Irish Coffee Mocktail (Printable)

A warming, non-alcoholic twist combining rich coffee, subtle spice, and creamy topping for comfort.

# What You'll Need:

→ Coffee

01 - 1.5 cups freshly brewed hot coffee, medium or dark roast

→ Sweetener & Flavor

02 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
03 - 0.25 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Cream Layer

04 - 0.5 cup cold heavy cream

→ Garnish

05 - Pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg
06 - Shaved dark chocolate

# How To Make It:

01 - Brew the coffee and divide evenly between two heatproof glasses or mugs.
02 - Stir brown sugar and vanilla extract into the hot coffee until completely dissolved.
03 - In a small bowl, lightly whip the cold heavy cream with a whisk until it reaches soft peak stage, remaining pourable.
04 - Gently pour the whipped cream over the back of a spoon to float it on top of each coffee mixture.
05 - Top with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or dark chocolate shavings if desired and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The cream floats perfectly on top, creating that magical moment when warm coffee meets cold cream on your lips - something I cant resist showing friends when they visit.
  • You can enjoy this sophisticated drink any time of day without worrying about the effects of whiskey, yet still feel like youre treating yourself to something special.
02 -
  • The cream must be very cold but not over-whipped - I ruined a batch once by distraction and ended up with something closer to butter than the silky layer I wanted.
  • Warming your mugs with hot water before adding coffee helps maintain the temperature longer, something I only discovered after wondering why my coffeehouse versions always seemed to stay hot longer than mine.
03 -
  • The perfect cream layer depends on temperature contrast - keeping your cream in the freezer for just 15 minutes before whipping gives it that magical ability to float perfectly without immediately sinking.
  • When adding spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, sprinkle them onto the cream rather than into the coffee - this releases their aroma right under your nose with each sip rather than having them disappear into the liquid.

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