3 tips for the best brunch

1 Hide ‘treasure’ in treats

Your loved ones will flip when they find a tasty treasure hidden below the green hills of frosting on these cupcakes. To make, bake up a batch of vanilla cupcakes, let cool and use a melon baller to scoop out the middles. Fill with mini yellow M& M’s (for a coin-like look) and pipe green frosting swirls onto each. Cut shapes (like leprechaun hats and shamrocks) from paper and tape to toothpicks; pop into cupcakes.

2 Liven it up with music

Transport guests to an Irish pub with music that fits the holiday. Go to Stpatricksdayparty.net, which is the website of musician Marc Gunn, who specializes in Irish music. Last year, his Youtube Channel ( Youtube.com/Marcgunn) streamed a special concert for the holiday. Or try the “St. Patrick’s Day: Ultimate Irish Pub Songs” CD ($ 8, Amazon.com) to enjoy classics like “The Wild Rover,” one of the most widely performed Irish songs.

3 Have a lucky hunt

Get everyone giggling with a silly “Lucky Charms” hunt. First, pour Lucky Charms cereal into bowls and place one in front of each guest. Give everyone a “shovel” (a plastic spoon). Have guests scoop out as many marshmallows as they can for different lengths of time (10– 30 seconds per round). Whoever gets the most the fastest wins a prize like scratch- off lottery tickets.