We know St. Patrick's Day is for drinking, but for those of us celebrating with underage toddlers this year, we're thinking it might be best to hand out cupcakes over cocktails. That doesn't mean these treats have to be any less festive, though — there are plenty of lucky green recipes out there to hold any folks over until they turn 21. In fact, we'd argue that some St. Patrick's Day–themed cupcakes look even better and more fun than their alcoholic counterparts. (Although we're not going to give a final verdict on which one we'd ultimately prefer … )
From the bright, happy greens to the shimmering pots of gold, St. Patrick's Day's imagery provides some fantastic opportunities for incredible-looking cupcakes. How does someone not smile while biting into a cupcake that's topped with a colorful rainbow?!
And don't worry; green-colored desserts don't mean that everything is going to taste like mint (unless we want it to). Green food coloring will come in handy here — we'll just need lots of it!
St. Patrick's Day–inspired cupcakes truly do run the festive gamut. They can be showstopping and complex, or they can be cute and simple! Either way, they're making us feel pretty lucky …
For some seriously sweet St. Patrick's Day dessert inspiration, we gathered up some adorable St. Patrick's Day cupcake ideas and recipes.
Baileys Shamrock Cupcakes
Okay, okay. We couldn't resist not slipping in a little liquor, at least not once we caught sight of Sweet 2 Eat Baking's Baileys shamrock cupcakes__.__ Who can blame us?
Shamrock Shake Cupcakes
Shamrock Shakes are a St. Patrick's Day must, but for those folks who don't want to trek all the way to McDonald's this year, Your Cup of Cupcake has Shamrock Shake cupcakes that'll do the job more than fine.
Chocolate Pistachio Cupcakes
Since pistachios make everything green, they've kind of become the St. Patrick's Day nut of choice. But these chocolate pistachio cupcakes from Your Cup of Cupcake prove that that's really, really okay.
Tastefully Green
The pistachio pudding base in these St. Patrick's Day cupcakes from Taste of Home is creamy and delicious, but we're not really ready to stop looking at them long enough to eat them yet.
More from CafeMom: Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes With Irish Cream Frosting Recipe for St. Patrick's Day
Green Velvet Dipped Cupcakes
These green velvet-dipped cupcakes from Snappy Gourmet have green (instead of red) velvet, cream cheese frosting, candy coating, and a St. Patrick's spirit. So basically, they're perfect.
Pot of Gold Cupcakes
Sugar and Soul's pot of gold cupcakes win points for 3D decoration. They also win points for being covered in candy — we'll never say no to Airheads and Reese's on top of our desserts.
Andes Mint Cupcakes
Minty means green, and green means St. Patrick's Day, so these Andes Mint Cupcakes from Thrifty Jinxy are a perfect way to celebrate.
Leprechaun Hidden Treasure Cupcakes
If there's one things leprechauns are famous for, it's leaving their treasure around all over the place. Family Food and Travel's leprechaun treasure cupcakes are a really clever tribute to that — we'll take hidden sprinkles over hidden gold any day.
More from CafeMom: 9 Irish Toasts to Raise a Glass to This St. Patrick's Day
Green Velvet Cupcakes
Here's a secret: Life Love Liz was genius enough to sneak Baileys into the cream cheese frosting on her green velvet cupcakes. Thank her later.
Irish Creme Pie Cupcakes
We know. Don't even get us started. Hoosier Homemade's Irish cream pie cupcakes are so lovely and delicious, we can't even talk about it right now.
Leprechaun Cupcakes
If anyone has ever seen anything cuter than these leprechaun cupcakes from Hoosier Handmade, please: Tell us now, so we can disagree.
Blooming Shamrocks
These realistic-looking clovers are almost too pretty to eat! Note: almost. Follow this recipe by SugarCoder on YouTube for step-by-step instructions.
More from CafeMom: 25 of the Most Beautiful Irish Tattoos We've Ever Seen
Gold Coins
Get wealthy! At least in chocolate currency. Make any kind of St. Patrick's Day cupcakes, from easy and plain vanilla cupcakes with green-dyed icing, then pop in a festive gold coin chocolate.
Rainbow Surprise Cupcakes
These festive cupcakes pack a colorful — and sweet! — punch. If only every cupcake had a rainbow surprise inside. Follow this YouTube recipe by MyCupcakeAddiction to learn how to make these!
Lucky Charms Cupcakes
Sprinkle some Lucky Charms cereal atop some cupcakes to create the luckiest batch of St. Patrick's Day cupcakes ever.
