How to Make Irish Coffee for St. Patrick's Day

Irish coffee is a treat often served around St. Patrick's Day. It's perfect for the holiday, since the weather is usually still cold in March. Make one of these Irish coffees after your St. Patrick's Day dinner party or as a nightcap.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Irish whiskey
• Brown sugar
• Hot coffee
• Instant coffee
• Heavy cream
• Bailey's Irish cream
• Milk
• Water
• Chocolate ice cream
• Hazelnut liqueur
• Chocolate syrup
• Whipped cream
• Brown sugar syrup
• Irish Mist herbal liqueur
• Mint flavored coffee syrup

1. Try a traditional Irish coffee recipe. Mix 1 1/2 oz. of Irish whiskey, 1 tsp. of brown sugar and 6 oz. of hot coffee in a mug. Gently place the heavy cream on the top of the cup with a spoon, being careful not to mix it with the coffee.

2. Mix together an iced Irish coffee if the weather is a little hot. Mix 1 oz. of water and 2 tbsp. of instant coffee. Add the milk after the coffee has dissolved and stir again. Pour the mixture into a cup, add 1 oz. of Bailey's and top with ice cream.

3. Add a little nutty taste to your Irish coffee by pouring 6 oz. of hot coffee into a mug and adding 1 oz. each of Bailey's and of hazelnut liqueur and a bit of chocolate syrup. Stir the mixture and top with whipped cream.

4. Try a little sugar with your coffee. Combine 1 1/2 oz. of Irish whiskey to a cup of pre-made coffee and 1 oz. of brown sugar syrup. Serve with whipped cream on top.

5. Mix together a very strong Irish coffee. Pour 6 oz. of hot coffee into a cup and add 1/2 oz. of Irish whiskey and Irish Mist herbal liqueur. Carefully float the cream on top.

Tips & Warnings

• If a recipe calls for hot coffee, always use hot, black coffee. Adding cream or sugar to it before using it in a recipe will offset the taste.
• If you don't drink, try substituting mint-flavored coffee syrup for the liqueur. Make sure to use one-fourth of what the recipe requires.
• Make your Irish coffee recipe fresh on St. Patrick's Day. Irish coffee doesn't get more delicious with age.
• Don't double the recipes for larger mugs without warning your guests. Irish coffees contain one serving of alcohol. If they are watching what they drink, they should know how much they are drinking so they can pace themselves.