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Try Baileys coffee: a delicious Irish coffee with Baileys Irish cream! This spin on the classic is lusciously creamy and cozy.

Baileys Coffee
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Are you an adoring fan of Baileys Irish Cream? Then this spin on the Irish coffee with Baileys is a must try…Baileys Coffee! Adding a splash of this whiskey-flavored creamy liqueur is absolutely what a cup of hot coffee needs. Float a fluffy pile of homemade whipped cream on top, and it’s a lusciously creamy coffee cocktail that will warm your soul. Here’s what to know about this classy spin on the classic.

Baileys coffee ingredients

Baileys coffee is a spin on Irish coffee using Baileys Irish Cream instead of cream and sugar. Irish coffee is a classic cocktail you probably already know: warm coffee with a shot of Irish whiskey, topped with whipped cream. The modern version was invented in the 1950’s in Ireland. What you may not know is there were several spiked coffee predecessors in early 19th century Austria and France, and later in Cuba and Latin America. Spiked coffee is also known as carajillo in Spain and Latin America (we’ll get to that later).

The Irish coffee became so popular, it’s been standardized as part of the list of IBA official cocktails. This means it has an “official” definition of how to make it. This Baileys coffee spin simply swaps in Baileys Irish Cream for heavy cream and sugar. For Baileys coffee you’ll need:

  • Coffee, warm
  • Baileys Irish Cream
  • Homemade whipped cream
Baileys and coffee

Best coffee for Baileys and coffee

You can use your favorite coffee bean and method for this Baileys coffee: anything goes! But it will taste different depending on your method. Here’s what we’d recommend:

  • Dark roast coffee: This is most traditional flavor-wise, and will tastes more straightforward with a bitter finish. Make it up in your standard coffee pot.
  • Medium roast coffee: Using medium roast coffee makes a much lighter drink: which we enjoyed! We made medium roast with our standard pour-over method: the Chemex coffee maker.
  • Try Aeropress for a single cup: If you want to make one cup at once, the Aeropress is an inexpensive and slick method.
  • Or, go decaf: Drinking Baileys coffee as an after dinner drink? You may want to opt for decaf: it’s just as good.

Homemade whipped cream is best

Want to make an over-the-top delicious Irish coffee with Baileys? Make homemade whipped cream! It’s amazing how much tastier and fluffier this stuff is vs Cool Whip. Of course, we won’t judge if you’re in a hurry: but it takes just 2 minutes to whisk up.

  • Try this homemade recipe: Use Homemade Whipped Cream, which adds a bit of powdered sugar for some sweetness.
  • Whip the cream to soft peaks. This makes just the right soft texture for topping a drink; hard peaks make it too fluffy and buoyant.
  • Float it on top using the back of a spoon. This helps you gently place the cream on top of the drink.
Baileys Irish Cream coffee
Of course, you don’t need the whipped cream: just drink Baileys and coffee straight!

Use Irish coffee mugs

Last tip for Baileys Irish Cream coffee: serve it up in an Irish coffee mugs! Of course, you can use whatever cup or glass you like. But a nice thing about the special mug is that it holds exactly the size of this drink: and it feels more fun drinking it! Here are the Irish coffee mugs we use: they’re sleek and are exactly the right size to fit the drink recipe.

Want a vegan Baileys coffee?

There’s actually a vegan version of Baileys! It’s called Baileys Almande and it’s made with almond milk instead of cream. You can use this, then top the drink with Vegan Whipped Cream. Make it at home using coconut milk and it comes out very delicious.

Baileys coffee

All about Baileys

Interestingly, Baileys Irish Cream is the most popular liqueur sold worldwide! Yep, there’s nothing like this popular creamy liqueur. Here’s a little more about it, and how to use up a bottle after this Baileys Coffee:

  • Baileys Irish Cream a liqueur made with Irish whiskey, cream, and cocoa that’s manufactured in Ireland. It’s the most popular liqueur worldwide. It’s low alcohol: the ABV is 17% (compared to 40% in spirits like gin, whiskey, and vodka).
  • How much does Baileys cost? Baileys is mid-priced: it costs about $20 to $25 for a large 750 ml bottle.
  • How to store Baileys? Store an opened bottle in the pantry for up to 2 years after its manufacture date. You can also refrigerate it: it’s good between 32 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • What other cocktails can you make with it? So many! Try popular Baileys drinks like the Mudslide, Chocolate Martini, Espresso Martini, Baileys White Russian, and B52 Cocktail (or Shot).

When to serve Baileys coffee

This creamy coffee cocktail works anytime! It’s low alcohol, so it’s perfect for brunch: but it works for after dinner or anytime in between. Serve it as a:

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Baileys Coffee

Baileys Coffee


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink 1x
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Description

Try Baileys coffee: a delicious Irish coffee with Baileys Irish cream! This spin on the classic is lusciously creamy and cozy.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 ounces (¾ cup) hot coffee
  • 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) Baileys Irish Cream*
  • Sweetened whipped cream, whipped to soft peaks (or vegan whipped cream for dairy-free)

Instructions

  1. Make the coffee, using your favorite method.
  2. Make the homemade whipped cream, making sure to whip to soft peaks.
  3. Add the coffee to a glass or Irish coffee mug, leaving about an inch at the top for cream. Stir in the Baileys Irish Cream.
  4. Gently float the whipped cream on top using the back of a spoon. 

Notes

*For a vegan variation, use Baileys Almande: it’s made with almond milk.

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stirred
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegetarian

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

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4 Comments

  1. Sandra says:

    It was delicious but when I topped it with homemade whipped cream (soft peaks), it has melted pretty quickly leaving cream and something that looked like butter on top of the coffee. What did I do wrong?

    1. Alex Overhiser says:

      You can do a little more sugar in it and make sure it’s stiff peaks!

  2. Orion says:

    Goood shid.






  3. Chigz says:

    WHIPPED cream? Ye dare profane the name of a Baileys coffee!? POURING cream