Put Down the Mug: Green Drinks for St. Patrick's Day That Aren't

Directions

Instructions Checklist

Step 1

Whisk together 1 tablespoon matcha powder and 1/2 cup milk or almond milk until no lumps remain.
Step 2

In a blender combine matcha mixture, 1 pint slightly softened mint-chocolate chip ice cream, and 3 tablespoons choped fresh mint; cover and blend until combined. Top with whipped cream and, if desired, dust with additional matcha powder.

St. Patrick's Day is the perfect excuse to party in the middle of March. There's no better time to sip a green drink. From nonalcoholic drinks like smoothies and mojito mocktails and more, here's a lineup of delicious St. Patrick's Day drink ideas.

Mint Matcha Milk Shake

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

½ cup milk or almond milk

1 tablespoon matcha powder

1 pint mint-chocolate chip ice cream, slightly softened

3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

Whipped cream

Matcha powder

Directions

Instructions Checklist

Step 1

Whisk together 1 tablespoon matcha powder and 1/2 cup milk or almond milk until no lumps remain.

Step 2

In a blender combine matcha mixture, 1 pint slightly softened mint-chocolate chip ice cream, and 3 tablespoons choped fresh mint; cover and blend until combined. Top with whipped cream and, if desired, dust with additional matcha powder.

* For a shamrock on top, lightly place a 1 3/4-inch shamrock-shaped cookie cutter on top of the whipped cream. Lightly sift matcha powder inside the cutter. Gently lift cutter away.

Honeydew-Basil Nojitos

Fill sugar-rimmed glasses to the brim with fresh basil leaves, lime juice, and sweet honeydew melon. Slice into spears or use a melon baller ($11, Target) to make perfectly rounded honeydew balls for a green St. Patrick's Day drink garnish.

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

½ cup large fresh basil leaves, torn

½ cup lime juice

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

2 3 pounds honeydew melons, peeled, seeded, and cubed

Lime wedges (optional)

Superfine granulated sugar (optional)

Ice cubes

Carbonated water (optional)

Honeydew melon spears or balls (optional)

Directions

Instructions Checklist

Step 1

In a large pitcher, combine basil leaves, lime juice, and granulated sugar. Using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon, mash ingredients together well, making sure most of the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.

Step 2

Place about one-fourth of the melon cubes in a food processor or blender. Cover and process or blend until smooth. Press puree through a fine-mesh sieve; discard solids. Repeat with the remaining melon cubes, one-fourth at a time (you should have 4 cups total juice). Add melon juice to the pitcher.

Step 3

If desired, rub a lime wedge around rims of eight glasses and dip rims in superfine sugar. Fill glasses with ice. Pour juice mixture into ice-filled glasses. If desired, add a splash of carbonated water to each glass. If desired, add melon spears or balls to each glass. Serve immediately.

Minted Cucumber Nojitos

Time to pucker up! This minty St. Patrick's Day mocktail features a double dose of lip-smacking lemon: a squeeze of lemon juice and icy-cold lemonade. Slices of cucumber make a refreshing (and green!) garnish.

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

½ cup lemon juice

cup lime juice

1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves

½ cup Simple Syrup

1 small cucumber, very thinly sliced

Ice cubes

4 cups lemonade drink, chilled

1 1 liter bottle club soda, chilled

Directions

Instructions Checklist

Step 1

In a large pitcher, combine lemon juice and lime juice; add mint leaves and Simple Syrup. Using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon, crush leaves and stir together well. Add cucumber and ice. Pour lemonade and club soda into pitcher. Serve immediately.

Pineapple-Spinach Smoothies

Start your St. Patrick's Day with a refreshing pineapple smoothie. The drink gets its green hue from fresh spinach and its creamy texture from Greek yogurt. Top the finished drink with a sprinkle of chia seeds.

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

1 ½ cups plain fat-free Greek yogurt

½ cup fat-free milk

2 tablespoons chia seeds

1 tablespoon honey

3 cups fresh spinach

2 cups frozen pineapple chunks

1 banana, peeled, sliced, and frozen

Directions

Instructions Checklist

Step 1

Place all ingredients in a blender in the order given. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses.

Melon-Basil Prosecco Sparklers

This St. Patrick's Day drink idea gets plenty of sparkle from bubbly prosecco. Top each glass with fresh mint and melon for a light and sweet green cocktail. This green goddess of a cocktail deserves all the attention it can get!

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

1 medium honeydew melon, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks

½ cup fresh basil leaves

Ice cubes

1 750 milliliter bottle Prosecco or other sparkling wine, chilled

Thin slices honeydew melon and/or fresh basil leaves (optional)

Directions

Instructions Checklist