Irish Coffee
This fancy Irish coffee features all the best qualities of the traditional (such as dark brew coffee, Irish whiskey, and brown sugar) and takes it to the next level with a dash of Baileys, extra fluffy cream, chocolate shavings, and more brown sugar sprinkled on top.
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About Irish Coffee
If you’re searching for a pick-me-up with some bite, look no further than an Irish coffee.
Between the hot brewed coffee and the strong Irish whiskey, this drink is sure to pack a punch in all the best ways.
This breakfast favorite comes in a few different varieties, and I’ve tried them all. From a modest sharp dark brew topped with a thick, flat layer of cream to a festively bright and creamy drink with lots of fluff, sugar, and chocolate, they’re all good and they all have their own appeal.
But if you can’t already tell from the photo above, I tend to like my coffee more on the fancy side. Nothing against a classic Irish coffee, of course, but I’ll take any excuse to whip up a pretty drink.
And besides, I like the sugar and the chocolate and all the extra fluff while still enjoying everything that’s good about the traditional drink.
It’s totally okay to have your cake fancy coffee and eat it drink it, too.
What’s in Irish coffee?
I’ve seen Irish coffee made a few different ways, but the main ingredients usually consist of:
- Brewed coffee
- Brown Sugar
- Irish whiskey
- Thick cream
When it comes to Irish coffee, the idea is to drink the coffee through the thick cream.
As for what cream you should use, you can make your own homemade cream OR for a quick-fix you can even use something store-bought (like Reddi Whip or even Cool Whip). For these photos, I used Reddi Whip.
From there, you can embellish the coffee however you see fit. For example, I like to add Irish cream and chocolate shavings for a little extra sweetness and flavor.
Which whiskey should you use?
This recipe calls for “Irish whiskey”, which means exactly what it says: a whiskey made on the island of Ireland. Ultimately, you can use any type of whiskey that you like, but for it to be true Irish coffee you’ll want to track down an Irish-made whiskey.
So if you’re looking for a more authentic experience, try out a few of these suggestions:
Notes & tips for this Baileys Irish cream coffee:
- I used a pretty glass to showcase this drink, but when making it at home, feel free to use your favorite coffee mug. I think we can all agree that hot beverages are better when you have a handle!
- And as mentioned above, you can use storebought cream (like Reddi Whip or Cool Whip) or you can make your own “lightly whipped” homemade cream. Reddi Whip is the easy alternative and will give you a fun look, but if you have the time, I highly recommend going with homemade – and spiking it with Baileys! When making the cream, the trick is to stop whipping it just shy of when the peaks would form, so that the cream is a little bit runny. This will give your Irish coffee a more authentic look.
More fun hot drinks
More recipes with Baileys
Other festive Irish recipes
Irish Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 cup hot brewed coffee
- whipped cream, optional
- chocolate shavings, optional
Instructions
- In a tall glass, add hit brewed coffee, Baileys, and Irish whiskey, then stir well. Do a quick taste test; if you'd like it to be sweeter, add up to 1 teaspoon light brown sugar, then stir.
- If desired, top Irish coffee with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and more brown sugar.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I'm not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.
