Irish Coffee Recipe

Every year around St. Patrick’s day, this creamy, caffeine-filled cocktail rises to the top and becomes one of the most popular drinks around! Irish Coffee is a delicious blend of smooth whiskey, strong coffee and a big dollop of cream. And we found a way to make this warm drink dairy free!

Irish coffee is popular around St. Patrick’s day but this drink should be enjoyed all fall and winter. The warm coffee combined with a shot of whiskey makes it the perfect after-dinner drink for you and your guests.

We like to serve it after Thanksgiving dinner (just make sure you give time for the caffeine to wear off) or on Christmas morning. The coffee makes the drink warm so it is perfect for relaxing in front of the fire or the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree!

Is Irish Coffee A Morning Drink?

Many people like to enjoy an Irish coffee in the morning to get them going. It’s perfect for vacations or ski resorts when you don’t have anywhere to be and can enjoy the whiskey in the drink.

Personally, I enjoy an Irish coffee in the early afternoon when the hustle and bustle of the morning have passed and there is time to relax for the rest of the day!

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED

• Fresh Brewed Coffee – Make the coffee strong! The stronger the better in this drink but you don’t want to use espresso. For the strongest coffee, use a french press or pour over coffee maker.
• Irish Whiskey – I like to use Jameson since it is an affordable Irish Whiskey that is smooth and delicious!
• Honey – Traditional Irish coffee is sweetened with brown sugar but we used honey instead and it tastes amazing. It adds just the right amount of sweetness. Maple syrup could also be used in place of the honey but it will change the flavor.
• Dairy-Free Whipped Cream – Irish Whiskey had a huge dollop of lightly whipped cream on top. But since we are dairy free, we like to use Almond Reddi Whip. You can find it in the refrigerated section next to the regular Reddi Whip.

How To Make a Dairy-Free Irish Coffee

Assembling an Irish Coffee

1. Prepare the hot brewed coffee and add the coffee and honey to a mug. Mix it well until the honey is dissolved. Since the coffee is hot, it will dissolve quickly. We use just a teaspoon to keep it from being too sweet, but traditionally this drink has a lot of sugar, add as much honey as you desire!
2. Add the Irish whiskey to the mug and mix.
3. Top with whipped cream and serve! Do not mix the whipped cream into the drink. When sipping this drink, you are supposed to drink it through the cream, giving it more depth and layers of flavor!

Tips and Tricks

• Glass mugs may crack from the hot coffee if the glass is too cold. To prevent this and to keep the drink from getting cold, you can prewarm the glass by adding warm water to it and letting it sit for 3-5 minutes. Then dump out the water and make your drink.
• If you are serving this to guests, it can be fun to top it with chocolate shavings, cocoa nibs, or a dusting of cocoa powder!
• There isn’t too much alcohol in this drink but be sure your guests know that it has alcohol. I’ve met many people who didn’t realize that Irish coffee had whiskey in it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Irish Coffee

More Dairy Free Cocktail Recipes You Might Enjoy:

• Caramel Vodka Martini
• Easy Peppermint Schnapps Cocktail
• Delicious Fall Cocktail With Apple And Cranberry
• Mulled Apple Cider
• Friday Night Buzzy Kombucha Drink
• Sparkling Pomegranate and Tequila Cocktail Recipe
• Irresistible Summer Champagne Cocktail