33 St. Patrick's Day Desserts That Are as Good as Gold

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 cupcakes. Whether green, minty, or infused with lime, each of these St. Patrick's Day food ideas guarantees a lucky day.

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Leprechaun Bark

Leprechaun Bark
Matthew Clark

Swirled chocolate bark gets a St. Patrick's Day twist when topped with adorable mini leprechaun hats. Finish your homemade candy with colorful sprinkles and candies. Look for a bag of all-green M&Ms to top off this treat.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Lightened Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie
Andy Lyons

Try to resist a slice of this St. Patrick's Day pie. The combo of salty pretzel crust and tangy lime filling is sure to put a jig in your step.

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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.

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Rainbow Fudge

Rainbow Fudge
Hannah Bigot

This rainbow dessert for St. Patrick's Day is filled with colorful layers of sweet orange fudge. The technique is simple—you'll just need to allow time for each layer to set.

Test Kitchen Tip: Store this make-ahead St. Patrick's Day dessert in the refrigerator for up to two weeks before serving.

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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.

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Coffee and Cookie Brownies

Coffee and Cookie Brownies
Blaine Moats

Embrace the holiday spirit, and pair these rich St. Patrick's Day desserts with a shot of Irish whiskey. The coffee-infused brownies require six ingredients, including store-bought cookie dough and a store-bought brownie mix. In other words, they're a snap to make.

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Ginger-and-Mint Lime Floats

Ginger-and-Mint Lime Floats
Jason Donnelly

Zippy floats infused with homemade ginger syrup are a tasty and easy St. Patrick's Day dessert. Lime sorbet and fresh mint lend a holiday-approved green hue to these sweet treats.

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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.

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Lime Lights

Lime Lights
Andy Lyons

Gourmet Irish cookies in less than an hour? Now that's a brilliant St. Patrick's Day food idea. These crispy cookies feature chopped macadamia nuts in the batter and a smooth lime and cream cheese frosting.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Creme de Menthe Cookies-and-Cream Tassies

Crème de Menthe Cookies and Cream
Blaine Moats

If you need a festive dessert in a pinch, reach for these no-bake tassies. Store-bought phyllo shells and a 20-minute prep time make them a fabulous stress-free treat. The cute, store-bought-cookie topper just makes them more cute and delicious.

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Mint-Chocolate Cookies

Mint-Chocolate Cookies
Andy Lyons

Dig out that box of plain sugar cookie mix hiding in your pantry and give it an Irish makeover. Mint-flavor chocolates and emerald-green candy toppers add charming appeal.

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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.

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Lemon-Pistachio Checkerboards

Lemon-Pistachio Checkerboards
Andy Lyons

This stylish St. Patrick's Day recipe is easier than you think: Simply alternate rolls of lemon and pistachio cookie dough for the checkerboard look.

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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.

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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.

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Cornmeal-and-Lime Butter Cookies

Cornmeal and Lime Butter Cookies
Kritsada Panichgul

A hint of green and a dash of good luck top off these melt-in-your-mouth citrus butter cookies. At only 64 calories a pop, they're a St. Patrick's Day dessert worth celebrating.

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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.

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Irish Creme Delights

Irish Cream Delights
Scott Little

Like snickerdoodles, these St. Patrick's Day desserts are rolled in cinnamon-sugar just before baking. The difference is a peppy splash of coffee liqueur added to the batter. Top off your cookies with our luscious homemade buttercream frosting.

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Lime and Ginger Chewies

Lime and Ginger Chewies
Andy Lyons

Fresh ginger and lime make these cookies an unforgettable St. Patrick's Day food idea. And you can thank fresh lime zest for that holiday-perfect hint of green.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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