How to Make Irish Coffee with Baileys

This warm and cozy 4-ingredient coffee cocktail featuring creamy Baileys Irish cream is a great drink to serve during the holiday season.

Here's how to make an easy and delicious Irish coffee with Baileys at home.

Love a classic Irish coffee? This version has all the elements of the original - hot coffee, Irish whiskey and sweet cream - that's even easier to make.

The secret is using Irish cream liqueur. Because it's already sweetened, you can skip the brown sugar and heavy cream in the traditional recipe. Just add a little extra whisky for that classic kick and garnish with your favorite toppings!

Here's what you'll need

It only takes 4 ingredients to make this caffeinated cocktail. And there are plenty of options for substitutions so you can make it with whatever you have.

• Coffee - a pot of strong coffee using your favorite beans is perfect for this drink. Or you can just make a fresh cup with a Keurig. Either regular coffee or decaf coffee will work, depending on whether you want it to keep you awake.
• Baileys - the blend of Irish whiskey, dairy cream from Ireland and a hint of chocolate and vanilla flavor provides all the sweetness you'll need for this cocktail. I love the original in this Baileys coffee, but you can use any flavor creme liqueur you like.
• Whiskey - Jameson Irish Whiskey is the classic, but you can substitute your favorite whisky, bourbon, or even scotch whisky for the extra kick. Add as much or as little as you like, depending on how strong you want the whiskey flavor to be.
• Whip cream - you can whisk up a cup of heavy whipping cream until it forms peaks or take a shortcut and use a can of whipped heavy cream. Either way, a topping of whip cream is traditional.
• Irish coffee glass mug - true Irish coffee cups are glass and often have a tall footed base. I like the insulated double wall versions because they keep hot drinks warm longer.

How to make it

Once you have all the ingredients, this cozy hot drink couldn't be easier to make!

1. Pour the whisky into the bottom of a warm mug. Pour in fresh brewed hot coffee and stir in the Irish cream liqueur.
2. Top with real whipped cream and garnish as desired. Try a chocolate covered espresso bean, a few gratings of fresh nutmeg or a sprinkle of chocolate shavings.

Variations

You can easily switch up a few of the ingredients for endless variations on this Irish coffee with Baileys. Here's some inspiration to get you started.

Love hot chocolate? Substitute chocolate cream liqueur for a creamy mocha version.

How about a caramel macchiato? Substitute caramel vodka for the extra whiskey. Be sure to drizzle caramel syrup over the whipped cream.

Try an island version! Add a Caribbean vibe and swap rum for the whiskey.

Make a Mexican coffee by adding a little coffee liqueur and tequila instead of whisky. Garnish with cinnamon, cocoa powder and a pinch of cayenne.

Try an Italian coffee with amaretto and serve it with biscotti. Make it with an Americano (espresso and hot water) for the tastes of your favorite espresso bar.

Make it Southern with the addition of honey bourbon from Kentucky or Tennessee.

No matter how you make it, a hot coffee cocktail is perfect for brunch or an after dinner drink. It will keep you warm all winter long.

More coffee recipes to try

• Espresso Martini Recipe
• Baileys White Russian Recipe
• How To Make A Tiramisu Martini
• 21 Easy Iced Coffee Recipes
• 15 Easy Coffee Desserts