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It’s my winter goal to design and create the perfect boozy spiked hot cocoa. That means weekends filled with experiments, successes and failures and plenty of post-its filled with brainstormed ideas. This latest creation is my favorite so far, with nutty undertones, a sweet kick, and a shot of excitement. I’m calling it Almond Irish Coffee Hot Cocoa.

This combination came from two distinct inspirations. The first, is that I am the type of person who would drink an Irish coffee no matter what time of day it is. I just love that sweet and creamy classic.

Second, I’ve been changing up my standard morning coffee routine lately by replacing the milk in my latte with almond milk. It still froths up beautifully, and it adds a distinct nuttiness to an otherwise standard drink.

This cocoa is the delectable and indulgent dessert version of the combination. But don’t let me stop you from drinking this with breakfast or whenever the mood strikes.

The amaretto pulls in that nuttiness, and the Irish cream makes the whole thing smooth, with that subtle whiskey bite. The espresso brings in a bitterness, adding to the depth. The pecan slivers on top make you feel like you just stepped outside from a patisserie onto cobblestone village streets. And the fancy mugs just add a touch of class.

Almond Irish Coffee Boozy Hot Cocoa

A spiked hot chocolate made with espresso, amaretto, and irish cream.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Dessert
Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 6 oz Water
  • 2 Tbsp Hot Cocoa Mix*
  • 1 oz Espresso brewed
  • 1 oz Irish Cream
  • 1 oz Amaretto
  • 1 tsp Almond Slivers optional
  • 1 Tbsp Mini Marshmallows optional
  • 1 Tbsp Whipped Cream optional

Instructions

  • Boil water, and mix two ounces with the hot cocoa mix in a 12-oz mug. Stir until combined.
  • Add in the espresso, Irish cream, and amaretto, and stir until combined. Top with the rest of the water and stir once more.
  • Garnish with marshmallows, whipped cream, and almond slivers as desired. 

Notes

*For the hot coca mix, I use this recipe from Alton Brown. I store the mix in a large mason jar in my pantry and use 2 Tbsp to make a standard cup of cocoa. If you're using a different cocoa mix, follow the instructions for how much to use. 

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13 thoughts on “Almond Irish Coffee Hot Cocoa

    1. You totally could! If you’re using regular coffee instead of espresso, I’d use 4 oz of that and replace some of the water, and then use 1 oz of the creamer for a similar taste.

  1. This looks delicious! I just started drinking coffee this winter. We use almond milk all the time and love it. I’m saving this to Pinterest for future reference too.

    1. Thanks! Coffee is a fun thing to explore because it’s so personal and has endless possibilities. I love coming up with new ways to enjoy it!

    1. Thanks! For a non-alcoholic version, you can replace the Irish cream with a flavored creamer or heavy cream, and the amaretto with 1/2 tsp of almond extract mixed into water to total 1 oz. It won’t taste exactly the same, but the flavor should be similar!

  2. My mouth is watering! This sounds spectacular to me. I might have to try making it for my mom tomorrow for Mother’s Day!

  3. What makes this Irish Coffee as I do not see any mention of Irish Whiskey? Cashew milk makes a delicous coffee, another alternative to almind milk.

    1. Hi Noilin! This recipe features Irish Cream, which is a cream liqueur made with Irish whiskey, so it’s incorporated that way. However, if you want to add a little something extra to yours, feel free to add some whiskey as well! I’d love to hear how that goes.

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