It's fun to make holiday-themed food, especially St. Paddy's Day green desserts with Irish cream! Although they are popular around St. Patrick's Day, they are great any time of year! And because EASY green dessert recipe ideas are not always easy to come by, I created these St. Patrick's Day Irish Cream Dessert Shots!
I'm a huge fan of dessert shots! I really like that this mini dessert recipe in shot glasses is small so you can indulge without the guilt. These St. Patrick's Day Desserts are miniature, cute, easy no-bake, and can be made in 15 minutes. And best of all they have Baileys Irish Cream in them (or use Irish Cream extract if you want to avoid the alcohol) AND chocolate in the form of 2 bite brownies. They are ideal for your Saint Patrick's Day celebration and are the ideal dessert when you only want a small amount and pair perfectly with my Reuben Soup and green beer!
And since easy St. Paddy's Day Desserts (that are also green) are hard to come by, here are a couple of green dessert recipes for your back pocket. Forget the traditional Irish desserts! This Pistachio Pudding Dessert is great for a St. Patrick's Day potluck, as are these Easy Shamrock tarts!
And if you love Baileys recipes, you'll love my No Bake Baileys Cheesecake and my Chocolate Guinness Cake with Irish Cream Frosting!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
For this Irish dessert recipe, you'll need these basic ingredients:
- Irish cream liqueur. I use Bailey's but you can use homemade Irish Cream if you prefer.
- Green food coloring. I recommend using gel food color. I use Wilton or Americolor. Kelly green will give you this color.
- Whipped cream - use real whipping cream/heavy cream (33%-36%), as the spray whipped cream will melt
- 2 bite brownies. These are the best brownies to use!
- Gold sprinkles. You can use any type of gold sprinkles, gold pearls, or edible glitter.
*See recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Pudding- you could use store-bought or homemade, or instant white chocolate pudding (and make it into green chocolate!), or pistachio pudding mix instead.
- Brownies - you could sub another type of store-bought or homemade brownie or chocolate cake (loaf cake from the bakery, homemade chocolate cake or a defrosted McCain's cake with the frosting scraped off).
- Sprinkles - you could use green sprinkles, green sparkling sugar, or shamrock sprinkles instead of gold.
- Parfait - You can make this into 2 parfaits or double the ingredients and make 4. You could also layer this in larger shot glasses, wine glasses, mason jars, or clear plastic cups.
- No alcohol - You can use Irish cream extract or Irish cream coffee creamer.
🔪How to Make St. Patrick's Day Irish Cream Dessert Shots
Step 1: Prepare only ½ pkg vanilla pudding as directed on the package, but with only ¾ cup milk.
* If you decide to make up the entire pkg of pudding and use the reminder for something else, use 11/2 cups of milk.
Step 2: Whip the whipping cream to soft peaks with an electric hand mixer.
Step 3: Set aside about ⅔ of the whipping cream, then add Bailey's Irish Cream to the other ⅓.
Step 4: Whip to stiff peaks.
Step 5: Fold whipped cream/Irish cream mixture into pudding and add food/icing coloring.
Step 6: With remaining whipped cream (that will be your garnish) add 1 tablespoon of white granulated sugar and whip to stiff peaks. Set aside for garnish.
Step 7: Cut each 2- bite brownie in half, take the bottom ½ of brownie, and press into the bottom of shot glass.
Step 8: Then add a little Shamrock pudding. Repeat for all 12, dividing it equally by the remainder of the shot glasses.
*Just make sure you leave enough space to add the other half of the brownie.
Step 9: Press the top half of the brownies into the top of each shot glass.
You may have a little leftover pudding mix, so if there's room in your shot glass, you can add a dollop on top of the 2nd half of the brownie.
Step 10: Garnish with swirled whipped cream. (see videos below for how to pipe a swirl of whipped cream onto your dessert shots).
Step 11: Scatter on gold sprinkles.
Serve immediately or they can remain in the fridge for several hours or overnight to soften.
Recipe Tips
- Whipping Cream – Use real heavy whipping cream (33%-36% fat) for the best texture and stability. Avoid canned whipped cream, as it melts quickly.
- Irish Cream Substitute – If you want to make this alcohol-free, use Irish Cream extract or Irish Cream coffee creamer for the same flavor.
- Green Food Coloring – Use gel food coloring (Wilton or Americolor) instead of liquid food dye for a vibrant green color. Kelly Green will give you this color.
- Pudding Mix – If you don’t have vanilla instant pudding, white chocolate or pistachio pudding can work as a substitute.
- Layering – Ensure you press the brownie base down firmly so it holds the layers well.
- Whipping Cream for Garnish – To get stiff peaks, make sure your bowl and beaters are cold before whipping.
- Perfectly Piped Whipped Cream – Use a 1M piping tip and pastry bag for a professional swirl. If you’re unfamiliar, watch the video tutorial (below) on how to do this properly.
- Gold Sprinkles – Use edible gold sprinkles or pearls, but avoid gold dragees as they are decorative but not meant to be eaten.
- Softened Texture – If you like a softer dessert, refrigerate assembled shots overnight to let the flavors meld and the brownie layers soften.
🎥VIDEOS
How to get perfectly piped whipped cream:
If you're not sure how to use a 1M piping tip: CLICK HERE: How to use a 1M Piping Tip
And if you don't know how to fill a pasty bag:CLICK HERE: How to fill a pastry bag
🌡️Storage
- You can make this green treat a day or two in advance, but I do not recommend you put it together until just prior to serving. Store the whipped cream, pudding, and brownies in separate containers.
- This St. Patrick's Day dessert does NOT freeze well.
👪 Serving Size
This St. Patrick's Day dessert serves 12. You can also cut this recipe in half by adjusting the serving size on the recipe card. Or you can make 2-4 parfaits, depending on how big a glass you use. Just click on the serving size and select the number of servings you’d like.
❔Recipe FAQ's
Absolutely! You can substitute the Baileys Irish Cream with Irish cream extract or Irish cream-flavored coffee creamer for a non-alcoholic version.
You can use small dessert cups, mini mason jars, parfait glasses, wine glasses, or even small clear plastic cups as an alternative.
Yes! They are even better if you prepare them a day in advance, as it gives the brownies time to soften up. But don't garnish them with the whipped cream until just prior to serving. However, if you need to, you should stabilize the whipped cream with gelatin or piping gel.
These shot glass desserts, made with Baileys alcohol (or Irish cream extract) are a sweet treat that will definitely please any crowd, with or without the alcohol! They are the ultimate St. Patrick's Day treat. So, if you are looking for Irish desserts, a Baileys Irish cream recipe, and/or green dessert ideas, this is your easy and green St. Patrick's Day dessert.
These Irish Cream Dessert Shots are not only fun and easy, they are the perfect way to enjoy a little portion of dessert! So if you are looking for an easy Irish Dessert Recipes, you'll love this one!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
📋More St. Patrick's Day Recipes!
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☘️ Shamrock Irish Cream Dessert Shots Recipe
Ingredients
Shamrock Pudding:
- ½ of a 102 g -pkg of jello vanilla instant pudding mix (½ of 3.5 oz pkg.)
- ¾ cup 1 % milk
- 1.5 tablespoon Bailey's Irish Cream (or substitute ½ teaspoon Irish Cream extract) -you can add more to taste if this isn't strong enough
- ⅛ teaspoon green food/icing coloring *I use Kelly green Wilton brand gel food/icing coloring
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 12 -2 bite brownies cut in half
garnish
- gold sprinkles
- whipped cream (⅔ reserved from 1 cup)
- 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
Instructions
Shamrock Pudding:
- Prepare only ½ pkg vanilla pudding as directed on package, but with only ¾ cup milk * If you decide to make up the entire pkg of pudding and use the reminder for something else, use 1 ½ cups of milk
- Whip the whipping cream to soft peaks with hand mixer. Set aside about ⅔ of the whipping cream, then add Bailey's Irish Cream to the other ⅓ and whip to stiff peaks.
- Fold whipped cream/irish cream mixture into pudding and add food/icing colouring.
- With remaining whipped cream (that will be your garnish) add 1 tablespoon of white granulated sugar and whip to stiff peaks. Set aside for garnish.
Assembly:
- Cut each 2 bite brownie in half and take bottom ½ of brownie and press into bottom of shot glass, then add a little Shamrock pudding. Repeat for all 12, dividing it equally by remainder of shot glasses. ** Just make sure you leave enough space to add the other half of the brownie.
- Press top half of brownies into the top of each shot glass. You may have a little left over pudding mix, so if there's room in your shot glass, you can add a dollop on top of the 2nd half of the brownie
Garnish:
- Garnish with swirled whipped cream. (see notes for how to pipe a swirl of whipped cream onto your dessert shots) and scatter on gold sprinklesServe immediately or can remain in fridge for several hours or overnight to soften (this is best)
Notes
-
- Whipping Cream – Use real heavy whipping cream (33%-36% fat) for the best texture and stability. Avoid canned whipped cream, as it melts quickly.
-
- Irish Cream Substitute – If you want to make this alcohol-free, use Irish Cream extract or Irish Cream coffee creamer for the same flavor.
-
- Green Food Coloring – Use gel food coloring (Wilton or Americolor) instead of liquid food dye for a vibrant green color. Kelly Green will give you this color.
-
- Pudding Mix – If you don’t have vanilla instant pudding, white chocolate or pistachio pudding can serve as a substitute.
-
- Layering – Ensure you press the brownie base down firmly so it holds the layers well.
-
- Whipping Cream for Garnish – To get stiff peaks, make sure your bowl and beaters are cold before whipping.
-
- Perfectly Piped Whipped Cream – Use a 1M piping tip with a pastry bag for a professional swirl. If you’re unfamiliar, watch a video tutorial below on how to use it properly.
-
- Gold Sprinkles – Use edible gold sprinkles or pearls, but avoid gold dragees as they are decorative but not meant to be eaten.
-
- Softened Texture – If you like a softer dessert, refrigerate assembled shots overnight to let the flavors meld and the brownie layers soften.
Terri Gilson
I love how these St. Patrick's Day dessert shooters combine my favorite things - Baileys, chocolate, and guilt-free indulgence! The no-bake, 15-minute prep is perfect for when I want to whip up something festive in a hurry.
DJ
I would try using Pistachio Instant Pudding … It's green!
D J
PS ~ Thanks for the recipe!
Terri Gilson
You are welcome!
Terri Gilson
Hi DJ- Absolutely give it a try!I already had a pistachio pudding St. Patrick’s Day recipe and wanted to do a mint chocolate:)Enjoy!
Leanne Orr
What can I ask is Pistachio Instant Pudding or Vanilla Instant Pudding? I’m in Australia...
Terri Gilson
Hi Leanne: Maybe you call it something else in Australia? Instant Pudding is simply pudding powder, you buy in a box, that you don't have to cook - you just add milk and beat it:
Vanilla Instant Pudding
Thanks,
Terri
Janet
They sound yummy but can I use cool whip instead of whipped cream?
Terri Gilson
Hi Janet: Of course! It will be a bit sweeter, but if you don't mind that then go for it! Enjoy...
Catherine
Just curious...a small box of jello pudding mix is 96 grams, or 3.4 oz. How much do you use for the recipe, and does it have to be fat free?
Thank you!
Catherine
Terri Gilson
Hi Catherine: Are you in the United States? In Canada the smaller boxes are usually 30-40 grams. Anyway, I would use 1/4 of a 96 g box, approximately. Nope, doesn't have to be fat free! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Catherine
Thank you! Yes, I'm in Colorado. Hope it turns out!
Lori
You are so brilliant Terri, I love this idea. This is a lot of effort for me to put them in shot glasses, do you think it would work well as a trifle? And I might use spinach powder to colour it green ; ). I can let you know how that goes....
Terri Gilson
Hi Lori- Thanks! I totally think it would be great as a trifle, but a lot more fattening, of course. I'd love to know how the spinach powder works out! I hope you like it 🙂