8 St. Patrick’s Day Coffee Recipes - Lattes, Smoothies, Cocktails, And More

Originally, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated to honor St. Patrick, a missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century. 

But over time, this day has evolved into an all-encompassing secular holiday, celebrating most all aspects of Irish culture, with festivities taking place in Ireland, America, and wherever our Irish friends abide and Irish eyes are smiling. 

Here in the states, Irish immigrants throughout the 19th and 20th centuries are said to have brought a love for this day to America, and since this time, Irish and non-Irish alike participate in the celebration of a culture and heritage ripe with vibrant music, folklore, community, great food, tasty ale, and so much more! 

Some enjoy corned beef and cabbage on St. Paddy’s Day here in the states. 

Others gather for parades where Irish culture and tradition is displayed proudly through music and dancing. 

Pubs, of course, celebrate with Irish whiskey and the traditional green beer or ale on this day. 

And, it’s quite likely you, your colleagues, family, and friends all dawn green attire for fear of being pinched by a leprechaun should you be found in any other hue on this special day. 

American myth is said to be responsible for the roots of this tradition as tales abound surrounding the notion that the color green is, in fact, invisible to leprechauns.

8 St. Patrick’s Day Coffee Recipes - Lattes, Smoothies, Cocktails, And More

1- Classic Irish Cream Latte

Two common themes in many Irish sayings are gold and luck, so I thought it would be fitting to start off our recipe collection today with some well wishes sent your way for each! 

This latte is the perfect way to begin your morning, containing all the wonderful flavors of Irish cream, minus the whiskey (we’ll save that for your evening St. Paddy’s Day celebrations in case you’re making this one as you’re rushing out the door on your way to work). 

So, enjoy this creamy, coffee-centered, cup of goodness, and…

 “May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, may good luck pursue you each morning and night!”

Ingredients

• 8 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee or Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
  
• 2 tablespoons Irish cream syrup (see recipe below) 
  
• 2 ounces heavy whipping cream
  
• Whipped cream, for topping
  
• Cocoa powder, for topping
  

Instructions

• Add freshly brewed coffee and Irish cream syrup to a large mug and stir to combine. 
  
• Add heavy cream to an electric frother and froth on the heated setting. 
  
• Pour heated, frothed cream into the coffee mixture, and stir to incorporate the thickened cream. 
  
• Top latte with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder and enjoy!
  

Homemade Irish Cream Syrup

• ½ cup filtered water
  
• ½ cup organic cane sugar
  
• ¾ teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  

In a small saucepan, heat sugar and water over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. 

Once the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is heated through, remove from heat and whisk in cocoa powder until no lumps remain. 

Stir in vanilla, then allow the mixture to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container to store in the refrigerator until ready to use. 

This keeps for up to two weeks refrigerated.

2- St. Paddy’s Day Sláinte Smoothie

Typical Irish cream, as we’ve seen in the recipe above, includes cocoa, vanilla, cream, coffee, and the optional addition of whiskey. 

We’ll skip the whiskey in this one, but I think you’ll still find that the other Irish cream flavors boldly shine through, with an added touch of and toast to your good health, or Sláinte, as they say on St. Paddy’s Day! 

Sláinte is a traditional Irish Gaelic word meaning health or good health, and it’s typically spoken as a toast over a pint of beer on this special day. 

So here, with your good health in mind, we’ve included a Sláinte smoothie, perfect to start your St. Paddy’s Day morning with the flavors of Irish cream, a punch of protein, the disease fighting powers of healthy Lifeboost coffee, some pure maple syrup for a touch of sweetness and an extra dose of antioxidants, and a little bit of green brain boosting power from a teaspoon of matcha. 

Sláinte!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
  
• 1 frozen banana, sliced
  
• ¼ cup heavy cream
  
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  
• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  
• 2 teaspoons (or more to taste) pure maple syrup
  
• 1 teaspoon matcha powder
  

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend on high until smooth and creamy. 
  
• Pour into a tall glass and enjoy! 

*If you’re a true matcha fan, feel free to go for a little greener (and matcha health benefits) and add one extra teaspoon of matcha to this smoothie.

3- Irish Cream Dream

This drink is the whip…no really, you have to whip coffee, ice cream, and chocolate sauce to make this. And, boy is it amazing! 

I realize many St. Paddy’s Day drinks are green, but what this one lacks in hue, it makes up for in creamy, silky, decadent flavor.

And, while I can’t imagine trouble finding anyone as they enjoy this delightful treat, just in case, we’ll leave you with another classic Irish blessing - 

“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.” 

Ingredients

• 4 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
  
• ½ cup (roughly one scoop) vanilla ice cream
  
• 1 ounce chocolate syrup
  
• 1 small pinch of cinnamon (optional)
  
• ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
  
• 1 teaspoon chocolate syrup
  
• Drizzle of chocolate syrup, for garnish
  

Instructions

• Add heavy cream and 1 teaspoon of chocolate syrup to a chilled mixing bowl and whisk or beat until soft peaks form. Set aside. 
  
• Add cold brew, ice cream, 1 ounce of chocolate syrup, and cinnamon (if using) to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. 
  
• Spoon mixture into a stemmed cocktail glass. 
  
• Top with silky, chocolate whipped cream, then garnish with a drizzle of chocolate syrup. Enjoy!
  

4- Irish Cream Cold Brew

Remember that delicious homemade Irish Cream syrup you made for the latte above? How about we use that one again, this time in a chilly, foam topped, creamy treat! 

Of course, if you really want to keep with the traditions of this day, you can add a small amount of green coloring to your foam…you know, opting for green cold foam instead of green beer…at least until you hit the pub later in the evening. 

And, a blessing for you to ponder as you prepare this incredibly tasty cold brew…

“There are good ships and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea. But the best ships are friendships, and may they always be.”

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
  
• ⅛ cup 2% milk 
  
• ⅛ cup half and half
  
• 1 ½ tablespoons Irish Cream Syrup (see recipe at the bottom of selection #1 above)
  
• Unsweetened cocoa powder, for garnish
  
• 1-2 drops green food coloring, optional
  
• Ice
  

Instructions

• Add ice to a tall glass, then top with cold brew and 1 tablespoon of Irish Cream syrup, stirring to combine. 
  
• Add half and half, milk, ½ tablespoon Irish Cream syrup, and food coloring (if using) to a glass, and froth using a handheld frother. 
  
• Top cold brew mixture with the foam, then dust with a bit of unsweetened cocoa powder, if desired, and enjoy!
  

5- Traditional Irish Coffee

A traditional Irish coffee isn’t simply prepared, it’s crafted. 

Careful additions of sugar and brown sugar add depth of flavor. 

Irish whiskey provides a subtle warmth experienced in each sip. 

And, the addition of heavy cream is not just a topping for your brew, but a careful display of color separation, a thick, creamy layer that rests atop the cocktail providing a silky, velvety sieve through which flavors of old Ireland aren’t only experienced but fully realized. 

As you sip and savor this time-honored classic…

“May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.” 

Cheers!

Ingredients

• 6 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee, or Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
  
• 1 teaspoon cane sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  
• 1 ½ ounces Irish whiskey
  
• 2-3 ounces heavy whipping cream
  

Instructions

• Add freshly brewed coffee to an Irish mug, then stir in sugars and Irish whiskey. 
  Next, I prefer to add the heavy cream to an electric frother and froth on the heated setting, but you can also lightly whip the heavy cream (or whip to medium stiff peaks, depending on preference). 
  
• If you’ve only lightly whipped the cream, it’s best recommended to pour this over the back of a spoon onto the cocktail, as this process allows the cream to rest atop the brew. But, if you’ve heated and frothed or whipped to a medium stiff peak, you can simply add the prepared heavy cream to top the brew, and at this consistency, the cream should naturally rest on top of the cocktail. Enjoy!

**For a little added flavor and festive St. Paddy’s Day flair, feel free to use a shamrock stencil and dust a bit of unsweetened cocoa powder on top of the finished cocktail.

6- The Dancing Dubliner

A classic Dubliner cocktail doesn’t typically contain coffee, but this Dubliner prefers his drink with a jig - or a bit of java, that is. 

A hint of citrus, bold coffee, some Guinness, and a healthy dose of cream…yes, I believe that’ll get anyone up on their feet. 

Of course, one must also consider, on St. Paddy’s Day, the old Irish blessing says that “a drink precedes a story,” so after a few sips and a dance or two, you’ll truly be ready to tell some great tales!

Ingredients

• 2 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
  
• 2 ounces stout beer, such as Guinness
  
• ½ ounce Kahlua
  
• 3 ounces chilled heavy cream
  
• 1 ounce curacao
  
• Ice
  
• Coffee beans, for garnish
  

Instructions

• Add ice to a stemmed cocktail glass, then carefully pour the stout over the back of a spoon into the glass. 
  
• Add the Kahlua and cold brew to the stout in the glass. 
  
• Add a few small pieces of ice, chilled heavy cream, and curacao to a cocktail shaker and shake until the ice melts and fully incorporates into the other liquid. 
  
• Pour the shaken cream over the back of a spoon to top the coffee-infused stout, then garnish with a few coffee beans. Enjoy!
  

7- Shamrock Smiles

“May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks, may your heart be as light as a song; may each day bring you bright, happy hours, that stay with you all the year long.” 

This super simple, yet incredibly delicious cocktail is just light, happy, and well, if you have too many, you may easily break out in song, so I thought the above Irish blessing to be only fitting. 

Bailey’s and Kahlua are simple boozy additions that pair overly well with just about any cup of joe, but these truly amplify our Irish Cream Coffee, a customer favorite. 

Even better, you can easily customize this cocktail to your liking by incorporating any of the following suggestions:

• Try stirring in about a teaspoon or so of chocolate syrup to amplify the hints of cocoa in the Bailey’s. 
• Prefer your drink to have a creamier taste and texture? Opt for whisking some heavy cream with roughly 2 teaspoons of powdered sugar to top this drink with some homemade whipped cream. (I like to mix only until soft peaks form for a velvety layer of cream as opposed to a stiff cream for topping this treat.)
• If you’re a vanilla fan, simply add a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract either to your cold brew or to the addition of homemade whipped cream (see suggestion above). 
• If you’d rather enjoy this cocktail warm, you can also add these liqueurs to a piping hot cup of coffee, enjoying an equally satisfying brew.
  

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
  
• 2 ounces Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur
  
• 2 ounces Kahlua
  
• Ice

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until frost forms on the outside of the shaker. 
  
• Strain into a tall glass and enjoy!
  

8- Merry Irishmint Cocktail

Before we close out this St. Paddy’s Day coffee collection, we had to include a minty treasure. 

This boozy concoction packs a punch while also being smooth and refreshing…I mean, what minty coffee cocktail isn’t, right? 

And, if you find that you love this one a little too much, having had one too many minty Irish brews, there’s an Irish blessing for this occasion as well - “a good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures,” a common Irish phrase offered for those needing to cure a little hangover fatigue.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces strong, cold brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee or Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee
  
• 1 ounce Irish whiskey
  
• 1 ½ ounces Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur
  
• 1 ounce Creme de Menthe
  
• Sprig of fresh mint, for garnish
  
• Ice
  

Instructions

• Add ice to a cocktail glass and set aside. 
  
• Add cold brew, whiskey, Bailey’s, creme de menthe, and ice to a cocktail shaker and shake until all ingredients are thoroughly combined (roughly 20 seconds). 
  
• Strain into the prepared cocktail glass, garnish with a sprig of fresh mint, and enjoy!
  

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Embolden Dark Roast.

References:

https://nationaltoday.com/blog/st-patricks-day-sayings/

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/st-patricks-day

https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

https://realirish.com/blogs/news/irish-blessings-for-luck-love-a-good-life-a-good-death-and-everything-in-between

https://parade.com/1007652/kelseypelzer/irish-blessings/

https://fittyfoodlicious.com/recipes/irish-cream-latte/

https://feastandwest.com/irish-cream-syrup/#recipe

https://wholefully.com/chocolate-coffee-smoothie-recipe/

https://www.treejuicemaplesyrup.com/blogs/news/maple-syrup-benefits#

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-benefits-of-matcha-tea#

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/g35219151/traditional-irish-blessings-prayers/

https://www.themixer.com/en-us/plan/st-patricks-day-mocktails/

https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-irish-coffee-167678

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/the-dubliner-12048582

https://homecookingmemories.com/iced-mint-irish-coffee-cocktail-recipe/