St. Patrick’s Day Green Shake Pudding Cups

St. Patrick’s Day Green Shake Pudding Cups are light, fluffy, and incredibly easy to make! This no bake dessert combines instant vanilla pudding, refreshing peppermint extract, and a dreamy whipped topping for a festive treat that’s perfect for celebrating the luck of the Irish.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Creamy, festive, and bursting with minty vanilla flavor in every spoonful. The smooth green pudding is layered for a fun, eye-catching treat that’s perfect for celebrating. Easy to make and kid-friendly, they’re a cheerful dessert for any St. Patrick’s Day party.

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Ingredient List

Pudding Base

• 1 box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups cold milk
• ½ teaspoon peppermint extract (adjust to taste)

Creamy Layer

• 1 cup whipped topping, thawed
• Green food coloring (4–6 drops, or to desired shade)

Optional Ingredients / Mix-Ins

• ½ cup crushed cookies (chocolate sandwich cookies or graham crackers)
• Extra whipped cream for topping
• Green or gold sprinkles
• Chocolate chips or mint candy pieces

Friendly Notes: Make sure your milk is COLD – this is crucial for getting that perfect pudding consistency! I always use whole milk for the richest flavor, but 2% works beautifully too. For the whipped topping, Cool Whip is my go-to, but any brand works perfectly as long as it’s completely thawed.

Why These Ingredients Work

Let me tell you why each ingredient plays such an important role in making these pudding cups absolutely perfect!

Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix creates that smooth, creamy base that sets up quickly without any stovetop work. It’s the foundation of the entire dessert and gives us that classic pudding texture we all love.

Cold Milk is essential – and I mean COLD! It activates the pudding mix and helps it thicken properly. Warm or room-temperature milk just won’t give you the same results.

Peppermint Extract brings that refreshing mint shake flavor that makes these cups taste like something special. Just a little goes a long way, so start conservatively and add more if you want a stronger mint punch.

Whipped Topping transforms the pudding from dense to light and airy. When you fold it in, you’re adding air and creating that fluffy, mousse-like texture that makes these cups feel like a cloud in your mouth.

Green Food Coloring is purely for fun and festivity! It doesn’t change the flavor at all, but it makes these pudding cups look absolutely adorable for St. Patrick’s Day.

Crushed Cookies (optional) add a delightful textural contrast and remind me of those cookie crumb layers in fancy parfaits. They’re totally optional but highly recommended!

Essential Tools and Equipment

You’ll need:

• Medium mixing bowl
• Whisk (or electric mixer)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Clear serving cups or glasses (6–8 cups, depending on size)
• Rubber spatula for folding
• Plastic wrap or covers for chilling

My tip: Use clear cups! Half the fun is showing off those beautiful green layers.

How To Make St. Patrick’s Day Green Shake Pudding Cups

Step 1: Whisk the Pudding Base

In a medium bowl, whisk the instant pudding mix with the cold milk for about 2 minutes, until thick and smooth.

Step 2: Add Flavor and Color

Stir in the peppermint extract and green food coloring until evenly combined. I like to add the food coloring one drop at a time so I can control the shade – you can go for a light, pastel green or a vibrant shamrock green.

Step 3: Fold in the Whipped Topping

Gently fold in the whipped topping until the mixture becomes light and creamy. This is where the magic happens! Use a rubber spatula and fold gently – you don’t want to deflate all those wonderful air bubbles. The mixture should look fluffy and dreamy.

Step 4: Add Cookie Crumbs (Optional)

If using crushed cookies, spoon a small layer into the bottom of each serving cup. I love using crushed Oreos for that cookies-and-cream vibe, but graham crackers work beautifully too!

Step 5: Fill the Cups

Divide the green pudding mixture evenly among cups. A small ice cream scoop works perfectly for this, or you can use a spoon. Fill them about ¾ full to leave room for toppings.

Step 6: Chill and Set

Cover and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes to allow the pudding to fully set. I know it’s tempting to dig in right away, but trust me – chilling makes all the difference in texture!

Step 7: Add Final Touches

Just before serving, top with whipped cream and festive sprinkles if desired. This is your moment to get creative with those St. Patrick’s Day decorations!

You Must Know

The milk MUST be cold! This is the number one rule for perfect instant pudding. If your milk is warm or even room temperature, the pudding won’t thicken properly and you’ll end up with a soupy mess. I actually chill my mixing bowl too for extra insurance!

Don’t skip the full 2 minutes of whisking. I know it seems like a long time, but this ensures the pudding powder is completely dissolved and reaches its maximum thickness. Set a timer if you need to!

Personal Secret: I freeze my serving cups for 10 minutes before filling them. This helps the pudding set even faster and gives you that extra-cold, refreshing texture that mimics a real shake!

Pro Tips & Cooking Hacks

• Fold, don’t stir when adding the whipped topping. Stirring deflates the air bubbles, but folding keeps everything light and fluffy.
• Taste test your peppermint before adding all of it. Peppermint extract can vary in strength by brand, so start with ¼ teaspoon, taste, and add more if needed. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away!
• Make it more “shake-like” by blending everything in a blender for 30 seconds instead of whisking. This creates an even smoother, more milkshake-style consistency.
• Common mistake to avoid: Don’t overmix after adding the whipped topping. Once you can’t see white streaks anymore, STOP. Overmixing makes the pudding dense instead of fluffy.
• Smart shortcut: Use a piping bag (or a zip-top bag with the corner cut off) to fill your cups neatly without making a mess.

Flavor Variations / Suggestions

Chocolate Mint Version: Use chocolate pudding mix instead of vanilla for a grasshopper pie vibe. SO good!

Vanilla Lovers: Skip the peppermint extract entirely and add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract for pure vanilla flavor.

Tropical Twist: Swap peppermint for coconut extract and use a lighter shade of green for a piña colada-inspired treat.

Adult Version: Add 1–2 tablespoons of Irish cream liqueur to the pudding mixture for a grown-up St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

Rainbow Layers: Make separate batches with different food coloring and layer them in clear cups for a rainbow effect!

Chocolate Chip Addition: Fold in ¼ cup mini chocolate chips with the whipped topping for extra texture.

Make-Ahead Options

These pudding cups are PERFECT for making ahead – which is one of my favorite things about them!

Up to 2 days ahead: Make the pudding cups completely, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Wait to add the final whipped cream and sprinkles until just before serving.

Morning of: You can make these in the morning for an evening party. They’ll stay perfectly set and delicious in the fridge all day.

Freezer option: These don’t freeze particularly well because of the whipped topping, but if you do freeze them, they’ll have more of an ice cream texture (which honestly isn’t terrible!).

Pro tip: If making ahead, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of each pudding cup before covering to prevent a skin from forming.

Recipe Notes & Baker’s Tips

• The pudding will continue to thicken slightly as it chills, so don’t worry if it seems a bit soft right after mixing.
• If you want a more intense green color, gel food coloring works better than liquid and won’t water down your pudding.
• These are naturally kid-friendly! If making for little ones, you might want to go lighter on the peppermint extract.
• Clear plastic cups work just as well as glass and are perfect for parties where you don’t want to worry about breakage.
• The crushed cookie layer isn’t just for decoration – it prevents the pudding from getting watery at the bottom by absorbing any liquid that might separate out.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these beauties in clear cups or glasses to show off that gorgeous green color! They’re perfect for:

• St. Patrick’s Day parties and potlucks
• Kids’ birthday parties (just use fun character cups!)
• After-school treats
• Dessert tables at celebrations
• Simple weeknight desserts when you need something fast

I love topping mine with extra whipped cream, a sprinkle of crushed Oreos, and those adorable gold coin chocolates for St. Patrick’s Day. You can also add:

• Fresh mint leaves for garnish
• Chocolate shavings
• Crushed peppermint candies
• Lucky Charms marshmallows for extra fun
• Green and gold sprinkles

These are best served chilled, straight from the refrigerator. They’re refreshing, light, and the perfect ending to any meal!

How to Store Your St. Patrick’s Day Green Shake Pudding Cups

Refrigerator: Store covered pudding cups in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep them covered tightly with plastic wrap or lids to prevent them from absorbing other flavors and to keep them fresh.

Room Temperature: These should NOT be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as they contain dairy that needs to stay cold.

Freezer: While not ideal, you can freeze these for up to 1 month. They’ll have a more frozen-dessert texture when thawed. Let them thaw in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before serving.

Reheating: No reheating needed – these are meant to be enjoyed cold!

Best practices: Add whipped cream toppings and sprinkles right before serving rather than storing them that way. The toppings stay fresher and prettier!

Allergy Information

Common allergens in this recipe:

• Dairy (milk, whipped topping)
• May contain soy (check your whipped topping label)

Dairy-Free Options: Use your favorite non-dairy milk (almond, oat, coconut) and dairy-free whipped topping like CocoWhip. Make sure your pudding mix is also dairy-free – many instant pudding brands offer this option.

Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free if you skip the cookie crumbs or use gluten-free cookies. Always check your pudding mix label to confirm.

Nut-Free: This recipe is nut-free as written, but check all packaged ingredients if you have severe allergies.

Vegan Option: Use non-dairy milk, vegan instant pudding, and vegan whipped topping for a completely plant-based version.

Questions I Get Asked A Lot

Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip?

Absolutely! Just make sure it’s stabilized with a little powdered sugar and gelatin, or it might weep overnight. Beat heavy cream until stiff peaks form, adding 2 tablespoons powdered sugar per cup of cream.

My pudding layer looks lumpy – what went wrong?

This usually happens when the milk isn’t cold enough or you didn’t whisk vigorously for the full 2 minutes. Next time, chill your bowl and whisk too! Also make sure you’re using fresh pudding mix – old boxes sometimes don’t set properly.

Can I make this without peppermint extract?

Yes! You can skip it entirely for a pure vanilla flavor, or substitute with vanilla extract, almond extract, or even a little Irish cream flavoring. The pudding will still be delicious and festive!

How can I make the green color more vibrant?

Use gel food coloring instead of liquid – it’s much more concentrated and won’t water down your pudding. Start with a small amount and add more until you reach your desired shade. Wilton makes great gel colors!

💬 Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below! I’d love to hear how your St. Patrick’s Day Green Shake Pudding Cups turned out.