10 Easy St. Patrick’s Day Desserts to Make with Kids

St. Patrick’s Day, observed on March 17 each year, has evolved from commemorating the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, into a celebration of Irish culture, with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking, leprechauns and people wearing green. Many celebrate the day with Irish-inspired foods like corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie and Irish soda bread. But I also like to celebrate with St. Patrick’s Day desserts.

Some of the top St. Patrick’s Day desserts are Irish Apple Pie, Irish Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce, and Irish Porter Cake. You’ll love that most Irish desserts are rather simple to prepare. 

These 10 St. Patrick’s Day treats are just as easy to make in a short amount of time, and they’ll easily become a favorite tradition for your family. Bring these St. Patrick’s Day desserts to any party, or just make a batch for your friends. Ideal for making with kids (green desserts are a must, after all, on this day), these treats might even better than finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

1. Mint Chocolate Espresso Pudding

Kids and adults alike will fall in love with this mint chocolate espresso pudding. It is very easy to make, and it can be put together with either milk chocolate or white chocolate.

Fabulous blender chocolate pots de crème or puddings like this take five minutes of hands-on time. That mere five minutes of labor will magically produce the most delicious, silky smooth sweet treats you could ever imagine. It’s a “taste celebration” in each spoonful of pudding.

2. Rice Krispies Treats with Lucky Charms

Your kids’ favorite cereal becomes these cheerful treats for St. Patrick’s Day. Make as you would normally make Rice Krispies Treats, but substitute Lucky Charms for the Rice Krispies. Dip the treats in white chocolate to make them extra sweet.

3. Rainbow Cupcakes

It isn’t St. Patrick’s Day without rainbows! Just bake your favorite cupcake recipe, and add color to the batter once they’re in each cupcake tin or frosting with food coloring. Or add coloring to both the frosting and batter for an even more festive rainbow cupcake. Brightly colored cupcakes will have you dancing an Irish jig.

Image courtesy of Wanda Lopez, MySweetZepol

5. Rainbow Sprinkle Popcorn

What lies at the end of the rainbow? We hope it’s this light, tasty and colorful popcorn snack. Rainbow sprinkle popcorn is one of our favorite recipes all year long, but especially during the holidays. Pop up your favorite popcorn in the microwave or on the stove, let it cool for a bit, and then mix in the melted white chocolate and rainbow sprinkles. Feel free to be generous with the sprinkles. This is such a fun goodie to make with kids, and it’s a perfect after-school St. Patrick’s Day dessert or movie night treat.

6. Homemade Shamrock Shake

Put your own twist on this seasonal classic. It is made with vanilla ice cream, mint extract, and as much whipped cream as your heart desires. Here’s what you’ll need for one serving:

• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/8 tsp mint extract
• 3 – 4 drops of green food coloring

Instructions:

• Put the ice cream, green food coloring, and mint extract in a blender.
• Add about half the portion of the milk, and begin blending. Add more milk until you get the desired consistency.
• Enjoy!

7. Key Lime Pie Cupcakes

You’re probably always looking for excuses to enjoy key lime pie anyway, and now is the time to think green. This cupcake version is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. Top with some lime slices for an additional pleasing touch.

You’ll need:

• 1 box of lemon cake mix
• Half the amount of water noted in the cake mix directions
• Lime juice to replace the other half of water amount in cake mix directions
• Cream cheese frosting, store bought

Instructions:

• Follow the instructions of the box as recommended except for the water
• Mix the lemon cake mix according to package directions
• Bake according to package directions.
• Once the cake has cooled, frost and enjoy!

8. Shamrock Sugar Cookies

Since four-leaf clovers are hard to find, make your own luck with shamrock- inspired desserts. Keep it simple by baking up some sugar cookies. Grab a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter, your favorite sugar cookie recipe, and start baking. Have the kids help you dip the corners in chocolate and decorate the the cookies with green sprinkles.

9. Shamrock Whoopie Pies

Remember that shamrock cookie cutter you got for the shamrock sugar cookies? Get more use out of it with this St. Patrick’s Day dessert.  Elevate a simple vanilla cake mix by turning it into these fun whoopie pies. A dollop of homemade buttercream is sandwiched in the middle.

You’ll need:

• Vanilla cake mix and all the ingredients to make it
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon green food coloring
• Vanilla or cream cheese frosting, store bought

Instructions:

• Mix the cake mix according to package directions
• Add cocoa powder and green food coloring
• Bake according to package directions.
• Once the cake has cooled, frost and enjoy!

10. Mint Fudge Brownies

Mint fudge brownies are another easy and delicious St. Patrick’s Day dessert for the win. Just whip up your favorite fudgy brownies, from a mix or homemade recipe. Add Andes Creme de Menthe thins for an extra kick of chocolate and mint.

Baking With Kids 

There’s no better way to get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit than by devouring tasty, holiday-inspired desserts that you made with your kids. Baking with our kids is a time-honored tradition at any holiday. While your intentions for this activity may start off well and good, things can sometimes get hectic. Fortunately, if you set reasonable expectations and think through a few logistics ahead of time, you can set yourself and the kids up for a fun and successful baking session. 

Think through what the kiddos can do by themselves or with your assistance. While a little one may need some help cracking an egg, they can stir things, so you can let them do that. While they might need a reminder to pour the milk into the center of the bowl, rather than too close to the rim, they can do the actual pouring on their own. You’ll also want to make sure you have the right baking essentials and tools before you get started.

Now it’s time to get in the kitchen, start baking and making new memories!