27 Best Irish Desserts That Will Be The Star Of The Table

Are you trying to find the best Irish Desserts? We’ve rounded up 27 Irish desserts that are sure to inspire you. The only question is which dessert recipe will you choose to make first?

Irish dessert recipes are an excellent way to savor a traditional treat, whether you’re planning a party for St. Patrick’s day, or preparing one of these favorite authentic Irish desserts for the first time like the Irish Apple Cake, Shamrock Cookies, and Irish Ginger Snaps. 

Look out for rich and indulgent dessert#26 that will keep you craving for more! 

You’ll find there’s a wide variety of ingredients, textures, and decadent flavors to enjoy when you indulge in your choice of traditional Irish desserts, whether you enjoy a special whiskey drink or homemade pudding. 

Best Irish Desserts

1. Irish Apple Cake

This fantastic apple cake blends the tart flavor of Granny Smith apples with a sweet and crumbly texture for a decadent, tasty pie. 

Irish apple cake is a traditional favorite among many families and a favorite dessert passed down for generations.

You’ll find many of the ingredients for this recipe in your pantry or refrigerator. 

Tart apples work best, though you can mix any variety in season or available at your local grocery store or farmers’ market.

2. Shamrock Shakes

Shamrock shakes are a refreshing treat to enjoy during the warmer season, with a cool, refreshing drop of mint and freshly churned ice cream. 

You’ll find this treat is easy to make within just a few minutes and has become a favorite tradition for many families as a St. Patrick’s Day dessert

The ingredients you can find anywhere, and you can decorate the top of your shake with decorative sugar or sprinkles over a dollop of whipped cream. 

It’s a great treat to customize, and if you have kids, they’ll love creating their signature shake with caramel, chocolate drizzle, and other tasty toppings. 

Green food coloring is what gives this traditional shake its unique appearance.

3. Irish Porter Cake

Irish Porter cake is a traditional treat served on St Patrick’s Day and one of the quickest to prepare Irish desserts you’ll want to try if you’re getting familiar with Irish cuisine. 

Like many cake recipes, you’ll find lots of staples in your cupboard and pantry, though there are a few unique items you’ll want to buy beforehand.

Muscovado sugar, porter or stout, and candied peel are three different ingredients you’ll need for Irish Porter cake. 

You can use any stout of your choice if you have a preference, or stick with a traditional Irish porter.

4. Irish Cream Liqueur

Irish cream liqueur is an appetizing treat to enjoy over the weekend, whether you’re serving guests or visiting friends. 

The blend of liqueur and coffee is ideal for this recipe, which uses sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup, and heavy cream to cream a rich sweetness to blend with your Irish whiskey and instant coffee.

You can prepare coffee as a latte or espresso if you prefer a variation on this recipe, though ideally, it’s perfectly blended together, either warm or chilled. 

It’s an effortless drink to prepare and one of the best Irish whiskey desserts you’ll enjoy.

5. Pumpkin-Spice Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee is the perfect dessert to create for guests within minutes. 

You’ll need some freshly brewed coffee, Irish whiskey, heavy cream, and brown sugar. 

You can prepare the mugs by warming them first, then serving the drink with a slice of pie, ice cream on the side, or on its own. 

Irish coffee is a wonderful treat during the colder season and an excellent fireside drink.

6. Irish Soda Bread

An everyday staple in many homes, Irish soda bread is made to be either lightly sweet, really sweet, or closer to savory bread, any of which can be enjoyed for breakfast and for mid-day. 

You’ll need just a handful of standard pantry staples and an afternoon to prepare the dough. 

Its cross or “X” design over the top of the loaf and raisins are the trademarks of the dessert. It has a tender crumb inside and a chewy exterior.

You may use currants if raisins are unavailable. It’s better to prepare the dough with wooden utensils. 

It’s a beautiful bread to enjoy right out of the oven, with a bit of melted butter.

7. Irish Whiskey Truffles

This is one of the best Irish Whiskey desserts to create for a special occasion, and they’re child’s play to make! 

You’ll only need about five ingredients and a bit of time to create this treat in its simplest form. 

All you need is a stovetop and some room in your refrigerator to set the truffles after preparation. 

You can prepare them the night before a special event or just a few hours before, as long as they are set and remain chilled until serving.

8. Irish Tea Cake

The Irish Tea cake is one of the most popular Irish desserts and an effortless recipe to prepare on the same day or night before a party or family event. 

This traditional favorite is an ideal dessert following a St. Patrick’s Day meal. 

It’s a favorite dessert during the holidays and often served with fresh whipped cream and berries.

9. Irish Bread Pudding

A straightforward dessert to create for a holiday dinner, Irish bread pudding is a fantastic recipe. 
It’s uncomplicated and it provides a rich, decadent flavor. 

One of the best features of Irish Bread Pudding is the variations you can try with this recipe, including adding chocolate, berries, and raisins or currants.

Drizzle whiskey caramel or chocolate syrup over the top for an extra boost in taste, or sprinkle a bit of icing sugar to enhance the sweetness.

10. Irish Oat Cookies

If you have oats in your pantry, you’ll want to create these savory oatmeal cookies. 

Irish oat cookies are ideal for creating in large batches so that you can store them in the refrigerator for the week or in the freezer for longer. 

These cookies are best enjoyed shortly after they’ve come out of the oven and cooled on a wire rack.

Oat cookies are easily made with just a handful of ingredients, or you can add in chocolate chips, dried fruits, or macadamia nuts.

11. Shamrock Cookies

This tasty recipe is fun to create with kids for St. Patrick’s Day, featuring green sprinkles and shamrock shapes. 

You roll and coat the shamrock cookie dough with sprinkles and green food coloring to create these decorative treats. 

You can add peppermint extract or flavor for a mint taste or add color and create these fun shapes.

You can store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for three days or up to one week in the refrigerator. 

Shamrock cookies are also ideal for the freezer if you plan on baking them in large batches.

12. Plum Pudding

If you’re a fan of Irish (British) puddings, you’ll love plum pudding, especially when plums are ripe and in season. 

It’s a mouthwatering recipe that includes simple ingredients and any fresh plum you prefer. 

You’ll find this is one of the most demanded St. Patrick’s Day desserts, which is perfect when served warm with a side of ice cream or Irish coffee.

13. Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding

A sweet and basic dessert to prepare, sticky toffee pudding is a delicious and irresistible treat, especially for anyone with a sweet tooth. 

You’ll love the toffee sauce, which is uncomplicated to create on your stovetop, drizzled over a sweet cake to create this traditional recipe.

Easy sticky toffee pudding is one of the classic Irish desserts that everyone can enjoy after a three-course meal or as a treat over the holiday season.

14. Barmbrack

This cousin to America’s idea of fruitcake, or the great uncle of cinnamon raisin toast, this Irish breakfast bread seems to have a lot of history that goes way back…to Halloween, or the celtic tradition of samhain.

Ooo, spooky. And yet, I’d eat every bite of this. 

Fragrant with warm spices like cloves and nutmeg, cooled black tea, lemon peel, dried currants, cherries, or cranberries (but how good would a mix of all three be?!), this dense toast-in-waiting is a gorgeous, rich gift of your time.

15. Frozen Grasshopper Pie

Frozen Grasshopper pie is a fantastic recipe that creates an ice cream-style cake with an Irish twist. 
You’ll love the squanchy crème de menthe blended with chocolate, cream, and marshmallows. 

It’s a decadent dessert with a sweet flavor that will satisfy anyone who wants a mint-chip flavor after dinner.

You’ll need a few simple ingredients and a bit of time to freeze the pie for the icy texture. 

It’s a great dessert during the summer months or on St. Patrick’s Day.

16. Earl Grey Shortbread

There’s nothing like a rich serving of traditional shortbread during the winter season. 

Earl Grey tea-flavored shortbread is a wonderful version of this classic treat with a hint of tea, dripped into the dough while preparing these buttery goodies. 

These cookies will quickly become your favorite dessert for any occasion, including a quick snack.

17. Bread Pudding With Fruit Compote

This tasty treat is a nice variation on the traditional Irish bread pudding and features a fruit compote as a topping. 

You’ll find this dessert is a great twist on one of the favorite Irish dessert recipes and offers a delicious flavor with any variety of fruit. 

You can top this tasty bread pudding with berries and currants to peaches, pears, or apples. Dried cherries, apricots, and raisins also provide a delicious taste.

If you want to add a bit of dimension to this classic Irish dessert, there’s the option of adding a few tablespoons of brandy as one of the ingredients.

18. St. Patrick’s Day Cupcakes

If you’re looking for a fancy treatment with a bit of creativity, you’ll love these St. Patrick’s Day cupcakes. 

These treats offer some creative options for toppings and make a fun treat to create with kids. 

It’s a great family-friendly desert and one of the easy recipes you’ll enjoy for the holidays.

These treats are ideal with various garnishes, from whipped cream or icing sugar to sprinkles, chocolate, or a simple glaze.

19. Guinness Cakes

This tasty, traditional dessert is a rich cake to enjoy with your favorite Irish whiskey or tea. 

Mini Guinness cakes feature brown sugar, molasses, Greek yogurt, and Guinness beer or your favorite stout. 

You’ll find this recipe creates six small-sized cakes that are ideal following lunch or dinner. 

It’s one of the tastiest Irish treats to enjoy with family or friends.

20. Root Beer Float With Bailey’s And Kahlua

Enjoy a rootbeer float on a whole new level with a shot of Baileys or Kahlua, or add both! 

It’s not a traditional dessert, though you’ll find this float as a great alternative to green beer or a shamrock shake on St. Patrick’s Day. 

This float is ideal for serving with an iced beer mug with crushed ice.

These drinks are great to have on hand if you’re hosting a house party. 

It’s a great way to get creative with liqueur and top with any garnish you enjoy.

21. Mint Chocolate Chip Green Smoothie

You’ll love the delicious flavor in this rich smoothie, packed with cacao nibs, mint extract, coconut, and bananas. 

Preparing this dessert is a piece of cake compared to other dishes that include an Irish twist, so you can celebrate the holidays or savor an icy treat in the heat of the summer.

22. Irish Buck

This cocktail makes an excellent treat for St. Patrick’s Day with a tasty blend of whiskey, lime, and ginger ale.  

You’ll love the tangy citrus flavor of this drink with a lime garnish. It’s the ideal drink to enjoy after a meal or during a party.

23. Irish Margarita

An Irish margarita is one of the best ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day during a party or an evening night out. 

It’s an effortless drink to prepare and a great alternative to your favorite traditional Irish dessert recipes. 

It’s also one of the tastiest drinks to savor with a sugar rim and a bright, emerald color for decorative effect. 

24. Irish Flag Shooter

If you’re looking to practice your bartending skills, you’ll love the Irish flag shooter, which is a fun drink to create an even more exciting to enjoy. 

It’s a great shot to enjoy in between beer and after an entrée. It’s a breeze to make a row of these tasty shots to enjoy with friends during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

To balance the liqueurs evenly on top of one another, you may want to practice one or two shots if you’re new to creating drinks. 

It’s a great way to get creative and enjoy a few shots over the holiday.

25. Scones

Scones are a popular treat in Ireland and one of the easiest recipes to make for breakfast or dessert.

While traditional scones are usually slightly sweet with raisins or currants or savory, you can vary the flavors you include in the recipe. 

They’re a great treat to have right from the oven, or as a snack to enjoy for brunch. 

They are also ideal to enjoy with fresh fruit and tea or coffee.

If you enjoy scones as a dessert, you can dust them lightly in icing sugar or glaze. 

You can prepare scones in a pie shape in the oven or as individual servings.

26. Guinness Chocolate Mousse

If you want a change from traditional Irish desserts and try something different from pudding or cake, you’ll enjoy the Guinness chocolate mousse. 

It’s a decadent dessert that’s not entirely authentic, though it blends in perfectly alongside other treats at a house party. 

The rich texture is the perfect way to satisfy your chocolate craving.

27. Irish Ginger Snaps

There are many great, irresistible Irish desserts to enjoy, and this recipe is a simple irresistible Irish dessert that you can also enjoy as a snack. 

These spicy, tasty cookies are perfect with coffee or tea. It’s the ideal treat to store in an airtight container for several days.

These cookies keep well for up to one week in the refrigerator so that you can prepare them in advance. 

This recipe bakes fast, usually within six minutes, and you can easily create a batch or two within a short time before a holiday dinner or party.

☘️☘️ 29 Irish Appetizers For St. Patrick’s Day And Beyond! ☘️☘️

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