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Happy St. Patrick’s Day, tomorrow!!!!!
If you don’t know by now, I am in LOVE with St. Patrick’s day….and, with anything Irish.
I studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland for a semester, during college. It was a wonderful experience!
Today, I share with you a recipe for easy Irish coffee, just in time for you to make tomorrow (or, over the weekend)!!! You’re welcome!
If you’ve never had an Irish coffee before, it’s a true treat. Hot coffee is spiked with whiskey, slightly sweetened, and topped with sweet whipped cream. The hot coffee is drunk through the cold cream for a one-of-a-kind experience.
I have shared 2 other Irish coffee recipes:
- Irish coffee – this is a really old post, but still has good info, if you want to make an authentic Irish coffee.
- coconut Irish coffee – this recipe is a fun vegan/dairy free twist on the classic drink. That coconut cream goes nicely with the coffee and the whiskey.
I have been making Irish coffees as a way to celebrate St. Patrick’s day for a few years now. It’s a little bit of a tradition that Paul and I have. And, over the years, I have come to perfect my personal recipe, for an easier way to make Irish coffee.
So, if you’re wanting to give Irish coffee a try, but you’re not a skilled-bartender-straight-from-a-charming-pub in Ireland, who, has perfected-pouring-cream-over-a-spoon, onto-hot-coffee-in-a-way-that-rests-on-top-of said-coffee….than, this recipe is for you!
And, for me!
What is Irish coffee?
Authentic Irish coffee is hot coffee, that’s sweetened with brown sugar, mixed with Irish whiskey, and topped with cold, cream that sits right on top of the coffee. You do not. I repeat, you DO NOT stir the cream into the coffee. The hot coffee is drunk through the cold cream – it’s delightful.
Attention Americans!!!!
Irish coffee is NOT Bailey’s Irish cream stirred into coffee. Sorry, to burst your bubble.
Not, that that isn’t delicious in it’s own right, but, no, it is not Irish coffee. Let’s just make that clear, right now. You should start calling it what it is, Bailey’s in your coffee.
Rant. Over.
Kthanks!
Um, Yes, I take my Irish coffee very seriously!
That being said….
Is this easy Irish coffee recipe authentic?
No.
And I am not claiming that it is.
Authentic Irish coffee has that non-whipped cream layer poured on top of the coffee in a magical way that takes lots of practice.
I have done it. You can see a cute gif for proof, in my very old Irish coffee post. But, it literally took me weeks of practice to get it right.
When I only drink an Irish coffee a few times a year, I need to know it will work out every time, without tons of outtakes.
So, I found that the best solution, is to whip the heavy cream into soft peaks so that it has body, and depth, and floats on top of the hot coffee for that striking look, without the stress of pouring it onto the coffee with precision.
Trust me. It works every time.
Also, I use maple syrup to sweeten the coffee, instead of the traditional brown sugar. This is because it’s just that much easier to mix into the coffee, without wondering if it’s fully dissolved in there.
I promise, my twist on easy Irish coffee will still satisfy those St. Patrick’s Day celebratory vibes you are craving!
Ingredients for this easy Irish coffee:
Of course, the measurements for the recipe are provided in the recipe card below, but let’s break down the ingredients here, so that you understand them better.
- heavy whipping cream – yes, you need the heavy whipping cream (or, as they say in Ireland, double cream), to make this recipe. Nothing else will whip up nicely.
- real maple syrup – we use maple syrup to both sweeten the cream portion, and the coffee portion itself. I love the complex flavor maple syrup lends, while mixing into the coffee easily. Be sure to use the real stuff here, it makes all the difference.
- pure vanilla extract – just a hint, in the whipped cream. This is not traditionally put into the cream of Irish coffee, but I enjoy the hint of flavor it provides. Plus, it’s against my nature to not put vanilla in whipped cream lol!
- Irish whiskey – of course, you could use whatever whiskey you have on hand, or even a bourbon here. BUTTTTT, we are making IRISH coffees here, soooo, I highly recommend using an Irish whiskey. Support that beautiful green Isle. Our personal favorite Irish whiskey, is Jameson!
- strong, freshly brewed coffee – No funny flavors, like hazelnut here. Just, pure dark, or medium roasted, coffee beans, please. If you’re making these in the evening, I suggest using decaf coffee, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine at night.
That’s all you need for this AMAZING, but easy, Irish coffee!!!
How to make easy Irish coffee:
More detailed directions are in the recipe card below, but lets give you a quick snapshot here:
- brew the coffee – pick your favorite way to brew your coffee, but make it a little extra strong.
- whip the cream – whip it up just until soft peaks form. Want to know more about whipped cream, and how to freeze any leftovers? See my how to make whipped cream post.
- warm the glasses – this is optional, but recommended, if your kitchen is cold. You simply add some hot water to the glasses for a minute, or two, then dump the water out.
- mix – add maple syrup, whiskey, and coffee to your serving glasses – use a spoon to mix everything together
- add the cream – Spoon the yummy whipped cream on top of the coffee. It will float right on top, like perfection!!!! DO NOT stir the cream into the coffee!!!
- drink up – serve the Irish coffees immediately, while the cream is cold, and the coffee is hot.
Slainte!!!
(Cheers in Irish).
Why is this Irish coffee recipe easier to make?
It’s easier to make due to whipping the cream into soft peaks that easily rests on top of the hot coffee. Rather, than making Irish coffee the traditional way, which is to float un-whipped cream on top of the hot coffee.
This is a fun skill to learn, if you’re interested in trying, but it does take a lot of practice. If you want to know more about how to make traditional Irish coffee this way, see this Irish coffee post here. It’s very old, but there are good references.
If you want a perfect, slightly untraditional, yet, still-maintaining-the-true-vibes-of-Irish-coffee, coffee, than this easy Irish coffee recipe is for you!
Do Irish people actually drink Irish coffee?
Yes.
Irish coffee is served at many pubs in Ireland.
I personally enjoyed a few Irish coffees served to me at pubs, and hotels while I lived in Ireland.
It’s a bit of an indulgent, after-dinner, almost dessert-like drink. It’s a real treat, one you would “tuck into”, as the Irish say.
Does Irish coffee traditionally contain Bailey’s Irish cream in it?
No.
Bailey’s stirred into coffee is more of America’s idea of what Irish coffee is.
I’m sure Bailey’s stirred into coffee would be tasty, in it’s own right, but it is NOT Irish coffee. It’s just Bailey’s in coffee.
Which, BTW, I would like to state, that I do LOVE Bailey’s. On it’s own, with a little ice!!! YUM!
What kind of alcohol is used in Irish coffee?
Irish whiskey.
Of course, you can use any other type of whiskey you have on hand. But, when Irish coffees are made in Ireland, they are most likely using whiskey that is made there.
Our all-time favorite Irish whiskey is Jameson!
Plus, it’s easy to find in the States!
When to serve easy Irish coffee?
We love to make this easy Irish coffee during the colder months of the year. But, we especially make them around, or on, St. Patrick’s Day, to celebrate.
To me, this drink is an after-dinner, dessert-drink, since it’s a little bit rich. I like to have time to focus solely on sipping my mug of Irish coffee, without the distraction of food.
Cozy up by a fire, or under a blanket, and settle in. It’s a drink you will want to fully embrace, and savor.
Of course, these drinks would also be great served to guests. They will be sure to make a statement!
Reasons you’ll love making this easy Irish coffee:
- It’s warm, and cozy.
- It’s impressive to look at.
- It’s easy to make,
- whether making them for one, two, or multiple people.
- They’re fun to serve to guests.
- It’s a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s way.
- But, really, they’re great anytime it’s cold outside.
- They’re delicious.
- Coffee lovers rejoice,
- while non-coffee lovers also, enjoy them. (Hi, that’s me!)
- Drinking one is guaranteed to make you want to do an Irish jig.
I hope you have a fun, (and safe) St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow!!!
Slainte!
More Irish coffee variations:
- Irish coffee – the authentic Irish coffee recipe.
- coconut Irish coffee – a delicious way to enjoy a vegan/dairy-free version.
More Irish inspired recipes for you to try:
- traditional Irish Shepherd’s pie
- Irish brown soda bread
- healthy fish pie
- Irish champ (mashed potatoes with green onions)
- Irish tea bead (AKA barmbrack)
- traditional Irish stew (with beef or lamb)
- healthy shamrock shake (AKA indulgent smoothie)
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know how it went. Leave a comment below, along with a star rating. I always appreciate hearing from you. Thanks!
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Easy Irish Coffee
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- whipped cream + brewing coffee: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 3 to 4 drinks 1x
- Category: cocktails, drinks, easy
- Method: whipping, mixing
- Cuisine: vegetarian, refined sugar free, nut free
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Easy Irish coffee is the perfect drink to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Or, for any time you need to cozy up with a warm drink that’s spiked with Irish whiskey. So good!
Ingredients
Cream topping (for 3 to 4 servings)
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoon real maple syrup
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For the drink (1 serving)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons real maple syrup
- 1 1/2 to 2 ounces Irish whiskey (we like Jameson)
- 1/2 to 2/3 cup strong, freshly brewed coffee (see notes)
Instructions
- Brew the coffee: Use your preferred method to brew the coffee. I suggest brewing it a little stronger than you normally do since it will be “watered” down with other things. We personally brew about 4 cups of coffee, because that’s the size of our coffee maker (we don’t always use all of it, though). You will need about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of coffee for 1 drink. You can adjust the amount of coffee to coordinate with the amount of Irish coffee drinks you plan to make. My advice, it’s always better to have a little extra on hand, ready to go, than to have to make more, (especially if you’re serving these to guests). Keep the coffee hot, while you prepare the remainder of the recipe.
- Whip the cream: Add the heavy whipping cream to a large mixing bowl, along with the maple syrup, and vanilla. Whip the cream using an electric hand mixer. Alternately you could use a stand mixer, but it’s not necessary. You want to whip the cream just until soft peaks form, you don’t want stiff peaks to form, otherwise it makes the cream harder to drink with the coffee. You know that you’ve achieved soft peaks when the whisks leave tracks in the cream, and when you pull the whisks out of the cream, the cream flops over (stiff peaks is when the cream holds the shape of a peak), the cream should be thick enough to cling to a spoon. If you accidently overwhip the cream to stiff peaks, simply stir a teaspoon of cream in at a time to thin it out. Pop the cream in freezer until you’re ready to use it. Note: you don’t want the whipped cream to freeze, you just pop it in there while preparing the rest of the drinks so it gets a little extra cold. It’s a nice contrast to the hot coffee. Don’t allow the whipped cream to sit in the freezer for longer than 20 minutes.
- Warm the glasses (optional step, but recommended): Heat a tea kettle filled with water (or, heat the water in the microwave). Once the water is hot (it doesn’t need to be boiling), pour the water into the serving glasses (see notes about glasses), and allow the hot water to sit in the glasses for 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the water out and dry off any water that has spilled on the outside of the glass. Note: The purpose of this step is to keep the coffee nice and warm, since it cools down quickly due to the extra liquids we add to it. This step is ideal if your kitchen is cold.
- Mix: To the warmed serving glasses, add the maple syrup (for non-coffee drinkers – like me – I suggest adding the full 2 tablespoons of maple syrup), along with the Irish whiskey, and about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of the hot coffee (leaving about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of room at the top of the glass for the cream layer). Note: The measurements for the drink above, are written for 1 drink – you can easily make more than one drink at a time by measuring out the maple syrup, whiskey, and coffee into each glass. Use a spoon to stir these ingredients together.
- Add the cream on top: Remove the whipped cream from the freezer. Use a spoon to carefully spoon the whipped cream on top of each coffee you are making, the cream should float on top nicely – you will use about 2 to 3 large heaping spoonfuls of the cream, until the cream reaches the top of the glass. Very important: do NOT stir the cream into the coffee. They should remain in separate layers.
- Serve: Serve the Irish coffees immediately. The hot coffee/whiskey mixture is drunk through the cold cream layer. It’s a real treat!
Notes
decaf coffee: We always make these using decaf coffee, since we are both sensitive to caffeine, and always drink them at night. It’s up to you, but keep this in mind, if caffeine is a concern.
type of coffee: You want to use medium, or dark roast, without any flavors like hazelnut, or whatever. You just want a simple, plain, strong coffee for this recipe.
maple syrup: Traditionally, Irish coffees are made using brown sugar, but I find the maple syrup makes this drink just a little bit easier to make since the maple syrup is easier to stir into the coffee. Make sure to use real maple syrup, and not pancake syrup since we are using only a few ingredients, we want each one to be at it’s best.
Whipped cream: You may have extra whipped cream leftover for this recipe, depending on how many drinks you make. I would prefer that you have extra leftover, rather than need to make it again. If you do have some leftover here are your options: 1) you can either store it in the fridge for future Irish coffees. If it gets a little flat, simply give it a 30 second whisk with your electric hand mixer. 2) you can freeze the whipped cream to use for other recipes. See my whipped cream post for more info.
make ahead options: I do suggest making the coffee fresh, and not using leftover coffee. However, you could whip the cream up to several hours in advance and give it a little re-fresh by whipping it for 3o seconds, if it gets a little flat.
prep time: Once the whipped cream is made, and the coffee is brewed, making the individual Irish coffee drinks only takes 5 minutes (ish) give-or-take how many drinks you are making.
Irish coffee glasses: I use an 8 ounce Irish coffee mug. You could also use any other 8 ounce mugs you have. I do recommend that they are clear, if possible, for the presentation factor. In Ireland, I also had Irish coffees served to me in small, stemmed wine glasses, so that would work too. I wouldn’t recommend using a glass that’s larger than 8 ounces, however, since the drink is kind of decadent. (Here is a link to a set of glasses similar to mine)
For a traditional Irish coffee recipe: For a more authentic IRish coffee recipe, see this post. (Keep in mind, this is a very old post, so it’s not polished, but it has a fun strory about my time in IReland, and good info about how to make an authentic cup of Irish coffee). No, this recipe isn’t exactly authentic (read more about this in the blog post, above.
Hi, These delightful coffee recipes are really making me buzz still! Great tips for all coffee addicts (like me). I love to read every blog related to coffee. So, your ideas are very creative and useful. Thank you very much for sharing this with us.
Glad to hear you enjoy the recipe 🙂