This Baileys Irish Coffee recipe is a perfectly indulgent treat for the cold season: try it during the holiday as a comforting winter drink.
It may be because one of the mamas behind this website lives in Ireland, or maybe because a drink that mixes coffee, cream and a bit of an alcoholic kick brings together many of the things we love most in a treat, but we have no doubts: we love Baileys Irish Coffee!
Baileys Irish Coffee is a warming, comforting, relaxing drink perfect for the cold season and especially the Christmas holidays.
It is the perfect drink to have in front of a crackling fire when relaxing while waiting for Santa (we know we are not the only mamas who need to put their feet up on Christmas eve!) but also a great drink to accompany chats with friends whil the rain or the snow makes a home the best place for gathering.
Baileys coffee is a delicious spin on a classic Irish coffee and is also known as Irish Cream Coffee. It is indeed popular in Ireland as well as abroad.
I can be served with or without the extra whiskey depending on taste, and of course, the devilishly sweet finish of the chocolate dusting on top of the whipped cream is totally up to you!
Perfect for those chilly evenings, this is a favourite for snuggling up with a book in front of the fire – a pure mama indulgence treat!
Can’t make it now? Save this to Pinterest for later
This post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
As Amazon affiliates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What is Baileys Irish Cream?
Baileys Irish Cream is an alcoholic cream originally from Ireland.
Made with cream, cocoa, and a dash of Irish whiskey, Baileys Cream has a very smooth texture and a sweet, delicate taste that still maintains elements of whiskey, but is softened by the additional ingredients and its texture to such an extent to meet the taste requirements of non-whiskey drinkers.
You buy Baileys in ready-made bottles.
What’s the best Baileys for Coffee?
You can find different types of Baileys but, after many experiments, we found that the best Baileys for coffee is the original!
Classic Bailey is excellent on its own but it is mixed deliciously well with coffee as the two flavors complement each other beautifully.
Tools you will need for making a Baileys Irish Coffee
To make the perfect Baileys Irish coffee, you want the following (click on the links to buy, you should find yourself missing any of the the tools):
- Tall glass with a handle / Irish coffee mug
- Long stirring spoon
- Jigger
- Whip (for whipping cream)
- Coffee maker
Find all our favourite tools for your home cocktail bar here.
Ingredients
- 60ml Baileys
- 30ml Irish whiskey
- 1 cup (250ml) freshly brewed filter coffee (or 2 shots espresso & top up hot water)
- 2 tablespoons whipped cream
- Optional garnish with nutmeg, cinnamon or shaved chocolate
Process:
Brew coffee in your usual method.
While it brews, measure out the Baileys and whiskey into the glass
Add your freshly brewed coffee and stir
Top off with fresh whipped creamOptionally top off with chocolate, a light dash of shaved nutmeg or cinnamon for a festive twist!
Baileys Irish Coffee
A deliciously delectable after-dinner treat. Best served in a glass handled cup
Ingredients
- 60ml Baileys
- 30ml Irish whiskey
- 1 cup (250ml) freshly brewed filter coffee (or 2 shots espresso & top up hot water)
- 2 tablespoons whipped cream
- Optional garnish with nutmeg, cinnamon or shaved chocolate
Instructions
- Brew coffee in your usual method
- Measure out the Baileys and whiskey into the glass
- Add your freshly brewed coffee and stir
- Top off with fresh whipped cream
- Optionally top off with chocolate, a light dash of shaved nutmeg or cinnamon
Alternative methods
The recipe above follows the easiest possible process. However, there are variations on this basic method that calls for slightly less Baileys and can therefore be appealing if you are looking for a lighter drink.
Our favorite alternative recipe whipped the Baileys with the cream, rather than to the coffee: this is a slightly trickier passage, as you must be careful not to un-whip the cream in the process, but makes for a lovely, aromatic cream that is just delightful on your lips!
Other recipes we have found suggest additional sweeteners such as brown sugar even maple syrup – it’s up to you but we think the Baileys alone is sweet enough!
If you don’t have Baileys, you can also try Kahlua Irish cream. By substituting Kahlua for Baileys, you’ll get a stronger coffee taste and a darker finish than the Baileys, though still sweet.
More for Irish Coffee Lovers!
- Love your Baileys? You can find all our favourite Irish Cream recipes here, we are particularly partial to the flat white Martini – check it out here!
- If you’re looking for more Irish drinks, or drinks that would suit a St Patrick’s Day celebration, check out this collection perfect for St Paddy’s Day.
- Whiskey lovers need look no further than our fabulous collection of whiskey-lover gifts.
Mama Loves A Drink advocates quality over quantity. Always drink responsibly!