Inspire "Green" Recipes for St. Patrick's Day 2020

I'll be honest: I'm not Irish. My family's roots date back to Great Britain, so I don't have a connection to St. Patrick's Day, unlike others. We didn't celebrate it when I was growing up, apart from making sure I wore green clothing to school or else I would be pinched (who even started that tradition?). I have never experienced a soda bread or corned beef and cabbage dish.

But I still love being creative with my recipes. So, when I started looking at Pinterest earlier this month, I realized there are many delicious St. Patrick's Day recipes. I felt inspired to try my own versions. Before I knew it, I had created an entire menu of "green" recipes I knew I just had to share on the blog.

Get ready to put on some green clothes, slap on one of those "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" buttons, and start talking like a leprechaun. If you serve any of these dishes on St. Patrick's Day, you might just inspire someone else to appreciate the holiday, as well.

1. Lime Jell-O Rice Krispie Treats 

Lime Jell-O Rice Krispie treats.

Rice Krispie treats are a popular snack for just about any holiday. All you need is food coloring and you can prepare the treats for any social gathering, no matter what holiday you're celebrating. You can make red, white, and blue treats for the 4th of July, or orange treats for Halloween. Add some decorations and you're good to go.

For St. Patrick's Day, you can have fun with green lime-flavored Rice Krispie treats. This recipe (inspired by Living Well Mom) is an easy variation of a classic snack. You don't have to look any further for a fun, simple treat to bring to a party.

To make this treat, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
• 1 bag mini marshmallows
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract 
• 1.5 oz. package lime gelatin
• 6-6.5 c. Rice Krispies 
• Green food coloring (optional)

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the marshmallows and let them sit in the saucepan for about 30 seconds. Reduce the heat to low. Stir the marshmallows and butter until they begin to melt.

Lime Jell-O Rice Krispie treats.

Add the vanilla extract and lime gelatin. Stir again and let the marshmallows partially melt. Remove from heat and stir until the marshmallows are completely melted.

Now, at this point, you will notice that the liquid is a light lime green color. The lime gelatin gives a nice flavor, but it might not be as colorful as you want for a St. Patrick's Day party. Add a few drops (to your preference) of green food coloring to the liquid and stir to combine. This will turn the liquid into a more vibrant green color.

Add the Rice Krispies and mix until well-combined. Line a baking dish with parchment paper and spoon the Rice Krispies treats into the pan. Smooth out the treats in an even layer. Pat down with a wet hand and let sit until cooled and firm. Cut the treats into squares and serve. Enjoy!

2. Shamrock Cucumber Tea Sandwiches 

Shamrock cucumber tea sandwiches.

I always try to share a fun, creative treat that you normally wouldn't think of for a party. This includes a recipe (inspired by Will Cook for Smiles) for shamrock cucumber tea sandwiches. Tea sandwiches are a popular dish for a tea party or a small lunch gathering. If you're hosting a St. Patrick's Day lunch or tea party, you might want to try this healthy, easy recipe of whole-wheat English muffins, topped with a cream cheese mixture and cucumbers. This is probably something your guests have never seen.

To prepare this dish, you will need the following ingredients:

Shamrock cucumber tea sandwiches.

• 2 whole-wheat English muffins 
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 c. shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
• 12 slices cucumber 
• 4 thin slices green bell pepper 

Mix the cream cheese and Monterrey Jack cheese until well-combined. Then, split the English muffins and lightly toast them. This will help you be able to easily cut the bread into a specific shape. Cut out shamrocks in the muffin halves. Be very careful during this step! Take your time. 

Spread the cheese mixture on the shamrock muffins. Place three cucumbers on each leaf. Use the green bell pepper slices as a stem. Enjoy! You'll feel like you're at a fancy Irish tea party with this dish. 

3. Shamrock Cookie Cups 

Shamrock cookie cups.

Who doesn't love cookies? They're a great dessert for a party. Luckily, this is a treat guests can easily pick up and eat without any utensils. The shamrock cookie cups (inspired by Creations by Kara) are a simple sugar cookie recipe that, to me, taste more like a shortbread dessert or an English biscuit. But, they're jazzed up for St. Patrick's Day with M&Ms on top. Does it get any better than that? 

To bake this dessert, you will need the following ingredients for the cookie dough: 

• 3/4 c. butter 
• 1 c. sugar
• 2 eggs 
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 
• 2 1/2 c. flour 
• 1 tsp. baking powder 

For the buttercream frosting, you will need the following ingredients: 

• 1/3 c. butter, softened
• 2 c. powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 
• 1 Tbsp. sour cream
• 1-2 Tbsp. milk, as needed (I used skim milk.) 

For the cookie cups, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until well-combined. Then, stir in the flour and baking powder. 

Once the dough has formed, roll into small balls and place in a well-greased muffin pan. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes, or until done. Let the cookie cups cool completely before frosting. 

To make the frosting, beat the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, sour cream, and milk until everything is smooth. Add more milk, as needed, until you reach your desired consistency. 

To decorate, frost each cookie cup with the buttercream frosting. Top each cookie with three M&Ms and green sprinkles to form a shamrock. Enjoy!

Shamrock cookie cups.

4. St. Patrick's Day Jell-O 

Jell-O cups.

There is so much you can do with the color green, even adding it to Jell-O. If you have children, this is a perfect after-school treat on St. Patrick's Day. The angled design gives the Jell-O a bit of flair, but it's super easy to do. The best part of this recipe (inspired by Whiskey + Sunshine) is that you can use it again for any holiday just by switching up the color of the Jell-O. It's a win-win situation for everyone! 

To make these Jell-O treats, you will need the following ingredients: 

• 1 package (3 oz.) lime Jell-O
• 1 c. Cool Whip, thawed 

Jell-O cups.

To begin, prepare the lime Jell-O according to the package directions. Then, set aside 1/3 cup of the Jell-O mixture. Spoon the remaining mixture into small drinking glasses or dessert glasses. 

Chill the glasses at an angle until the Jell-O is set (preferably overnight). You can either place the glasses in a bowl or a muffin tin, depending on the size of the glasses. 

Fold the Cool Whip into the remaining 1/3 cup of Jell-O. Refrigerate until ready to use. Then, remove the chilled glasses and spoon the Cool Whip mixture into the glasses of set Jell-O). Top with a dollop of Cool Whip and green sprinkles. Chill and enjoy! 

5. Andes Mint Chocolate Bark 

Andes mint chocolate bark.

One of the best things about Olive Garden (besides the pasta) is the free Andes mints you receive after your meal. Everyone expects to get the mints, and you're disappointed if your waiter forgets to give them to you. 

I have always loved Andes mints. I'm not a huge "mint" fan, but these chocolate mints are completely different. They're not too rich. They're perfect. So, when I found this recipe (from Brown Eyed Baker) for an Andes mini chocolate bark, I was immediately hooked. I just had to try it. The chocolate and green mint flavors make it a perfect dessert for St. Patrick's Day. 

To make this dessert, you will need the following ingredients:

• 16 oz. white chocolate (finely chopped)
• Green food coloring 
• 16 oz. semisweet chocolate (finely chopped)
• 4.67 oz. box Andes Creme de Menthe mints, unwrapped and coarsely chopped

Line a quarter-sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave until completely melted (about 90 seconds). Once the chocolate is melted, add a few drops of green food coloring, according to your preference. I wanted a rich, vibrant color for the bark, so I added about 10 drops of food coloring. Experiment by adding just a few drops at a time until you reach your desired color. 

Andes mint chocolate bark.

Spread the white chocolate mixture onto the prepared pan in an even layer. Spread to how thick you would like your bark. Refrigerate for approximately 15 minutes, or until the chocolate is set. 

Meanwhile, melt the semisweet chocolate in the microwave until completely melted (about 90 seconds). Once the chocolate is melted, pour over the white chocolate layer and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the chopped Andes mints and lightly press down into the top chocolate layer. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until the chocolate is completely set. 

Transfer the hardened bark to a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut into pieces. Enjoy! You can also store the bark in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. 

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These recipes aren't new, but maybe you have never considered making them for St. Patrick's Day. You can turn the most simple snack (Rice Krispies) into a fun, festive treat for the Irish holiday. There are so many creative dishes you can choose from. Hopefully, you'll consider one of these five. 

If you decide to prepare these dishes, remember to have fun on St. Patrick's Day. Even if you don't officially celebrate the holiday, you can still have fun by wearing something green and wishing you could find a pot of gold. 

I'll be searching for a pot of gold, too. While eating a piece of the Andes mint chocolate bark, of course! 

-KJL-