25 St. Patrick’s Day Desserts That Are as Good as Gold

Celebrate the holiday with something sweet!

matcha-mint milkshakes with shamrocks
Photo: Carson Downing

Satisfy your sweet tooth with festive St. Patrick’s Day desserts, including cute shamrock cookies, Irish creme cheesecake, and colorful rainbow cakes. Whether green, minty, or infused with lime, each of these St. Patrick’s Day food ideas guarantees a lucky day.

01 of 25

Pot o’ Gold Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes

Pot O' Gold Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes
Carson Downing

A cold pint of Guinness is a must-have on St. Patrick’s Day, but this classic Irish flavor isn’t just limited to the drink menu. Whip up a batch of these chocolate Guinness cupcakes—with a festive surprise inside. Gold and green sprinkles take these cupcakes from delicious to deliciously over-the-top for the holiday.

02 of 25

Shamrock Cookies

Shamrock Cookies
Blaine Moats

Our adorable slice-and-bake St. Patrick’s Day desserts are a snap to make. Be sure to chill the dough for at least 2 hours first. For playful shamrock-syle edging, roll the dough logs in green colored sugar.

03 of 25

Hidden Clover Cupcakes

Hidden Clover Cupcakes
Matthew Clark

There’s a surprise inside these green desserts for St. Patrick’s Day! Slice into each chocolaty cupcake and reveal a lucky charm.

04 of 25

Pistachio Bars

layered chocolate-pistachio bars
Jason Donnelly

These gorgeous bars might be our new favorite St. Patrick’s Day dessert. The recipe starts with a cocoa-infused graham cracker and pistachio crust. Finished with a buttery ganache on top, this decadent treat feature a creamy layer of pistachio flavor in its middle.

05 of 25

Gluten-Free Key Lime Pie

overhead view of key lime pie
Blaine Moats

Try to resist a slice of this St. Patrick’s Day pie. The combo of a crisp gluten-free crust and tangy lime filling is sure to put a jig in your step.

06 of 25

End-of-the-Rainbow Cupcakes

Cupcake Rainbow
Blaine Moats

Who knew a basic cupcake recipe could transform into a colorful Irish dessert? Dazzle your guests with a colorful St. Patrick’s Day snack—made with ingredients you probably already have on your shelf. Use a frosting bag kit to create the colorful rainbow design on top.

07 of 25

Mint Greek Frozen Yogurt

Mint Greek Frozen Yogurt
Jason Donnelly

This healthy St. Patrick’s Day dessert will bring some chill to your holiday. Creamy frozen yogurt laced with mint is so easy to make. Whisk together all ingredients then freeze. Since it needs time to set in the freezer, be sure to make this a few hours before you plan to eat it.

08 of 25

Key Lime Pie Tassies

Key Lime Pie Tassies
Andy Lyons

Cool citrus filling and a buttery base combine for a bite-size treat worth sharing. A bright, zesty filling adds irresistible flavor to these tiny tassies; a few drops of green food coloring give the filling its St. Patrick’s Day hue. Top each of the Key lime treats with a dollop of whipped cream.

09 of 25

Mint Matcha Milk Shake

matcha-mint milkshakes with shamrocks
Carson Downing

A shamrock cookie cutter and matcha powder are all it takes to top these minty shakes with a sweet St. Patrick’s Day garnish. Add chopped fresh mint to the base of the shake for a burst of fresh flavor.

10 of 25

Creme de Menthe Brownies

Creme De Menthe Brownies
Jason Donnelly

How would a leprechaun serve a brownie? With a minty twist, of course! Add these fudge treats to your dessert spread and watch them disappear.

11 of 25

Spearmint Whoopie Pies with White Chocolate Mascarpone

Spearmint Whoopie Pies with White Chocolate Mascarpone Filling
Andy Lyons

This cookie might top all other St. Patrick’s Day desserts. Rich white chocolate mascarpone fills the fluffy whoopie pies. Crushed green spearmint candies add crunch and an extra touch of holiday color.

12 of 25

Black-and-White Irish Cream Cupcakes

Black-and-White Irish Cream Cupcakes
Kritsada Panichgul

Irish cream ganache and crunchy chopped coffee beans top this rich St. Patrick’s Day dessert. And have no fear: That frosting design is made with a simple toothpick.

13 of 25

Creme de Menthe Brownie Bites

Creme de Menthe Brownie Bites
Andy Lyons

If you need the perfect St. Patrick’s Day desserts, look no further than these booze-infused brownies. Whip some creme de menthe—a mint-flavor liqueur—into your batter and frosting for darling brownie bites that crumble with cool minty flavor.

14 of 25

Chocolate Irish Cream Cheesecake

Chocolate-Irish Cream Cheesecake
Andy Lyons

Irish liqueur gives the creamy chocolate cheesecake a Dublin-approved spin. Make it the night before—this St. Patrick’s Day dessert needs time to chill before serving.

15 of 25

Shamrock Shake Cupcakes

Shamrock Milkshake Cupcakes
Blaine Moats

Swirls of white chocolate frosting top these moist, mint-flavored St. Patrick’s Day cupcakes. Wrap them with green cupcake liners to make one of our favorite green desserts.

16 of 25

Grasshopper Cupcakes

Grasshopper Cupcakes
Jason Donnelly

If you haven’t guessed, we love chocolate and mint together. Here, minty frosting and a chocolate Hershey’s Kiss sit atop a chocolate cupcake in our scrumptious St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

17 of 25

Wicked Good Whoopie Pies

Chocolate whoopie pies with cream filling and coated in rainbow sprinkles
Brie Passano

These homemade whoopie pies are even better than finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow—really! Give the chocolate treats a bit of leprechaun flair by rolling the edges of the filling in rainbow sprinkles before serving.

18 of 25

Pecan-Crusted Mojito Bars

Pecan-Crusted Mojito Bars
Jason Donnelly

Freshen up your St. Patrick’s Day desserts by adding lime-zested mojito bars to the mix. A sprinkling of powdered sugar adds subtle sweetness to the tart treats, while green garnishes give them true Irish flair.

19 of 25

Key Lime Cheesecake Bars

Key Lime Cheesecake Bars
Andy Lyons

There’s no better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with a dessert that’s naturally green, like these cheesecake bars. The best part? They have only 150 calories per serving.

20 of 25

Bread & Butter Pudding with Salted Caramel Whiskey Butter Sauce

Bread and Butter Pudding with Salted Caramel Whiskey Butter Sauce
Andy Lyons

This Irish bread pudding is one of our favorite traditional St. Patrick’s Day desserts. If you have any of the Irish whiskey sauce left, pour it over ice cream!

21 of 25

Stout Gingerbread with Lemony Hard Sauce

Stout Gingerbread with Lemony Hard Sauce
Blaine Moats

It doesn’t get more festive than this St. Patrick’s Day cake! A citrusy sauce takes this Guinness cake over the top.

Test Kitchen Tip: Make the sauce for this Irish dessert up at least 24 hours before serving!

22 of 25

Copycat Chocolate-Mint Thin Cookies

Copycat Chocolate-Mint Thins
Matthew Clark

Inspired by your favorite treat, these addicting chocolate St. Patrick’s Day cookies will have you reaching for a second sweet. The crispy baked cookie is finished with a thick chocolate coating. Decorate them with shamrock-shaped green sprinkles for the holiday.

23 of 25

Irish Potato Candy

Potatoes in ceramic dish

Carson Downing

This regional St. Patrick's Day dessert recipe is a favorite throughout the Mid Atlantic region. Our recipe for the treat is made with cream cheese, coconut, and cinnamon.

24 of 25

Fudgy Stout Brownies

overhead view of Fudgy Stout Brownies on black background
Blaine Moats

A cup of stout beer balances the flavor of rich chocolate in this brownie recipe. Topping the brownies with more chocolate while warm creates a rich, fudgy topping.

25 of 25

Rainbow Sheet Cake

rainbow layered cake with white icing and sprinkles
Rachel Marek

It wouldn't be St. Patrick's Day without a nod to rainbows. We'll walk you though how to transform a box of white cake mix into this festive and colorful layer cake.

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