Food & Cooking Recipes Drink Recipes Cocktail Recipes Our Favorite Irish Coffee Recipe 5.0 (1) It has a secret, sweet ingredient. Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 10 mins Yield: 2 mugs Jump to recipe There’s a lot to love about Irish coffee. This warm, comforting after-dinner drink is sweet and creamy, but also caffeinated and boozy. You might have had a less-than-stellar rendition at a bar or restaurant before, but don’t let that put you off this classic cocktail. In addition to the classic hot coffee, whiskey, and cream combination, ours has a trio of sweet ingredients: the cream is whipped with vanilla for a rich topping, cocoa powder enhances the coffee flavor, and maple syrup replaces the usual sugar to complement the whiskey. It's a dessert cocktail too good to save for St. Patrick's Day. Directions Whisk cream and vanilla Whisk cream with vanilla and 1 tablespoon maple syrup just until silken and very soft peaks form. Heat coffee, whiskey, cocoa, and remaining maple syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together coffee, whiskey, cocoa, and remaining 1 tablespoon maple syrup. Cook until scalding and bubbles appear along edge of pan (do not let boil). Whisk in some cream mixture: Remove from heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons cream mixture. Serve: Divide evenly between two mugs. Top with remaining cream mixture, sprinkle with cocoa, and serve immediately. Variations For a nonalcoholic version, simply omit the whiskey.