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Simple Sweet Treats for St. Patrick’s Day Eats

9 Easy Desserts to Make You Feel Lucky

By E.L. MartinPublished about a year ago 8 min read
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Simple Sweet Treats for St. Patrick’s Day Eats
Photo by Nathalie Jolie on Unsplash

Let's face it: you know you want some green. While you may not usually want it in your food, today is the day green food is perfectly acceptable or even encouraged. While you could just opt for an easy-grab pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream or make a bowl of green Jell-O, sometimes you crave just a little more. It's supposed to be a celebration, after all! But, maybe you don't want all the hassle of making some super special dessert. Maybe you're feeling low on energy or short on time. Maybe your culinary prowess is lacking. If so, I've got some recipes for you.

We'll start off with a few of the easiest recipes that will please various age groups and ranges, then go for a few sweeter more child-friendly options, and finally three recipes just for adults.

For All Ages:

Classic recipes are classic for a reason: they are simple and please a crowd. From chocolate chip cookies, to milkshakes, to cake, all ages are free to enjoy each of these desserts. The best part is many favorite and simple classics require only subtle changes to incorporate "the wearing of the green". If you have a favorite recipe of your own, I encourage you to think outside the box for each holiday and tweak it to the occasion. You won't regret it!

Easy Pistachio Pudding Cake

Pistachio Bundt Cake without icing (photo by author)

Pistachio Cake Slice with Pistachio Frosting (photo by author)
  • 1 box white or yellow cake mix, plus ingredients on package
  • 4 small boxes (3.4 oz.) instant pistachio pudding mix
  • 16 oz. whipped cream or Cool Whip

Combine cake mix with 2 boxes of pudding mix. Add additional ingredients on the boxed cake mix package. Place cake mixture in a large Bundt pan and bake for time on cake mix package. Combine whipped cream and two boxes of pudding mix to make an icing for the Bundt cake. Once the cake has cooled, ice the cake and refrigerate until ready to be served.

"Shamrock" Shake

"Shamrock Shake" (photo by author)
  • 2 cups vanilla bean ice cream
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
  • 6 drops green food coloring
  • Whipped cream topping (optional)

In a blender, blend ice cream, milk, peppermint extract, and food coloring. Pour shake into a tall glass. Top with whipped cream (optional).

“Sham-rock-olate Chip” Cookies

"Sham-rock-olate Chip" Cookies (photo by author)

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 tsp. green food coloring, more for deeper color

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Whip together butter, sugars, eggs, baking soda, salt and vanilla. Mix in remaining ingredients, adding chocolate chips and food coloring last. Drop batter by teaspoons, and place 2in. apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly brown. If you enjoy mint, feel free to add crushed Andes mints or even 1/2 tsp peppermint extract to this basic chocolate chip cookie recipe.

For Children and the Young-At-Heart:

This next set of three treats is for those who have intense sweet tooth cravings. If marshmallows and sprinkles are what you crave or the joy that comes with bright colors, these treats are for you! Have some fun, and enjoy!

“Lucky Charms” Cereal Treats

Lucky Charms Cereal Treats (photo by author)

  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 2 (10.5oz each) packages of mini marshmallows
  • 5 cups Lucky Charms cereal
  • Sprinkles (optional)

Butter a 9 x 13 pan. Melt butter in large microwave safe bowl. Add 1 package of marshmallows to melted butter and stir. Microwave again if necessary until the mixture is a soft, marshmallow crème consistency. Add in 2 cups more marshmallows and melt again. Add in Lucky Charms cereal and add until evenly coated. Pour mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a large greased or silicone spatula. Press mixture evenly into pan. Let treats sit for at least 2 hours then cut into squares.

"Lucky Charms" Sandwich Cookies

"Lucky Charms" Cookie Sandwich (photo by author)

Cookies:

  • 1 ½ cups Lucky Charms Cereal marshmallows
  • 1 pouch sugar cookie mix
  • Butter/oil and egg called for on cookie mix pouch

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place marshmallows in a food storage bag with a seal and crush using a rolling pin into small pieces. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together cookie mix. Shape dough into 36 balls. Roll each ball in marshmallow pieces. Place on prepared baking sheet 2 in. apart. Bake 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool for 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the filling.

Filling:

  • 1 ½ cups marshmallow crème
  • 2/3 cups softened butter
  • 1 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • Green food coloring

Beat marshmallow crème and butter until well blended. Mix in powdered sugar. Divide frosting and add green food coloring. Spread frosting on the bottom of one cookie, and top with another cookie.

Lime Jell-O Poke Cake

Lime Jell-O Poke cake (photo by author)

  • 1 box yellow cake mix, plus ingredients on box
  • 1 (3 oz.) box lime gelatin
  • ¾ cup hot water
  • ½ cup cold water
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 (3.4 oz.) boxes instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 4 oz. whipped cream, Cool whip, or Reddi Whip
  • 3 drops green food coloring (optional)

Grease the bottom and sides of a 13x9 inch cake pan. Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Allow the cake to cool. Once cooled, poke several holes in the cake with a toothpick. Dissolve the lime Jell-O with 3/4 cup hot water. Once completely dissolved, add 1/2 cup cold water. Refrigerate Jell-O just until syrupy. Pour the Jell-O into the holes in the cake, and refrigerate. Whip the vanilla instant pudding, whipped cream (or equivalent), and milk in a medium bowl until thick (about 5 minutes), add green food coloring, if desired. Frost the cake with the pudding-whipped cream icing and refrigerate until ready to serve.

The Adult Menu:

Okay, so I must warn you that it was not my intention to select brownie variations for all of the adult options. It was just something that happened. I apologize to anyone who may feel excluded. Perhaps booze and chocolate just go really, really, well together-either that or I envision adulthood as dark and bitter. Take your pick! But anyway, these brownies do provide enough sweetness to make living life worthwhile, and the small amount of booze will take the rest of the edge off!

Irish Cream Brownies

Irish Cream Brownies-Fudge Layer Top (photo by author)

  • 1 (18oz.) box brownie mix, plus ingredients on package
  • 1 tsp espresso powder
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 ¾ cups milk chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup Irish Cream
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8in.pan with parchment paper. Prepare brownie batter according to the package instructions. Stir in espresso powder and pour into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Let cool completely. In a medium microwavable bowl, combine condensed milk, chocolate chips, Irish Cream, vanilla, and salt. Place bowl in microwave and heat and stir every 30 seconds until chocolate is completely melted. Pour mixture over cooled brownies and refrigerate until set (about 30mins.) Slice into squares and serve.

Irish Cream Coffee Bars

Irish Cream Coffee Bars (photo by author)

  • 1 ¼ cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 ¼ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • ¾ cup Irish Cream
  • 6 large eggs, divided
  • ½ cup chocolate chips
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. instant coffee

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13in pan with parchment. Mix flour, cocoa, salt, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Whisk in melted butter, Irish cream, and 3 eggs. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into the prepared pan.

Beat and soften cream cheese. Add in the remaining 3 eggs, powdered sugar, and instant coffee granules. Beat until smooth and pour over top of brownie batter. Bake 55-60 minutes until center is set. Cool 15 minutes then refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve.

Irish Whiskey Brownies

Irish Whiskey Brownies (photo by author)

  • 1 ½ cups melted butter
  • 1 ¼ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 8 large eggs
  • 4 cups sugar
  • 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp. Jameson or other Irish whiskey
  • 1 Tbsp. orange liqueur
  • ¼ cup coarsely chopped candied orange peel
  • ¾ cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 11x15 in. baking dish or half a sheet tray. I use an 11x15 in for thicker brownies. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and cocoa powder until smooth. Beat eggs and sugar in a separate bowl. Add flour, salt, whiskey, and orange liqueur and beat until well combined. Add butter-cocoa mixture and beat until just combined. Fold in the candied orange peel and chocolate chips. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes if baking in a half sheet pan or up to 40 minutes if using an 11x15 in. pan. Rotate the pan after the first 10 to bake evenly. Check center with toothpick for doneness. If not completely baked, add additional time. Once thoroughly baked, allow to cool completely before slicing.

*Additional notes: this recipe can be easily halved or quartered for smaller batches. This is a party sized recipe that can serve up to 30 people.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My hope is that at least one of these recipes tickled your fancy for your St. Patrick's Day celebration or, perhaps, another occasion entirely. Anytime when one can share food with those around them it is a great blessing for the one sharing. My hope is that you are blessed in return with a good sweet treat and a memorable experience. Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

By Eyestetix Studio on Unsplash

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About the Creator

E.L. Martin

Powered by Nature, Humanity, Humor, Food, Lifestyle, Fiction, and Culture; Oh, and a questionable amount of coffee.

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