When you mix Irish cream, spiced rum, and your favorite coffee it's like sipping your a Christmas Hallmark movie! Warm, cozy, and relaxing.
This recipe is meant for people over 21 years old. Please drink responsibly.

Bailey's Irish Cream, spiced rum, and hot coffee covered with whipped cream - I'm in LOVE!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
There's nothing better than a classic Irish coffee recipe unless it's this over the top Bailey's Irish Temper!
Irish cream, spiced rum, and strong coffee or espresso are topped with a thickened, slightly sweetened cream, and garnished with a sprinkle of cinnamon -- and some green sugar crystals for St Patrick's Day!
It's the best way to linger over brunch or contemplate life at the end of the day.
Prefer an iced cocktail? Try this creamy, iced Brazilian coffee!
🧾 Ingredients
You'll need: Bailey's Original Irish Cream, spiced rum, Italian roast coffee beans - ground, heavy cream, sugar, and cinnamon
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
- Whisk the cream and sugar just until thickened.
- Warm a cup and add the Bailey's, rum, and sugar.
- Pour in the hot coffee.
- Spoon two tablespoons of the cream over the top and garnish with milk chocolate shavings or a sprinkle of cinnamon, as desired.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: You can make a non-alcoholic version of this by using a tablespoon Irish cream syrup, ½ tablespoon cinnamon syrup, and a little rum extract.
- Pour boiling water in the mug to warm it up before adding the other ingredients. Just pour the water out and add your espresso - it will stay hot a lot longer.
- Taste it before you add the sweet cream and add a splash of extra whiskey to suit your own tastes.
- In order for the cream to float on top properly it needs to be pourable and not too thick... but if it's not thick enough it will break through and sink into the liquid.
- The easiest way to get the (properly thickened) cream to float is to turn a spoon upside down and place the tip of the spoon against the cup just over the coffee. Slowly pour the whipped cream over the spoon allowing it to gently cover the top without sinking.
If you'd prefer a cozy coffee without the booze give this caramel creme brulee latte a try!

Learn how to make a Bailey's Irish Coffee with spiced rum! So good!
👩🍳 FAQs
Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.
Really anytime but I think hot cocktails are especially appropriate for winter/early spring brunches and cozy evenings. The best one I've ever had was a twist on the classic that I enjoyed in the mountains near Las Vegas on a snowy day.
Not usually but it would be really good iced on a hot, summer day!
Strongly brewed coffee, Irish whisky, a little sugar, and cream. This Irish Temper recipe uses Bailey's Irish Cream and spiced rum.
It was first created in a small town in western Ireland sometime in the 1950s. So yes, it is -- but not that old of a recipe.

Irish Temper is the best coffee for St Patrick's Day!
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📚 Related recipes

Irish Temper Coffee
Print Pin Recipe SaveIngredients
- 2 ounces Baileys Irish Cream
- 1 ounce spiced rum
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4 ounces espresso, or double strength coffee
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Cinnamon to dust on top
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Instructions
- Whisk the cream with a teaspoon or two of sugar just until thickened but it doesn't hold peaks.
- Warm a cup and add the baileys, rum, and sugar.
- Pour in the hot coffee and mix well.
- Carefully spoon two tablespoons of the cream over the top and dust with cinnamon or sugar crystals. See notes.
Notes
- Pour boiling water in the coffee mug to warm it up before adding the other ingredients. Just pour the water out and add your coffee - it will stay hot a lot longer.
- In order for the cream to float on top properly it needs to be pourable and not too thick... but if it's not thick enough it will break through and sink into the coffee.
- The easiest way to get the (properly thickened) cream to float is to turn a spoon upside down and place the tip of the spoon against the coffee cup just over the coffee. Slowly pour the whipped cream over the spoon allowing it to gently cover the top of the coffee.
Nutrition Facts
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.📖 The story
Or, how Irish coffee and I became lifelong friends.
I'd love to say that I met Irish coffee in a cozy little cafe on a chilly, rumbly, rainy day, in early spring while I was staying at a cute B&B in Ireland.
-- it would be a total lie but the potential for a good story is SO much better--
However, I did not meet it there. Instead I met this deliciously coffee-creamy-sweet cocktail with a kick in a Dallas bar in 1978, when I was 18 and had just started my second (or was it third?) business.
In 1978 the legal drinking age was 18, by the way...
Anyway, I was dressed to meet a client to discuss a painting I was doing for one of his clients. I wore a black pencil skirt with a Victorian style ruffly blouse and black heels.
I looked very professional and I wished I was as confident as I looked. A $2,000.00 commission was on the line.
I had that butterflies in the stomach feeling and I knew my voice was going to crack so I asked the bartender what I could get that would calm me down a touch without making me tipsy or sleepy.
And... it was Irish Coffee.
The client came in and, to my surprise, he ordered the same thing! We sipped, negotiated, signed, and then talked about life for a couple of hours.
From that day on I was very, very sure that classic Irish coffee made one look and feel professional and confident.
First published March 19, 2019. Last updated December 29, 2020 to include bigger images and better readability.
Patricia
Sounds delious
Carol Dault
A wonderful after dinner drink!