A Connecticut take on the traditional hot drink, Snickerdoodle Irish Coffee has a sweet and cinnamony flavor, just like the cookie. It's one of my six New England-inspired Irish coffees!
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Alright, it's been a long day—who's ready to wind down with an Irish coffee? It's a favorite cocktail for coffee lovers, a warm drink with a splash of spirits and topped with a thick layer of cream. I especially enjoy having Irish coffee drinks after work in the fall and winter.
That delicious mug of hot, spiked coffee is even more irresistible when paired with some of the best-loved flavors of New England! My recipes for New England-inspired Irish coffee recipes has a drink for each of the six states. And this one pays homage to the state of Connecticut—the Snickerdoodle Irish Coffee.
Jump to:
What is Irish Coffee?
A lovely drink that will warm you up right down to your toes, Irish coffee is made with strong black coffee and a shot of Irish whiskey. A little brown sugar in the bottom of the glass gives the drink a light sweetness. The coffee is topped with a layer of lightly whipped cream that floats on the surface. Some restaurants and bars make Irish coffees with an additional shot of Baileys Irish cream.
The drink is served in an Irish coffee glass, which is a heat-proof mug with a handle and stemmed foot. The clear glass shows off the layers of dark coffee and white cream.
Irish Central shares that the drink was created by Northern Irelander Joe Sheridan in 1943, while he was working as a chef at Foynes Airport near Limerick. He came up with the drink on the spot one night when a cancelled flight left New York-bound passengers stranded and freezing cold at the airport. Sheridan correctly deduced that cream-topped, hot coffee spiked with Irish whiskey would revive them!
A decade later, an American reporter named Stanton Delaplane sampled Sheridan's Irish coffee at Foynes. He loved it so much that once back home, he recreated the drink with the help of friends at The Buena Vista Hotel cafe in San Francisco. The cafe began serving Irish coffee and even invited Joe Sheridan to come and work for them—which he did! Sheridan stayed at The Buena Vista for the next ten years until his death in 1962.
Today, The Buena Vista is still a destination for authentic Irish coffee. The hotel celebrates its role in making Irish coffee famous in the U.S. With glasses lined down the counter, the bartenders put on a show—flinging sugar cubes and dropping long pours of coffee and Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey down the row of glasses. The Buena Vista estimates that they serve 2,000 classic Irish coffees a day!
The inspiration for Connecticut-style Irish Coffee
Although the official nickname for Connecticut is the Constitution State, it has another well-known one, too: the Nutmeg State. That's not because nutmeg grows there, though. (Nutmeg trees are cultivated in the tropical climates of Indonesia and the Caribbean.)
The origin of the Nutmeg State nickname is a little hazy, but it seems to be tied to hyperbolic stories that describe early Connecticut peddlers as being so shrewd that they could get away with selling wooden nutmegs. Other stories claim that early residents who bought whole nutmeg from local sellers thought the spices were wooden fakes because they didn't realize the spice requires grating.
Whichever is true, it's so interesting to me that either occurrence would create such a lasting impression that nutmeg became incorporated into the state motto!
Perhaps it's this association with nutmeg that led to the snickerdoodle becoming Connecticut's official cookie. Or... unofficial cookie? That's also a little hazy. Some sites like Connecticut Public Radio claim that snickerdoodles are the state cookie, although confirmation of this on state sites has been elusive.
Whether official or unofficial, what's definite is that Connecticuters love snickerdoodles—that soft and chewy, vanilla-scented sugar cookie loaded with cinnamon and nutmeg. And now, that spiced snickerdoodle flavor is part of a warm and creamy Irish coffee!
Six states of Irish coffee!
If you're feeling intrigued by this Connecticut take on the classic drink, I have more for you to try:
- Vermont's sweet, sweet maple syrup is the twist in this Maple Irish Coffee.
- A splash of Maine's favorite spirit, Allen's coffee brandy, is the twist in Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee.
- Cider Donut Irish Coffee pays homage to New Hampshire's sweet fall treat.
- Rhode Island is devoted to a certain rich, chocolate cake, and the Triple Chocolate Irish Coffee captures the obsession.
- Sweet Marshmallow Fluff is made in Massachusetts, and it also sweetens the Fluffernutter Irish Coffee.
Why you'll love this recipe
It's a simple cocktail, but Irish coffee turns a regular cup of joe into something extra special. Enjoy one to relax after a delicious dinner, to warm up after a cold weekend day of shoveling snow off the roof, or as a TGIF cocktail with friends.
And, of course, Irish coffees are a perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!
Begin by brewing some strong coffee and gathering up the spirits—the first of which is Irish whiskey. You can use Tullamore Dew, the same whiskey used at The Buena Vista in San Francisco. I like Knappogue Castle 12 Year, and also Redbreast 12 Year. If options (or funds) are limited, Teeling, Jameson, Paddy's, or Slane are good Irish coffee whiskey choices, too.
The snickerdoodle cookie flavor in this coffee comes from Baileys Irish cream zhuzhed up with vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
What about the cream for the top? To make this, all you need is heavy cream and a hand mixer—in less than two minutes, you'll have a thick, pourable cream to top the coffee. You can even skip the mixer and pour heavy cream into a mason jar. Cover it, then shake-shake-shake it until the cream thickens up.
It's the Irish coffee you love, with a sweet, cinnamon-nutmeg cookie twist.
Spice up your life!
Cinnamon Pie
Keep the spice party going with a slice of creamy pie that's rich with cinnamon.
🔪 How to make Snickerdoodle Irish Coffee
Ingredients:
- Heavy cream: Whipping cream can also be used. Make sure the cream is cold for the best results when whipping it.
- Dark coffee: How dark you go is up to you! Brew coffee (I like Vermont Coffee Company) for the drink using your usual method: drip, French press, pour over, etc.
- Irish whiskey: Jameson is the brand everyone knows, but there's a wide variety out there to try. This list of inexpensive Irish whiskeys will give you some ideas.
- Baileys Irish cream: This liqueur adds sweetness and creaminess to the coffee, and is a nice flavor backdrop for the vanilla and spice.
- Sugar: While many Irish coffees include brown sugar, I use granulated sugar to let the vanilla and spice flavors take center stage.
- Cinnamon: I like to use Vietnamese cinnamon, which has a potent flavor. Check your spice bottle and make sure it hasn't expired!
- Nutmeg: Another classic snickerdoodle spice. Add just a little grated nutmeg to the top of the drink.
- Vanilla extract: For the best flavor, use a good quality brand like Nielsen-Massey.
- Cinnamon stick: What better garnish for this drink than a whole cinnamon stick? You can also use a shamrock cocktail pick.
Add sugar to the glass
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Blend sugar with cinnamon and nutmeg, then spoon the mixture into the bottom of a warm Irish coffee glass.
Add the alcohol
Pour Irish whiskey, Baileys, and the vanilla extract into the glass.
Then comes the coffee
Pour strong, hot coffee into the glass. Stir everything together.
Add the cream
Lightly whip the heavy cream with a hand mixer until it's thickened but can still be poured. Pour the thickened cream on the surface of the coffee to create a creamy top.
Garnish and enjoy!
Add a light sprinkle of grated nutmeg to the top of the cream layer, and add a cinnamon stick to the drink. Enjoy!
FAQs
The original Irish coffee is made with just Irish whiskey, along with coffee, a little sugar, and a cream collar. However, these days, it's not unusual to find Irish coffee in bars and restaurants made with Baileys Irish cream or a blend of Baileys and Irish whiskey.
My Snickerdoodlee Irish Coffee recipe is made with 1-½ ounces each of Irish whiskey and Baileys Irish cream—about two shots in total. You can, of course, reduce the quantity of both liquors for a less potent drink.
Don't skip the step of warming up the glass before assembling the Irish coffee—this prevents the drink from cooling down too fast. Remember also to stir the sugar, liquors, and coffee together before adding the cream. Otherwise, the sugar may stay undissolved and gritty at the bottom. Finally, the cream should be lightly whipped—loose enough that you can pour it from a pitcher, but thick enough that it will float on top of the coffee. Pouring it over the back of a warm spoon helps it stay afloat.
Although it's not traditional, there's no reason why you can't enjoy your Snickerdoodle Irish Coffee cold! Dissolve the sugar and spices in the cold coffee, then pour it over ice in a glass, followed by the whiskey and Irish cream. Stir these together before adding lightly whipped cream (or sweetened whipped cream) to the top.
Tips:
- Choose an Irish coffee glass with an 8-ounce capacity or larger for this recipe.
- Use a tall cinnamon stick as a garnish in the drink, or you can also use a shamrock cocktail pick.
Raise a warm glass of Snickerdoodle Irish Coffee and make a toast: to Joe Sheridan for inventing the drink and to Connecticut for the flavor inspiration. Sláinte!
💬 Did you make and devour this recipe? Leave a comment below.
📖 Recipe
Snickerdoodle Irish Coffee
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Ingredients
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream, cold
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 dash grated nutmeg plus extra for dusting
- 1½ ounces Irish whiskey
- 1½ ounces Baileys Irish cream
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 4 ounces hot, strong brewed coffee
- 1 tall cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the cream:
- Pour the cold heavy whipping cream into a small bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat the cream for one to two minutes—it should be thickened but still pourable, like the texture of melted Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
- Hold the cream aside.
Warm the glass and add sugar:
- Run hot water into an Irish coffee glass two or three times until the glass is warmed. Shake out any excess water, and dry the outside.
- Blend the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together. Then spoon the mixture into the bottom of the warm glass.
Add the alcohol:
- Pour the Irish whiskey, Baileys Irish cream, and vanilla extract into the glass.
Add the coffee:
- Pour the hot, strong coffee into the glass. Use a spoon to gently stir the ingredients together.
Add the cream:
- Slowly pour the thickened cream over the back of warm spoon onto the top of the coffee. It should float on the top to create a thick, creamy top to the drink.
Garnish and serve:
- Sprinkle a little grated nutmeg on top of the cream, and add a tall cinnamon stick to the drink.
- Serve the Maple Irish Coffee immediately.
Notes
- Choose an Irish coffee glass with an 8-ounce capacity or larger for this recipe.
- Use a tall cinnamon stick as a garnish in the drink, or you can also use a shamrock cocktail pick.
Nutrition
Christian Mock says
Such a solid drink! Tasty doesn’t begin to describe it!
Nancy Mock says
This comment made my day, thank you!