and they’re a big hit thanks to the surprise ingredients; each chocolate cupcake is infused with Guinness beer, has an Irish whiskey filling, and is topped with a Bailys Irish Cream frosting.
Shamrock Shake
You might have heard of the seasonal Shamrock Shakes at your favorite fast food burger joint. The homemade version is better because you can personalize them to your taste and enjoy them year round. They make a perfect dessert on St. Patrick’s Day, though, because of their yummy flavor and festive green coloring.
Leprechaun Jell-O
Turn a kids’ favorite into a delicious, themed dessert for St. Patrick’s Day. All you need is a big box of lime Jell-O and a tub of Cool Whip. Kids can help out with the mixing and stirring, but Mom or Dad should do all the pouring and transferring to the refrigerator. Make this treat early in the day or the night before, so that it’s all set and ready to go for dessert.
Emerald Mint Milkshake
Milkshakes make great desserts after dinner or lunch. On St. Patrick’s Day, make an emerald mint shake for a dessert that’s festive for the holiday and delicious for the whole family. Just blend some vanilla ice cream, peppermint extract, and green food coloring. Once you’ve poured your shakes, top each one with whipped creamed and green sprinkles.
Shamrock Marshmallows
Shamrock marshmallows are great because you can make them ahead of time and pull them out when it’s time for dessert. Or, wrap them up to hand out as a take-home dessert when your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are winding down for the day. They’re easy to make, and a pleasure to eat.
St. Patty’s Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
Ever thought of adding something besides ice cream to cones? Ice cream cone cupcakes are a great dessert to serve on St. Patrick’s Day. And they’re just as fun to make as they are to eat, so don’t be afraid to get creative. You can also change up the look by swapping ice cream cones for simple plastic cups. What’s inside will still taste just as sweet.
Irish Cream Push Pops
For a light and fluffy after-dinner dessert, these creamy push pop treats are a hit with the whole family. The different “layers” consist mainly of brownies, pudding, candies, and cool whip. If you don’t have any push pop containers, serve each treat in small glass or bowl for an elegant look.
Rainbow Cookies
St. Patrick’s Day has its roots in Ireland, but for kids, it’s all about shamrocks, leprechauns, and rainbows. Make some pretty rainbow cookies for the kids to pass around at their classroom party, or just enjoy them as a family at dessert. On the cloud shape, use icing to write your children’s names or the word “Lucky.”.
Leprechaun Crunch
Tell your kids all about the story of the leprechaun while making this adorable leprechaun crunch. This sweet and colorful treat consists of sprinkles, pretzels, white chocolate baking chips, and some marshmallows from Lucky Charms cereal. Leprechaun crunch is a big hit with both kids and adults, so make it for the kids’ St. Patrick’s Day party and save some for the adults to enjoy, too.
Shamrock Pretzels
Pretzels are a versatile snack. They go well with dip, chocolate, cheese, and even yogurt. Try these shamrock pretzels for a salty-sweet dessert you can make with the kids. They’re simple to make, and it’s easy to control the mess by putting some wax paper down on your countertop. Kids will have almost as much fun helping out as they will eating their homemade treats.
Irish Potato Candy
You might not have thought “potato” and “candy” could ever go in the same sentence. But rest assured, Irish potato candy is as delicious as it is unique (and there are no actual potatoes required). This is a great treat to make with kids, since they can help with some of the preparation and you can teach them all about Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day while you bakec.
St. Patty’s Day Cake
A seven-layer cake is good enough as it is, but when you add some color to it, you’ll have something truly wonderful. Use food coloring to turn each layer a pretty shade of green to match the theme for the holiday. For a gradient look, add a little more food coloring from one layer to the next as you go. For another great St. Patrick’s Day idea, make it a rainbow instead of a green gradient.
Seven-Layer Rainbow Cookies
Put a spin on the seven-layer cake idea and make a batch of seven-layer cookies instead. These cute cookies give you some flexibility on the colors, so play with different color combinations for a St. Patrick’s Day theme. Make mini rainbow cookies, or go with a green gradient by adding different amounts of green food coloring to the different layers. You can also try making the colors of the Irish flag (green, white, and orange).
Green Popcorn and Pretzel Party Mix
A special St. Patrick’s Day party calls for some delicious party mix. Go crazy with popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, candy, and sprinkles. This wild and fun party mix will be a big hit with kids and adults alike. Leave some aside to set out during the party, and wrap up a few batches for kids and parents to take home as yummy party favors.
Two-Tone Clover Cookies
These clever clover cookies will add some whimsy to your St. Patty’s Day spread. Divide your cookie dough into two batches and add green food coloring to one. Then, you can mix and match colors and shapes to create a lovely two-tone look that’s perfect for dessert or a kids’ party.
Avocado Poppy Seed Cake
If you’re looking for something to treat the family to besides the usual cakes, cupcakes, and candies on St. Patrick’s Day, an avocado poppy seed cake is a perfect solution. The avocado adds a pleasant green color that fits with the theme of the holiday, and the flavor is sweet and delicious without being overly sweet like many traditional desserts. Give it a go for both kids and adults this St. Patrick’s Day.
Mint Oreos
You may have seen Oreos with green filling at the store, but don’t buy them when you can get the kids together and make your own. Make-your-own mint Oreos have a hint of—you guessed it—mint flavor, plus that wonderful homemade taste that you just can’t beat. Add a few drops of green food coloring to the cream filling to make it more festive for the holiday.
Green and White Bundt Cake
Whether you’re going to a party or hosting one at home, a Bundt cake is always a welcome treat. This one is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, thanks to its festive green and white frosting. Not only is the outside green, but the inside is a nice green and white combination as well. Just add some green food coloring to the batter while you’re making it, and you’ll end up with a nice marbled look once it’s all finished baking.
Shamrock Cookies
Shamrock sugar cookies are easy to make, and when you’re done decorating them, they’ll look so good that your family will swear you picked these up at the bakery. Use icing to create smiley faces and St. Patrick’s Day themed messages, or get creative with fun toppings such as sprinkles and candies.
St. Patrick’s Day Cake Bites
If you love making cupcakes but want to branch out, try making some adorable cake bites. They’re easy to prepare, they taste great, and they’ll look adorable with the rest of your holiday spread. One box of cake mix will yield about 40 cake balls, so there will be plenty to go around.
Lemon Pistachio Cupcakes
Pistachio nuts with a hint of lemon give these cupcakes their natural greenish tint and their uniquely delicious flavor. If you can’t find lemon pistachios in the store, regular ones work just as well. Top each cupcake off with the yummy pistachio cream frosting, or use regular frosting with green food coloring to make it extra festive and vibrant.
St. Patrick’s Day is a day for leprechauns, rainbows, Irish culture, and all things green, and you can let the theme extend all the way to dessert. Whether you’re in the mood for something sweet and traditional or light and different, you and your whole family can enjoy a delicious and delightful St. Patty’s themed dessert.