Put an Irish Spin on Your St. Patrick's Day Brunch

corned beef meal

We can’t think of a better way to kick off a St. Patrick’s Day celebration than a holiday brunch! Whether you’re Irish every day or only once a year, we’ve got ideas to put a St. Paddy’s Day twist on some of your favorite brunch dishes. And, of course, no brunch is complete without cocktails and mocktails to get your day off to a lucky start.

Dishes

Corned Beef

Delicious, simple, filling–it’s a classic for a reason! Just throw some sliced corned beef into the pan to heat up. Add your favorite cheese to melt (hint - if your pan is oven safe, place it under the broiler on low or keep it on the stovetop and add a lid). Spread rich stone ground mustard on your bun and assemble your sandwich. Enjoy alongside boiled red-skinned potatoes and cabbage.

Baileys French Toast

Making one small swap to your traditional French toast can pack a lot of punch! Substitute about three quarters (or all–we won’t tell!) of the milk in your favorite recipe with Baileys Irish Cream and prepare as you normally would. You can top your toast however you’d like, but a bit of whipped cream and some dark chocolate chips really let the Baileys sing.

Cocktails

Irish Coffee

An Irish coffee is the perfect way to wake you up and mellow you out, and it’s a cinch to make. You’ll need:

  1. 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar (more if you want it really sweet, less if you don’t)

  2. 1/2 cup hot, strong coffee

  3. 1.5 oz Irish whisky

  4. 2 tablespoons heavy cream, lightly whipped

Start by adding the sugar to a heat proof mug. Pour in the coffee and whisky, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Float the whipped cream over the hot coffee by pouring it over the back of a spoon.

Guinness Bloody Mary

Add a little luck to your favorite Bloody Mary by subbing vodka for Guinness. Not sold? That’s okay–we hear vodka is made from potatoes, so you can keep your cocktail traditional and still call it festive.

Mocktails

Matcha Latte

Naturally green and full of antioxidants, a matcha latte is a festive, healthy, and booze-free way to kick off your St. Paddy’s day. Start with:

  1. 1-2 teaspoons matcha powder

  2. 1 tablespoon hot water

  3. ¾ cup hot milk of choice

  4. Sweetener of choice (to taste)

Begin by whisking together the matcha powder and hot water until smooth. Add milk and sweetener of choice, then whisk or use a frother to combine. And if you prefer a cold drink, simply keep your milk cold and pour your mixed latte over ice.

Sparkling Limeade

If you prefer your drinks cold and bubbly, try a sparkling limeade! You’ll need:

  1. ¼ cup lime juice

  2. 2 tablespoons sugar

  3. 1 ½ cups sparkling water

Add sugar to lime juice and stir until dissolved. Pour lime juice mixture into a cup filled with ice. Top with sparkling water and stir. Garnish with a lime wedge and some mint leaves, if you’d like.

And of course, no celebration is complete without some tunes! Whether you love traditional Celtic music, folk, rock, pub music, or punk, there’s a playlist out there to fit your vibes and get you dancing a jig.

Jason Stine