This year St. Patrick’s Day falls on Friday of dead week. You might have plans to go out and paint the town green or you may need to stay in and study for your final exam on Monday. Either way you’ll need some extra pep in your step to rival even the feistiest leprechaun. We’ve got 10 drinks for you that will hit the spot (and hey you can always add some Bailey’s to them—the alcoholic drink or the non-alcoholic coffee creamer both taste great).
1. Starbucks Shamrock Frappuccino
To get this tasty drink ask for a vanilla bean frappuccino and add peppermint syrup (1.5 pumps tall, 2 pumps grande, 2.5 pumps venti), classic syrup (½ pump tall, 1 pump grande, 1.5 pumps venti), and matcha powder (2 scoops tall, 2.5 grande, 3 venti). Keep in mind that the Starbuck’s concepts on campus don’t have matcha powder so you’ll have to venture off campus for this tasty treat but it’ll be worth it. This drink doesn’t technically have coffee in it but you can always ask for the coffee base to be used or for shots on top depending on how much you really want to taste your coffee.
2. Chocolate Stout Latte
For this drink that’s a little bit darker than your typical shamrock shake start with a classic latte and then add 1 pump dark chocolate or mocha syrup (depending on what’s available), ½ pump caramel syrup or sauce, and ½ pump hazelnut syrup. This will give you the taste of chocolate stout cake while still letting you run around campus while consuming it. Shamrock latte art optional but if your barista likes to show off their skills feel free to ask them as long as the line isn’t too long.
3. Irish Coffee protein shake
If you’re looking to hit the gym to blow off some steam after putting the final touches on your paper we’ve got the drink for you. Start with 1 tablespoon instant coffee and then add 1 cup skim milk, 1 scoop vanilla whey protein, 4 pumps sugar-free irish creme syrup, and one pump sugar-free butter rum syrup. Next put the mixture in a blender and start it up. Add ice as needed to have a chunkier or more liquid shake. Add whip cream if you’d like to finish off this (kind of) healthy drink. Green food coloring optional.
4. Irish Cream Mocha
For this drink start with a classic mocha recipe and then add 2 pumps irish cream syrup and white chocolate sauce if you like. Stir together and drink up and enjoy either as a hot or iced drink.
5. Spiked St. Patty’s Day Iced Coffee
For this drink start with 1 cup brewed coffee and let it cool. Add ½ cup ice, ¼ cup creamer, 2 tablespoons whiskey or bourbon (or more if you’d like), and ⅛ teaspoon peppermint extract. Then add all ingredients to blender and puree until smooth.
6. Irish Affogato
For this drink add 2 scoops ice cream or gelato (your choice of flavor) to your mug. Then pour 1 ounce of Bailey’s Irish Cream and 2 ounces espresso over the ice cream. For the best flavor serve this drink immediately.
7. Irish Breakfast Tea (had to have at least one recipe for the tea drinkers)
For this traditional tea take some time at home to sit at home and enjoy. First you’ll need to boil water, add one teaspoon of fresh loose leaf tea per person plus one to the pot. Steep for 4 minutes. Fill ⅓ of the tea cup with milk or cream. Then pour the strong Irish breakfast tea to each cup and sweeten to taste.
8. Irish Cream Cappuccino
This drink can be made hot or iced. First steam milk as you would for a cappuccino normally with 1 tablespoon irish cream syrup. Then pour into a cup and add 2 shots espresso. Spoon a thin layer of foamed milk over the top of the beverage. Spice optional.
9. Emerald Isle Latte
For this recipe start with a classic latte then add 1 pump white chocolate sauce and 2 pumps green mint syrup for a sweet and simple drink you’ll love.
10. Spiced Irish Coffee
Start with two glasses. One will be for the irish coffee and one for the pumpkin spice whipped cream. For the irish coffee mix together 1 ½ cups freshly brewed hot coffee, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 4 tablespoons whiskey. For the pumpkin spice whipped cream mix together ½ cup heavy cream, 1 ½ teaspoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice and whip them to stiff peaks to be piped onto the coffee. Then sprinkle with pumpkin spice. For the full recipe and more information check out The Spice Train.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Beaver Nation!