A Dessert Buffet that Brings Irish Cheer to Your Celebration!
St. Patrick’s Day is all about vibrant colors, festive cheer, and delicious food! And when it comes to desserts, there’s no shortage of creative ways to infuse the holiday spirit into sweet treats.
From green goodies to Irish-inspired classics, these desserts are perfect for sharing with friends and family or enjoying solo with a cup of tea. Let’s get baking and decorating for the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day dessert buffet!
Essentials for a St. Patrick’s Day Dessert Buffet
First let’s talk about how to set up a chic and festive dessert buffet. A well-decorated table creates the perfect backdrop for all your tasty creations and makes your party feel extra special.
- Tiered Serving Trays – Display cupcakes, cookies, and other bite-sized treats on tiered trays to add height and elegance.
- Green and Gold Dessert Plates – Festive plates with shamrock or gold accents are a must for serving your desserts in style.
- Cake Stands – Showcase your cakes and larger desserts on eye-catching stands with a green or white finish.
- Festive Table Runner – A green or plaid table runner with shamrock designs ties the entire table together.
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1. Shamrock Sugar Cookies
Bright, buttery, and bursting with holiday spirit, these shamrock sugar cookies are a St. Patrick’s Day must-have. Perfect for kids and adults alike, they’re easy to make and even more fun to decorate!
Ingredients:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
Instructions: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla, and green food coloring. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into shamrock shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies on the baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are golden. Let cool completely before decorating.
Things to Remember:
- Shamrock Cookie Cutters: Perfect for festive shapes.
- Royal Icing Kit: Includes tools for detailed and professional cookie decorating.
- Rolling Mat with Measurements: Ensures precise and even dough rolling.
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2. Irish Cream Cupcakes
These rich cupcakes, infused with Irish cream liqueur, are an indulgent treat for adults. Top them with a creamy Irish cream frosting for a dessert that’s sure to impress.
Ingredients for Cupcakes:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 3 tbsp Irish cream liqueur
Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp Irish cream liqueur
Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cupcake tin with liners. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in milk and Irish cream. Gradually add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until smooth. Divide batter into liners and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely. For the frosting, beat butter and powdered sugar until fluffy. Add Irish cream and mix until smooth. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
Things to Remember:
- Cupcake Liners with Shamrock Designs: Adds a festive touch to your presentation.
- Stand Mixer: Perfect for whipping up the batter and frosting with ease.
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3. Green Velvet Cake
Give the classic red velvet cake a St. Patrick’s Day twist with this stunning green version. The combination of buttermilk and cocoa creates a moist, flavorful dessert with a festive flair.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp green food coloring
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two 9-inch round cake pans. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in buttermilk, vanilla, and green food coloring. Gradually add dry ingredients until fully incorporated. Divide batter evenly between the pans and bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely. For the frosting, beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Frost and layer the cake.
Things to Remember:
- Non-Stick Round Cake Pans: Ensures even baking and easy release.
- Offset Spatula: Ideal for frosting cakes smoothly.
- Cake Decorating Turntable: Makes decorating a breeze.
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4. Lucky Leprechaun Cheesecake Bars
These vibrant green cheesecake bars are creamy, decadent, and perfect for adding a pop of color to your dessert buffet. They’re simple to make and can be customized with festive toppings.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup melted butter
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
Instructions: Preheat oven to 325°F and line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper. Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 3 tbsp sugar. Press into the pan to form the crust. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and ½ cup sugar until smooth. Add eggs, sour cream, vanilla, and green food coloring, blending until creamy. Pour the filling over the crust and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until set. Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Things to Remember:
- Non-Stick Square Baking Pan: Ensures easy removal and even baking.
- Decorative Sprinkles: Add gold or green sprinkles for extra flair.
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5. Rainbow Rice Krispies Treats
These colorful treats are a playful nod to St. Patrick’s Day rainbows. Perfect for kids and easy to make, they’ll brighten up any dessert table!
Ingredients:
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 1 bag (10 oz) mini marshmallows
- 3 tbsp butter
- Food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
Instructions: Divide marshmallows and butter into six portions, one for each color of the rainbow. Melt one portion of butter and marshmallows in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in one color of food coloring until evenly mixed. Add 1 cup of Rice Krispies and mix thoroughly. Press each colored layer into a greased 9×13-inch pan, one at a time. Allow each layer to set before adding the next. Cool completely, then cut into squares.
Things to Remember:
- Silicone Spatulas: Ideal for mixing sticky marshmallows and cereal.
- Rainbow Sprinkles: Add a festive touch to the top layer.
- Glass Dish: Displays the colorful layers beautifully.
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6. Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies
Combine the richness of brownies with the refreshing flavor of mint chocolate chips for a dessert that’s a total crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup mint chocolate chips
Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Melt butter in a saucepan, then remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, and cocoa powder. Add flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Fold in mint chocolate chips. Pour batter into the baking dish and bake for 25–30 minutes. Cool before slicing.
Things to Remember:
- Brownie Pan with Dividers: Ensures perfectly portioned brownies.
- Cooling Rack: Speeds up the cooling process for easy slicing.
- Mint Extract: Enhance the mint flavor if desired.
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7. St. Patrick’s Day Whoopie Pies
Soft, cake-like cookies sandwiched with fluffy green frosting make these whoopie pies irresistible. Add a festive touch with shamrock shaped decoration!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Green frosting (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Cream butter and sugar, then add the egg and mix well. Alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk until smooth. Drop batter onto the baking sheets (using a piping bag for precision). Bake for 10–12 minutes, then cool. Sandwich cookies together with green frosting and decorate with more icing, and sprinkles if desired.
Things to Remember:
- Silicone Baking Mats: Prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
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8. Irish Coffee Mousse Cups
These elegant mousse cups combine the flavors of coffee and Irish cream liqueur for a sophisticated dessert.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp instant coffee granules
- 3 tbsp Irish cream liqueur
- Chocolate shavings for garnish
Instructions: Whip heavy cream and sugar until soft peaks form. Dissolve coffee granules in 1 tbsp of hot water, then mix into the cream along with the Irish cream. Divide mousse into small dessert glasses and chill for 2 hours. Garnish with chocolate shavings before serving.
Things to Remember:
- Mini Dessert Glasses: Perfect for serving mousse in elegant portions.
- Handheld Electric Mixer: Speeds up the process of whipping cream.
- Chocolate Grater: Adds a refined touch to your garnishes.
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9. Pistachio Pudding Trifle
Layers of pistachio pudding, whipped cream, and crumbled cookies make this trifle a delightful and colorful dessert.
Ingredients:
- 1 box pistachio pudding mix
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups whipped cream
- 1 package shortbread cookies, crumbled
Instructions: Prepare pistachio pudding mix according to package instructions. In a trifle dish or individual glasses, layer pudding, whipped cream, and crumbled cookies. Repeat layers until the dish is full. Chill for 1 hour before serving.
Things to Remember:
- Trifle Bowl: Showcases the beautiful dessert layers.
- Dessert Spoons: Elegant and eco-friendly.
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10. Guinness Chocolate Cake
This rich, moist chocolate cake gets a unique depth of flavor from Guinness beer. Perfect for those who want a truly Irish dessert.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Guinness beer
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups sugar
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a bundt pan. Heat Guinness and butter in a saucepan until melted. Stir in cocoa powder and sugar until smooth. Cool slightly. Mix in sour cream and eggs, then add flour and baking soda. Stir until just combined. Pour into the bundt pan and bake for 45–50 minutes. Cool completely before serving.
Things to Remember:
- Non-Stick Bundt Pan: Ensures the perfect shape for your cake.
- Guinness Glasses: Serve with a side of Guinness for a complete pairing.
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The Takeaway
These 10 dessert ideas bring a festive and flavorful twist to your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. With everything from rich cakes to fun cookies, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Pair these treats with a beautifully decorated dessert buffet to make your holiday unforgettable!
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I’d love to hear from you! Which St. Patrick’s Day dessert are you excited to try first? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this post with friends and family. Let’s spread some Irish cheer together! Sláinte!
Last update on 2025-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
