Irish Coffee Recipe is made with freshly brewed coffee, sugar, whiskey, and whipped cream. #irishcoffee #irishrecipes #irishfood #stpatricksday #sweetandsavorymeals #drinks

Mar 4, 2024

Irish Coffee Recipe [Video]

Irish Coffee Recipe is made with freshly brewed coffee, sugar, whiskey, and whipped cream—the perfect cocktail to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This delicious beverage is often topped with a layer of thick cream and chocolate shavings. You can make your own whipped topping with heavy cream or just use store-bought whipped cream to save prep time. Pair it with Mint Chocolate Chip Truffles, Baileys Cheesecake, or sweet and festive Mint Fudge.

Classic Irish Coffee Recipe

To make this delicious Irish coffee, you only need a handful of ingredients including hot water, sugar or syrup, coffee, whiskey, and heavy cream. Use a chilled mixer bowl to beat the cream until soft peaks form. You want a thick layer of cream. You can use a regular electric mixer or a stand mixer, but the bowl should be cold before it is whipped. Next, add hot water to a glass mug and stir in sugar or syrup with a spoon until dissolved.

Now, add hot coffee and mix again before adding the whiskey. Stir again before adding the cream and garnish. It should be served warm, but it is yummy any way you serve it. Cold-brewed coffee with alcohol is catching on in many bars. When serving this cocktail, you can pour in your favorite extras like mint, and cherry juice, or even add some extracts like cinnamon, mint, or chocolate.

What we also love about this recipe, is that it has a wonderful slightly bitter flavor, with a kick from the whiskey, balanced with a sweet tone, and topped with freshly made whipped cream!

Irish Coffee topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings

Recipe variations:

Brown sugar: Make your Irish coffee richer by adding a tablespoon of dark brown sugar.
Other tastes: You could also add different flavors like ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or whatever you like when creating this drink.
No caffeine: Those who are cutting back on caffeine can make this just as yummy with non-caffeinated coffee.
For dinner: This cocktail can be served with your main course at dinner or as an after-dinner drink.
Flavored whipped cream: Use flavored whipped cream to make this Irish whiskey drink even more unique.
Spicy Irish coffee: If you like spicy drinks, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.

How to store leftovers:

Store: You can store your leftovers in a jar with a lid for 24 to 36 hours in the fridge.
Freeze: Freezing is not recommended.
Reheating: You can reheat your Irish coffee in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds.

two cups of Irish cream coffee served with whipped cream and chocolate shavings

Frequently asked questions

What is the best whiskey for Irish coffee?

Any kind of Irish whiskey is fine but true Irish coffee is made with Jameson. Some of the other great choices are Connemara, Green Spot, Redbreast, Teeling, and Bushmills. They all go great with this Irish coffee recipe. Just like the whiskey, you can use any kind of freshly brewed coffee you like. Irish coffees are the best choice but if you do not like your coffee so sweet, you can use your favorite roasted brewing choice.

Who invented Irish coffee?

Irish coffee was invented by Joe Sheridan when he was the head chef at the Buena Vista Cafe Restaurant according to many. However, others claim that they brought the delicious drink to America. Stanton Delaplane, a travel writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, claims that he brought it to the US after tasting it at the Shannon Airport in Ireland.

What are some Irish coffee variations?

There are many Irish coffee variations including the iced coffee version, which is a perfect summer drink. You could also use a different type of brew like Brazilian coffee, giving your drink an even sweeter taste. Instead of whiskey, you could also use rum, scotch, or bourbon. You can even make virgin Irish coffee by using rum extract instead of whiskey.

overhead shot of Irish Coffee topped with whipped cream and shaved chocolate

Other popular St. Patrick’s recipes:

Recipe Tips:

Use a strong coffee from a dark roast mixed with hot water or freshly brewed for the best flavor.
You can pour as much or as little Irish whiskey as you like in your Irish coffee cocktail.
A thick layer of whipped cream is a sign of the perfectly poured Irish coffee.
You can use whatever type of cup you like for this Irish liqueur beverage.
Clear Glass Mugs – We love using glass mugs, as they are more festive. These are our favorites.