32 St. Patrick's Day desserts for a sweet celebration

St. Patrick’s Day is a time to gather your loved ones, make a cozy Irish meal and lean into all things green. While we’re sure Irish staples like corned beef and cabbage and shepherd's pie will make an appearance at your St. Patrick's Day party, no meal is complete without dessert.

Be sure to stock your refrigerator with Guinness or a similar type of stout, along with Irish whiskey. Both are used in some of our favorite Irish desserts; stout pairs particularly well with chocolate, thanks to its rich notes and luxurious texture. Whiskey and caramel are a delicious duo as well, so you’ll find them paired together in these sweet treats.

The joy of this day is that there’s no set expectations when it comes to the sweet treats you serve. While we’ve included our fair share of chocolate treats, like chocolate layer cake, clover-shaped chocolate cupcakes and brownies with peppermint frosting, we’ve made sure to cover the spectrum of desserts to serve on this joyful holiday. To stay in the green theme, try no-bake grasshopper, a matcha Swiss roll infused with jasmine tea or pistachio icebox cake. There’s also other beloved desserts like an apple loaf with cream cheese frosting, a show stopping tiramisu trifle and of course, Irish soda bread. Read on to find our 32 best St. Patrick's Day dessert recipes.

No-Bake Grasshopper Pie by Jessie Sheehan

Nothing says St. Patrick's Day quite like grasshopper pie. While traditional grasshopper pie has a chiffon filling made with eggs and gelatin, this no-bake version simplifies things with a luscious cream cheese filling. Poured into a chocolate cookie crumble crust, this dessert is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

St. Patrick's Day Bark by Checka Ciammaichelli

Chocolate bark isn’t just for Valentine’s Day or Christmas. This festive recipe can easily be customized to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a white chocolate coating and green sprinkles. This kid-friendly treat comes together quickly while delivering sweet flavor, making it an ideal party favor.

Chocolate Clover Cupcakes by Justin Chapple

Whether you’re looking for a dessert for a crowd or something for your kid’s St. Patrick's Day, these cupcakes are just the thing. The cute clover decoration isn’t the only standout of this recipe. The cupcakes are actually formed into clover shapes, thanks to a few nifty baking tricks.

Chocolate Leprechaun Hats by Checka Ciammaichelli

These festive treats are all about leaning into the lore of the leprechaun. These chocolate leprechaun hats only require a handful of ingredients to come together — jumbo marshmallows, chocolate-covered cookies, chocolate candy melts and green sprinkles. They do take some time to harden, so they’re best made ahead of time — ideal for a St. Patrick's Day party.

Stout Sticky Toffee Pudding with Whiskey Toffee Sauce by Catherine Fulvio

Sticky toffee pudding is a classic dessert from the British Isles. This version is inspired by the flavors of Ireland, thanks to the inclusion of stout in the cake and a topping of boozy whiskey toffee sauce. We love serving this decadent dessert with a dollop of orange cream to balance the warm, rich flavors.

Double-Chocolate Bread Pudding with Bourbon Whipped Cream by Sunny Anderson

While bread pudding can be made with any type of leftover bread, this version takes it up a notch by using croissants and cinnamon raisin bread. To add even more flavor, mix in chocolate chips and chocolate syrup into the custard. Top it off with a dollop of Bourbon whipped cream.

Dylan's Pistachio Cake by Dylan Dreyer

It only takes a handful of pre-made ingredients to put this festive cake together. The light and tender cake is made with boxed cake mix and instant pistachio pudding, so it comes together quickly. To continue the green theme, top it off with a pistachio pudding-infused frosting.

Irish Stout Cake by Donal Skehan

This decadent chocolate cake has a secret ingredient that delivers big flavor — Irish stout! Along with cocoa powder, the stout adds a richness while ensuring that the batter stays moist. Decorate the cake off with a luscious white chocolate and cream cheese frosting.

Dylan's Irish Soda Bread by Dylan Dreyer

While it’s not a requirement to have Irish soda bread on St. Patrick's Day, we can’t imagine celebrating without it. This traditional recipe calls for sour cream, which keeps the bread tender and moist while adding a subtle tanginess. We love serving this loaf hot out of the oven slathered in good Irish butter.

Apple Loaf Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting by Elena Besser

This recipe takes a classic loaf cake and spikes it with warming spices and hunks of apples. While you could eat it as is, we love the cinnamon-infused cream cheese frosting that’s spread in a thick layer on top. The joy of this recipe is that the cake can be made ahead and frosted right before serving, cutting down party day prep.

Guinness Cake by SORTEDFood

Guinness is the star of this dessert, as it shows up in both the cake and frosting. Combined with cocoa powder and brown sugar, the cake has a rich flavor with a hint of booze. The frosting comes together quickly with cream cheese, powdered sugar and the beloved Irish stout.

Guinness Salted Chocolate Brownies with Peppermint White Chocolate Icing by Guinness Storehouse

Brownies are always a hit, but these are extra decadent, thanks to the inclusion of dark chocolate and a cup of Guinness. To stay in line with the St. Patrick's Day theme, top the brownies with a layer of green-tinted peppermint icing.

Matcha Jasmine Swiss Rolls by Kristina Cho

For a festive treat, look no further than this jasmine tea-infused Swiss roll. The sponge cake is made with matcha powder, which imparts a subtle earthy flavor with a green hue. Fill it with a jasmine-spiked whipped cream, then chill until ready to serve.

Guinness Caramel Tiramisu by Clodagh McKenna

This boozy trifle is the ultimate crowd pleaser for your St. Patrick’s Day party. Instead of a baking dish, the tiramisu is assembled in a large trifle dish, which shows off all the layers. The real star here is a Guinness-spiked caramel sauce drizzled between each layer.

Dark Chocolate Layer Cake by Siri Daly

Chocolate lovers, this one’s for you. This decadent cake from Siri Daly alternates layers of moist chocolate cake, chocolate pudding and chocolate frosting. It’s a triple threat of chocolate flavor that’ll be the hit of your St. Patrick's Day party.

Pistachio Icebox Cake by Katie Stilo

Icebox cakes are the ultimate no-bake dessert. Made with pistachio pudding, Cool Whip and wafers, this cake is all about the green. The best part is that it can be made well in advance and unveiled in time for your St. Patrick’s Day party.

Siri Daly's Dark Chocolate-Mint Brownies by Siri Daly

Chocolate and mint are a classic duo — and taste even better in the form of a brownie. Bake a batch of classic chocolate brownies, then once they come out of the oven, spread a mint buttercream on top. To finish, add a layer of fudgy chocolate ganache, creating perfect layers with every bite.

Matcha Shortbread Cookies by Angel Wong

While matcha might not be the first flavor you associate with St. Patrick’s Day, the color alone makes it a worthwhile contender. The matcha adds an earthy flavor to the shortbread, while infusing it with a signature green color. We love dipping them in chocolate for a festive appearance.

Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce by Elizabeth Heiskell

Bread pudding is one of those desserts that’s always a hit — plus it does double duty by using up pantry staples such as stale bread.. Drape it in a homemade sauce made with butter, sugar and whiskey.

Copycat Shamrock Shake by Casey Barber

Skip the lines and win brownie points with your friends by serving them homemade shamrock shakes. All you need to make this sweet treat is a handful of ingredients — namely, vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract and green food coloring — and a blender. The mint extract and green food coloring gives the shake its iconic color, so don’t skip it!

Quick Coffee-Chocolate Mousse by Clodagh McKenna

This mousse is perfect when you’re short on time but still want a sweet treat. Infused with coffee extract, the chocolate mousse has a rich flavor throughout. It comes together in 15 minutes and only needs 15 minutes more to chill, so dessert can be in your reach in no time.

Gur Cake by

If you’re unfamiliar, gur cake is a traditional Irish confection involving a thick brown paste enveloped in pastry on both sides. This recipe riffs on the classic by using raisin bread for the exterior of the pastry. The filling is made with brown sugar, spices and dried fruit.

Chocolate Irish Stout Cupcakes by Donal Skehan

These cupcakes are the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day treat. Cocoa powder and Irish stout come together to create a deeply flavorful cupcake. Top each one with a cream cheese and white chocolate frosting for a light and creamy contrast.

Bullock Brown Butter Banana Bread by Gesine Bullock-Prado

Brown butter makes everything better. Here, it adds a subtle caramelized flavor throughout the loaf. The secret ingredient? Mayonnaise, which keeps the banana bread moist and tender, without impacting the flavor.

Apple Crumble Cake with Caramel and Apple Icing by Donal Skehan

This festive dessert combines all our favorite sweet elements in one. A tender cake is studded with hunks of apples before it’s layered with dulce de leche and caramelized apples. Top it off with a crumble layer for some added texture.

No-Bake Mint Chocolate Pie by Tasty

This is the perfect dessert when you’re short on time but want to deliver that wow-factor. Since there’s no baking involved, this mint chocolate pie comes together quickly. Just pour the mint cream into a chocolate cookie crust and let it set up in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Irish Coffee Cupcakes by Donal Skehan

On first look, these cupcakes look innocent enough. With one bite, you’ll realize that they’re certifiably for adults-only. Vanilla cupcakes are laced with hints of Irish whiskey in both the cake and frosting, creating a subtle boozy bite.

Irish Coffee with Lemon-Vanilla Whipped Cream by Valerie Bertinelli

There’s no better time to serve Irish coffee than on St. Patrick’s Day. This boozy beverage features spiked coffee with Irish whiskey and a pillowy topping of whipped cream. We love serving this at the end of a meal alongside dessert.

Caramel Apple Pie by Gesine Bullock-Prado

Apple pie is a perennial favorite for good reason. With a tender, flaky crust and warm, spiced apples, what’s not to love? If making your own pie dough feels intimidating, store-bought is fine.

Irish Whiskey Mocha Chocolate Mousse by Donal Skehan

Chocolate mousse is always a crowd pleaser. This version from Irish chef Donal Skehan infuses the mousse with whiskey and mocha for a festive flair. The joy of mousse is that it can — and should — be made ahead of time, making it an ideal option for your St. Patrick’s Day party.

Mint Chocolate Trifle by Seton Rossini

Trifles are one of those desserts that look impressive, but couldn’t be easier to make. This one features alternating layers of mint chocolate pudding, chocolate crumbles and mint whipped cream. Top the trifle with chocolate-brushed mint leaves to make this a real showstopper.

Dark Chocolate Beet Cupcakes by Donal Skehan

Yes, these cupcakes are made with beets and no, they don’t taste like the root vegetable. The beets give the cupcakes a unique red-hued color that’s totally natural. Paired with chocolate in both the cake and frosting, you’ll be in for a sweet surprise.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com