Irish Coffee Cocktail Recipe

If you've ever had an Irish coffee, you know just how delicious the beverage is. Irish coffee is typically made with a little bit of sugar, some Irish whiskey, and hot coffee, topped off with a delicious whipped cream. It's pretty hard to beat that combination of ingredients, and recipe developer Jaime Shelbert of Wholly Nourished stays pretty true to the original with her Irish coffee cocktail recipe.

If anything, Shelbert's recipe takes things to a whole new level by incorporating Bailey's Irish cream into the whipped cream. "The Bailey's whipped cream is my favorite way to top this classic Irish cocktail for an extra touch of decadence," Shelbert raves, and we definitely agree. Another great thing about this cocktail is that it comes together in a breeze. If you have 10 minutes of prep time, then you have enough time to make this cocktail. Also, you only need five ingredients, so let's dive right into this delicious and festive drink.

As previously stated, this cocktail requires only five ingredients. You'll need some strong, hot coffee, Irish whiskey, brown sugar, Bailey's Irish cream, and heavy whipping cream. Now, traditional Irish coffee recipes simply call for using white sugar, but Shelbert finds that brown sugar complements the flavors much better. "I like how the flavor profile of brown sugar blends in this drink adding notes of caramel from the molasses," she says, noting that "white sugar or maple syrup are suitable substitutes." If you want that extra touch of decadence, however, definitely opt for brown sugar!

Any Irish coffee recipe is going to have a whipped cream topping, though many call for simply using store-bought stuff. While there's nothing wrong with a good dollop of canned whipped cream, it's even better when it's homemade — and, even better yet when there's some Bailey's Irish cream thrown into the mix. To get started on this recipe, you'll want to make the decadent Bailey's whipped cream. Simply pour the whipping cream and Bailey's into a chilled mixing bowl, then beat the ingredients with a hand mixer for 2-3 minutes. Once stiff peaks form, you'll know that your Bailey's whipped cream is ready to go.

You can set the whipped cream aside for a few minutes as you focus on the cocktail itself. Grab your two mugs and divide the whiskey evenly between the two — note that you'll be adding 2 ounces of whiskey to each mug. Next, add a teaspoon of brown sugar to each mug, then add a splash of hot coffee, which will help the sugar fully dissolve. Stir the liquid with a spoon, or simply swirl the mugs until the sugar dissolves. Then, evenly distribute the rest of the coffee between the two mugs.

Now, if you're someone who favors cold or iced drinks, you're in luck! "This would work just as well iced," Shelbert notes. "You may want to substitute maple syrup since brown sugar doesn't dissolve as well in cold liquids." Simply use cold brew or cooled coffee instead of hot, and you'll have a delicious, iced version of this cocktail.

There's just one more step, and that's topping off the cocktail with the Bailey's whipped cream. Give each mug a healthy dollop of the whipped cream, and you're ready to sip and enjoy. "Irish coffee is generally an after dinner drink, so pairing it with desserts such as apple pie, chocolate fondue, or cheesecake would work wonderfully," Shelbert suggests for pairing options. Of course, she notes that "it also stands well on its own as a treat," so feel free to whip up this delicious drink on a whim and sip with ease.