Embrace your inner kid but still enjoy an adult beverage with this fun Lucky Charms martini! It features cereal-infused milk, along with vodka and Bailey’s for a creamy, dessert-like cocktail that’s perfect for St Patrick’s Day!
What is a Lucky Charms Martini?
This delicious Lucky Charms martini is a festive, dessert-inspired cocktail that combines the nostalgic flavors of Lucky Charms cereal with a creamy, sweet martini base. It includes vanilla or marshmallow vodka, Irish cream, and cereal-infused milk for extra sweetness.
Serve garnished with a float of Lucky Charms cereal for extra seasonal flair! This whimsical cocktail is popular for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, brunches, or as a fun after-dinner drink.
Of course, you could use different marshmallows to tint it different colors and serve it for other occasions as well!
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Ingredients List
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka (or whipped cream flavor)
- ½ ounce Baileys Irish cream (or similar)
- ½ ounce half and half
- ¼ tsp matcha powder (optional; see notes)
- 2 Tbsp Lucky Charms cereal
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- If you don’t like vodka, you can also use Irish whiskey or gin in this recipe
- Any brand of Irish cream is fine (Baileys is just very popular). You can also substitute amaretto liqueur here
- Instead of half and half you can use heavy cream for a richer drink, vanilla almond milk for a non-dairy option (though you’ll need to swap out the Baileys too), or vanilla coffee creamer for a sweeter option. Feel free to add more to dilute the drink if desired
- To get the green color, you can pick out only the green marshmallows from the cereal, or you can use matcha powder or 1-2 drops of green food coloring to compensate instead! Matcha comes in sweetened or unsweetened varieties, so you can alter sweetness this way as well. If you’re only making 1-2 drinks, it’s not too bad to pick out just the green marshmallows. If you’re making a large batch this may get tedious or you may not have enough green, depending on the assortment in your box
Step By Step Instructions
- Add the vodka and the cereal to a mason jar (or similar) and let it steep for 30 minutes to an hour to infuse the vodka with cereal flavor
- Strain, discarding any remaining solids. Then, add the infused vodka to a cocktail shaker (or similar) along with the Baileys, half and half, matcha powder (if using), and a handful of ice cubes
- Shake until well chilled and lightly frothy, about 15-20 seconds, then strain into a chilled martini glass
- Garnish with a float of Lucky Charms cereal and enjoy!
Alternate Infusion Option
In a rush? Instead of infusing the liquor, you can blend (use a food processor or coffee/spice grinder) the cereal into a fine powder and just add it directly into the shaker with the rest of the drink.
I recommend you pour it through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any remaining large pieces if you do this.
More Lucky Charms Recipes
- Lucky Charms Shot
- Lucky Charms Milkshake
Food Pairings
Sweet Treats
- Sugar Cookies – Their mild sweetness complements the creamy, marshmallow flavors
- White Chocolate Truffles – Enhance the vanilla and white chocolate notes in the martini
- Rice Krispies Treats – Light and crispy, they match the cereal theme perfectly!
- Marshmallow-Frosted Cupcakes – A fun, fluffy dessert that echoes the Lucky Charms marshmallows!
Savory Snacks
- Salty Popcorn – The contrast of sweet and salty balances the rich martini
- Buttered Pretzels – A crunchy, slightly salty bite that complements the drink’s sweetness
- Cheese Board – Pair with mild cheeses like brie or cream cheese with honey for a decadent contrast
Breakfast & Brunch Pairings
- Pancakes or Waffles – Drizzle with maple syrup to enhance the dessert-like flavors
- Cereal Milk Panna Cotta – A sophisticated twist on the Lucky Charms theme!
- Glazed Donuts – A playful pairing that doubles down on the sweetness
Recipe FAQs
What Are the 7 Lucky Charms?
The 7 original Lucky Charms marshmallow shapes were pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, green clovers, blue diamonds, purple horseshoes, and red balloons.
Over the years, the lineup has changed, with some marshmallows being retired or replaced, but the cereal remains known for its colorful and whimsical shapes.
Is This Recipe Vegetarian?
No, this martini is actually not vegetarian. Lucky Charms contains pork-derived gelatin, which is used to give the marshmallows their chewy texture. Because of this, the cereal is not considered vegetarian or suitable for those who avoid pork for dietary or religious reasons.
Additionally, since it uses cereal-infused liquor, the drink is also not gluten free.
What Is the Ratio for a Martini?
A classic martini typically follows a 2:1 ratio of gin (or vodka) to mixers, which is vermouth in a classic martini, or Baileys and cream in this case.
However, you can adjust this ratio to suit your personal tastes, adding more mixers to dilute the drink if you find it too strong.
Tips For the Best Lucky Charms Martini
- This drink can be scaled for parties. The ratio of cereal to alcohol is 1:1 for infusion (for example, 1 cup vodka and 1 cup cereal). As mentioned earlier, if you don’t want to pick out only green marshmallows for a large batch, plan to add matcha or food coloring instead
- For advanced preparation, you can mix everything together in a pitcher and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Add to individual glasses and add garnishes just before serving
- To adjust sweetness, choose sweetened vs unsweetened matcha, and choose between half and half or coffee creamer (which is sweetened). If your drink is too sweet (or too strong), add more half and half to compensate and dilute it a bit
Serving and Presentation Tips
- Glassware. A martini glass is the common serving glass for a Lucky Charms martini. If you don’t have one, try a coupe, white wine glass, or mason jar instead!
- Typical garnish is some extra Lucky Charms cereal floated on top. However, you can also add a dollop of whipped cream on top of the drink and then add the cereal. Alternatively, spread frosting around the rim of your glass, and stick on whole or crushed Lucky Charms marshmallows to add more festive flair!
More St Patrick’s Cocktails
- Pot of Gold Mimosa
- Emerald Sunrise Cocktail
Final Thoughts
This Lucky Charms martini is the perfect whimsical cocktail for the adults who are still kids at heart for St Patrick’s Day! With its sweet flavor and fun green color, this Lucky Charms cocktail is perfect as a dessert drink or even as a bunch option (after all, it is made with cereal)!
The cereal marshmallows add sweetness and the happiest shade of color to this mixed drink, but of course you can adjust the color with some matcha or food coloring if your box doesn’t have the right mix of marshmallows!
I think this is the perfect cocktail to sip while watching a St Patrick’s day parade, bringing you back to your childhood while satisfying your adult beverage desires too!
Lucky Charms Martini (With Vodka and Baileys)
Equipment
- Mason jar (or similar)
- Shaker (or similar)
- Martini glass (or similar)
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vanilla or whipped flavored vodka
- ½ ounce Baileys Irish cream
- ½ ounce half and half
- 2 Tbsp Lucky Charms cereal
- ¼ tsp matcha powder (optional; see notes)
Instructions
- Add the vodka and the cereal to a mason jar (or similar) and let it steep for 30 minutes to an hour to infuse the vodka with cereal flavor2 ounces vanilla or whipped flavored vodka, 2 Tbsp Lucky Charms cereal
- Strain, discarding any remaining solids. Then, add the infused vodka to a cocktail shaker (or similar) along with the Baileys, half and half, matcha powder (if using), and a handful of ice cubes½ ounce Baileys Irish cream, ½ ounce half and half, ¼ tsp matcha powder
- Shake until well chilled and lightly frothy, about 15-20 seconds, then strain into a chilled martini glass
- Garnish with more cereal and enjoy!
Notes
- Instead of vodka, you can also use Irish whiskey or gin in this recipe
- Any brand of Irish cream is fine, or you can also substitute amaretto liqueur here
- For the half and half you can use heavy cream for a richer drink, vanilla almond milk for a non-dairy option (though you’ll need to swap out the Baileys too), or vanilla coffee creamer for a sweeter option. Feel free to add more to dilute the drink if desired
- To get the green color, you can pick out only the green marshmallows from the cereal, or you can use matcha powder or 1-2 drops of green food coloring to compensate instead. Matcha comes in sweetened or unsweetened varieties, so you can alter sweetness this way as well. If you’re only making 1-2 drinks, it’s not too bad to pick out just the green marshmallows. If you’re making a large batch this may get tedious or you may not have enough green, depending on the assortment in your box
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any garnishes added, proportion adjustments, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
