Bailey's Iced Coffee

With just four simple ingredients, this easy Bailey's Iced Coffee recipe is perfection. It is sweet and creamy with just enough Irish Cream to enhance the rich flavor of the coffee. Whip up quickly as a fun treat for the morning or make it later in the day. No matter when you want to enjoy it, you'll be able to make it anytime you want. 

Adding a little bit of Irish cream liqueur to your morning cup of joe should be done at least once (or twice!) a year.  Pairing it with ice cubes and creating a cold and sweet treat is so refreshing in the AM.

Even if you've never had cold coffee before, this is literally like having dessert for breakfast. And to be honest, I also think that this makes a delicious after-dinner drink, too, especially after some Traeger corned beef and smoked cabbage. The added caffeine may keep you up a few hours, but sub in decaf, and you'll be good to go!

If you really want to fancy it up, you can use a cocktail shaker as well. Coffee cocktails are totally a thing and are really quite popular and simple to make at home. If you're used to ordering an iced mochaccino, you're going to love this.

For an amazing dessert try our Baileys Irish Cream Ice Cream Recipe!

Ingredients

Coffee - The great part is that you get to use whatever type of coffee that you want. No need to get anything special unless you want to. Just make sure it's a strong coffee, so the flavor stands out. 

Bailey’s Irish cream - Pick up a bottle of this Irish cream from the store and keep it on hand. Once you make this drink once, you're going to want to have it on hand for the next time. 

Half and half - Adding half and half just gives it a creaminess and some texture. 

Sugar - This is optional, so you can make it sweeter if you want. 

How To Make Bailey's Iced Coffee

Step One: Combine the chilled coffee, Irish cream, and half and half into a cup and stir.

Step Two: Pour the mixture into two glasses that are filled with ice.

If you want to add in sugar or a sweetener, you can do so to the individual glasses at this point and then stir.

Variations & Toppings

Cinnamon- Sprinkling a little bit of cinnamon on top is a great way to add some flavor.

Chocolate syrup - If you want to drizzle or mix in some chocolate, go for it!

Whipped cream - You can easily make it more of a dessert by topping with whipped cream.

Cocoa powder - Put a tad bit of cocoa on top for an even bigger chocolate taste.

Chocolate Shavings - Another super simple way to add sweetness is to put chocolate shavings on top.

Common Questions

What is Bailey's Irish Cream?

Baileys Irish Cream is a smooth, creamy liqueur that is perfect for sipping on its own or adding to your favorite coffee or cocktail. This delicious drink was created in Dublin, Ireland by Gilbeys of Ireland in the early 1970s and has been a popular choice among drinkers ever since. Bailey's Irish Cream is a fine spirit made with a blend of Irish whiskey, cream, sugar, and chocolate, which gives it its unique flavor profile and rich texture.

Does this have to be an alcoholic beverage?

Not at all. If you don't want the alcohol, just remove the bottle of Bailey's from your list and use an Irish Cream or Bailey's flavored coffee creamer instead. This can be made with or without alcohol, with no problems.

How much total time does this drink recipe take?

As long as you have all the ingredients on hand, this drink will take you literally one minute to do. Talk about a way to be a bartender fast with little to no training.

Can you use other flavors of Irish cream?

Absolutely. See what Bailey's options you have in your stores, and then have fun with the flavors. You'll love being able to create a new drink with a new taste each and every time. You can even sub in other brands of cream liquor, such as Kahlua. That has always been my mom's favorite.

Why is my iced coffee watered down?

To keep the flavor as strong as possible, make sure that you don't add the drink to the ice until you're ready to drink. It is best to chill the bottle of original Irish cream first. This will keep that Bailey's flavor strong and have you not worrying that it's watered down.

Can I make this drink ahead of time?

I wouldn't. For the best flavor, make it right before you're going to drink it. You can, however, use older coffee and just reheat it. I do this all the time and use some leftover coffee from my morning cup that I just use. No need to brew a fresh pot of coffee if you're drinking this drink later in the day.

Can I make this with decaf coffee?

You sure can. Some people don't like to have caffeine late at night, and that's totally understandable. If you're wanting to have the flavor without the worry of staying up late, just use decaf instead. The flavor will still be the same, and you'll get to bed on time, too.

I use caffeinated coffee for the morning hours and then decaf coffee for an afternoon or evening drink.

For a fall twist try this Pumpkin Spice Whipped Coffee!