Iced Irish Coffee Recipe
Cocktail meets coffeehouse staple in this creamy Iced Irish Coffee recipe! With Bailey’s Irish Cream and whiskey, it’s the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!
With St. Paddy’s Day around the corner, you probably have your Corned Beef and Cabbage and Irish Soda Bread recipes all planned out, but what about your festive cocktail? You could go with traditional Irish Coffee, but if you’re more in the mood for a drink that’s chilled rather than hot, this iced Irish coffee is the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow—or something like that!
This cocktail is exactly what it advertises: the deliciousness of Irish coffee in iced form. You’ve got your strongly brewed coffee (or espresso, if you prefer), Bailey’s, and whiskey, all shaken into a creamy iced concoction. It would be a shame to save this one for after dinner—you’ll find me sippin’ on this iced Irish coffee all day long on St. Patrick’s Day. Sláinte!
It’s not just for St. Patrick’s Day, though! This recipe is perfect for warm weather brunches and patio drinking with friends. It’s a little more versatile than the hot version; it’s a cocktail you can whip up whenever!
Ingredients for Iced Irish Coffee
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Cold Brewed Coffee – Or chilled brewed espresso.
- Heavy Cream – Adds richness to the drink. You could use half-and-half to make it lighter, but I wouldn’t use milk—then you’re just not going to get that creaminess.
- Simple Syrup – Here’s how to make simple syrup.
- Sweetened Whipped Cream – You can use store-bought or make your own whipped cream.
- Bailey’s Irish Cream – It’s boozy, yes, but it also contributes to the richness of this iced Irish coffee.
- Irish Whiskey – You can adjust the amount to your liking. It gives the Irish coffee some warmth—despite it being iced!
- Nutmeg or Ground Cinnamon – A garnish for a hint of spice.
How to Make Iced Irish Coffee
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full printable instructions.
- Shake it. Fill a shaker with ice, coffee, cream, simple syrup, Irish cream, and whiskey. Shake for 30 seconds until chilled.
- Pour. Strain into a glass with ice.
- Garnish. Top with whipped cream and grated nutmeg or cinnamon. Add a cinnamon stick if you’d like and serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Here are some tips and variations to customize your iced Irish coffee to suit your tastes!
- Adjust the sweetness. If you prefer your drink less sweet, reduce the amount of simple syrup.
- Switch up the flavor. For another layer of flavor in your iced Irish coffee, you can use flavored syrups like vanilla or caramel. Or, swap out the heavy cream and simple syrup for flavored creamers like hazelnut.
- Experiment with garnishes. While nutmeg and cinnamon are classic choices, you can also garnish your drink with chocolate shavings, a drizzle of caramel, or crushed espresso beans.
- Make it dairy-free. Replace the heavy cream and whipped cream with non-dairy alternatives like coconut milk and vegan whipped cream.
How to Make Iced Irish Coffee for a Crowd
If you want to make a big batch of this recipe for a party, here’s how I’d do it:
- Brew a large pot of strong coffee or prepare a large amount of cold brew in advance. Make sure it’s chilled before starting.
- In a pitcher, combine the coffee, heavy cream, simple syrup, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and Irish whiskey. Stir well to ensure everything is evenly mixed. Chill in the refrigerator.
- To serve, fill glasses with ice, then pour the prepared mixture into each glass. Leave room at the top for the whipped cream.
- Top each drink with a generous dollop of sweetened whipped cream and garnish as desired.
How to Store Leftovers
If you have extras, you can cover it and refrigerate it for 24 hours. Or, even better, pour the leftover mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze it. These ice cubes can be blended to create an iced Irish coffee slushie or added to fresh coffee to cool it down (and give it a little boozy kick).
Serving Suggestions
Pair your iced Irish coffee with other St. Patrick’s Day favorites!
- Irish Boxty
- Irish Brown Bread
- The Best Guinness Beef Pot Pies
- Irish Colcannon Potatoes
- Bangers and Mash with Onion Mustard Gravy
- Nutty Irishman Cocktail
More Easy Cocktail Recipes
- Bees Knees Cocktail
- Irish Espresso Martini
- Apple Cider Mimosa
- Refreshing Paloma Cocktail
- Blackberry Margarita
- Orange Crush Cocktail
- Pomegranate Martini
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Get the Recipe: Iced Irish Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold brewed coffee or chilled brewed espresso
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ tsp. Simple syrup
- 2 Tbsp. Sweetened Whipped Cream, divided
- 1 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream
- 1 oz. Irish whiskey
- Freshly grated nutmeg or ground cinnamon to garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with with ice and top with the coffee, cream, simply syrup, Irish cream and whiskey. Close the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds until well chilled
- Strain into an ice filled glass and top with whipped cream and grated nutmeg or cinnamon.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and serve immediately.