Irish Lore, Irish Traditions, And 5 Incredible Irish Cream Coffee Recipes

Grab your green garb and get ready to be wowed and inspired by all things Irish!

Why? Because, today we’re bringing you some fun facts, stories, traditions, and of course, some incredibly delicious coffee recipes to take your St. Paddy’s Day celebrations to the next level.

St. Patrick’s Day was originally commemorated to honor Saint Patrick as well as the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, but over the years this festive occasion now gladly includes celebrating the heritage and culture of the Irish people as a whole.

Today, we’d like to familiarize ourselves with some of the stories, history, and traditions that best celebrate this fabulous culture all while mixing up some incredibly tasty Irish Cream Coffee treats.

First, we’ll look into the origin of a classic Irish coffee, then each following recipe title will clue you in to some fun, historic, and cultural facts we’ll explore with each Irish cream coffee concoction.

So, join us as we celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with each tasty sip of Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee.

5 Irish Cream Coffee Recipes Full Of Flavor, History, And Fun

1- The OG Irish Coffee

The year - 1943. The location - Foynes, Ireland.

The weather - cold, damp, and dreary. The situation - bleak.

Ah, but the outcome? …warm, cheerful, and tasty!

Irish Coffee is a combination of strong coffee, Irish whiskey, brown sugar, and cream.

And, this classic coffee cocktail is said to be the invention of chef and bartender, Joe Sheridan, an invention which happily warmed a grateful group of travelers.

One winter evening in 1943, when the weather was overly bleak, a flight to New York was redirected back to the airport in Foynes, Ireland.

This redirection due to bad weather inevitably stranded the passengers of the flight, and these weary, chilled individuals soon found themselves in the airport lounge in need of a pick me up.

Sheridan, feeling sympathy for the travelers, crafted a round of tasty cocktails meant to warm the poor, stranded souls, body and spirit.

When one passenger asked Sheridan, “is this a Brazilian coffee?” the chef replied, “no, it’s an Irish Coffee.” And, the name has since stuck with this beloved cocktail.

Aside from the history behind the beverage, I’ll leave you with the chef’s description of the drink before we get on to the details of its making:

Cream - Rich as an Irish Brogue
Coffee - Strong as a Friendly Hand
Sugar - Sweet as the tongue of a Rogue
Whiskey - Smooth as the Wit of the Land

                                                 - Chef Joe Sheridan

Ingredients

• 8 ounces strongly brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 ½ ounces Irish whiskey
• ¼ cup heavy cream

Instructions

• Add heavy cream to a small, chilled bowl and whip slightly, then set aside. The goal here is to slightly thicken the heavy cream, but not to fully whip it.
• Add freshly brewed, strong coffee to a mug.
• Stir brown sugar into the coffee until dissolved, then add whiskey, and gently stir to combine.
• Top the coffee cocktail with thickened heavy cream by pouring a small amount over the back of a spoon. To do this, you’ll simply hold a spoon (upside down) over the top of the cocktail and gently pour a desired amount of thickened heavy cream over the back of the spoon. This will allow the cream to slowly coat the top of the beverage, leaving a layer of smooth cream through which the cocktail can be sipped.
• May your spirits be warmed and cheered as you enjoy this classic Irish coffee cocktail!

2- Irish Blessings

Here in the states we typically express blessings specific to seasons or holidays.

We say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas near wintertime celebrations. Then, we may wish someone a Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary for these specified occasions.

But, the Irish need no occasion to wish blessings upon others.

In fact, it is customary to wish blessings and spread joy any day and any time. And, that’s something we truly appreciate here at Lifeboost.

So, in keeping with this theme of spreading joy and blessings as an everyday practice, we thought we’d share a simple Irish Cream Coffee recipe you could use any day, every day, and all the time.

This will essentially be a variation of a traditional Irish Coffee, made without alcohol while also swapping out traditional ingredients for healthier options like coconut cream and pure maple syrup.

But, before we get down to the specifics of the recipe, we thought we’d share a few traditional Irish blessings with you…

“May peace and plenty bless your world, with a joy that long endures. And, may all life’s passing seasons bring the best to you and yours.”

“May you get all your wishes but one, so you always have something to strive for.”

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

Ingredients

• 8 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
• 1 ½ tablespoons pure maple syrup, divided
• 1 15 ounce can unsweetened full fat coconut milk, chilled

Instructions

• Open the can of chilled coconut milk, and scoop out the hardened cream or coconut fat, adding it to a mixing bowl. You won’t be using the liquid that’s underneath this layer of cream.
• Add ½ tablespoon of pure maple syrup to the coconut cream and mix until the cream is smooth, without lumps, then set aside.
• Pour hot coffee into a mug, then stir in 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup.
• Top with a few dollops of whipped coconut cream, and enjoy!

*As you place the coconut cream on top of the hot coffee, you’ll notice that it melts slightly, creating a smooth layer on top of the brew. I recommend waiting a few moments prior to sipping, allowing time for this creamy occurrence.

*Store remaining coconut cream in an airtight container in the refrigerator for later use.

3- The Clever Clover Shamrock Shake

The shamrock and the clover have been Irish symbols for centuries, dating back to the time of the Celts.

But, despite universally being referred to as a clover, a shamrock isn’t actually the same as its four leaf friend.

Technically, a shamrock has 3 leaves, and a clover has 4 leaves.

And, a shamrock is always green, whereas a clover can be white or even purple depending on the variety.

Shamrocks and clovers are both said to symbolize good luck or fortune, but a clover more specifically represents love, luck, faith, and hope.

A shamrock, on the other hand, historically represented the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and this variety was thought to be used by Saint Patrick to depict this triune nature to his parishioners.

Long ago, shamrocks were considered sacred, and they symbolized the arrival of spring for the Celts.

The Druids believed clovers to have magical powers. And, many associate clovers with another Irish symbol, the Leprechaun.

Nowadays, both the shamrock and the clover are said to symbolize Irish nationalism.

But, no matter the number of leaves or their potential for bringing good luck, we certainly wish you a life of love, luck, faith, and hope…before, during, and after you prepare, sip, and savor this delicious shamrock-inspired, coffee-infused shake!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
• ¼ cup half and half
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 2-3 tablespoons chocolate sauce (see recipe below)
• 1 ½ teaspoons mint extract
• Ice
• Whipped cream, for topping
• Chocolate sauce, for garnish
• Green sprinkles, for topping

Instructions

• Add cold brew, half and half, heavy cream, chocolate sauce, mint extract, and ice to a blender and blend until smooth.
• Drizzle chocolate sauce on the inside walls of a tall glass.
• Pour the blended minty mocha mixture into the glass.
• Top with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate sauce, and some green sprinkles. Enjoy!

Homemade Chocolate Sauce

• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Add syrup and cocoa powder to a bowl and mix or whisk until well combined.

4- The Storyteller’s Sweet Cup

One great Irish tradition centers around an age-old art, that of storytelling.

In medieval times, a Bard was a professional storyteller and one could even get a full time job, making a living at telling such tales.

This Irish custom is thought to have preserved valuable facts and legacies as history and events weren’t recorded in print during these times (some 2000 years ago). Instead, history was passed down from one generation to the next through stories.

Through this art, Irish mythology and folklore also flourished, and tales of both love and loss poured through the Emerald Isles.

Amongst these stories, music and dance also played a big part in the historic tellings.

So, as you prepare this sweet brew intended for a crowd, I hope you’ll carry on the Irish tradition of telling a story from your own family, filled with love, loss, and lives well-lived, surrounded by music and dance.

Ingredients (serves 5)

• 30 ounces cold brewed brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• ¼ cup milk
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons cane sugar
• ¼ cup freshly brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
• ice

Instructions

• Add evaporated milk, heavy cream, milk, cocoa powder, sugar, and ¼ cup freshly brewed coffee to a blender and blend on high until smooth and creamy. Store mixture in an airtight glass jar in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Add 6 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee to a tall glass with ice.
• Top cold brew with ⅓ cup prepared and chilled Irish cream. Stir to combine, and enjoy!

*This recipe serves 5, so you can divide the 30 ounces of cold brew between 5 glasses, 6 ounces each, or you can simply prepare the recipe for one serving (as listed in the instructions), and store the remaining cream and cold brew (separately) in your refrigerator until ready to use.

5- The Naughty Leprechaun

Also known as tiny tricksters, the Leprechaun has been considered a lucky, mysterious, and magical Irish symbol for generations.

They are thought to be closely related to fairies, and belief in these creatures is ingrained into Irish culture, even today.

Historically leprechauns are said to have originally been dressed in red from head to toe.

But, over time, the color of their garb has transitioned to green, and this is attributed to the popularity of this color throughout the Emerald Isles of Ireland.

Legend states there are no female leprechauns, and the 2-3 feet tall creatures are typically pictured as older men dressed in a suit and hat, complete with buckled shoes and a smoking pipe.

Old stories also claim you can know a leprechaun is near upon hearing the faint sound of tapping from their cobbling hammers. You may also hear traditional Irish tunes when a leprechaun is nearby, accompanied with the sounds of dancing.

Irish folklore states that gold is the prime obsession of any leprechaun, including the fact that they hide such treasures at the end of rainbows.

But, they’re also known to hoard these prized possessions, prompting humans to search for the creatures in hopes of finding such golden treasures.

Catching a leprechaun is said to bring both luck and the prize of three wishes to its captor, and I’d say it’s likely this thought of being captured that fuels these creatures with notions of trickery, as leprechauns are known for all manner of craftiness in their attempts to deceive humans.

Some stories claim the reason for this trickery serves as a warning to humans against greed, while others simply enjoy the playful, mischievous nature of these Irish symbols of luck.

I think we’ll cling to the latter today, wishing you cheer, fun, and a bit of luck as you enjoy this delicious brew. Of course, we’ve included alcohol as the naughty component of this recipe for a tasty coffee cocktail, but check out the bonus recipe below for a non-alcoholic St. Paddy’s Day brew.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
• 2 ounces Guinness (or another stout beer)
• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• ice

Instructions

• Add all ingredients (minus the ice for now) to a cocktail glass, then stir gently to combine.
• Top with a desired amount of ice, and enjoy!

Bonus Brew

For those who’d like a delicious, silky, Irish cream infused brew without alcohol, try this super simple creation:

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Irish Cream Coffee
• ¼ cup dark chocolate almond milk
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon chocolate syrup
• Ice

- Add ice to a tall glass and top with cold brew. Set aside.
- Add dark chocolate almond milk, heavy whipping cream, and chocolate syrup to an electric frother and froth on the cold setting.
- Pour frothed chocolate cream onto the cold brew, and enjoy!


I hope you’ve enjoyed our Irish exploration and celebration today, and in the spirit of our Irish friends, I’ll leave you with the following warm, well-wishes:

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

And,

“May your heart be warm and happy with the lilt of Irish laughter, every day in every way, and forever and ever after.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day…be blessed always!

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Irish Cream.

References:

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

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day

https://www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-facts

https://epicchq.com/story/how-irish-coffee-became-an-international-hit/#

https://www.coffeeam.com/pages/celebrate-st-patricks-day-traditions-and-more

https://www.bolandschool.com/about-the-boland-school-of-irish-dance/irish-dance-history/#

https://www.thebigsweettooth.com/irish-cream-coffee-non-alcoholic/

https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/irish-traditions/#

https://robustrecipes.com/coconut-irish-coffee/

https://www.irishfamilyhistorycentre.com/article/the-difference-between-irish-shamrocks-and-four-leaf-clovers/#

https://simpleveganblog.com/homemade-chocolate-syrup-2-ingredients/#recipe

https://www.madebyaprincessparties.com/mcdonalds-copycat-shamrock-mocha-recipe/

https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/history-of-leprechauns-trickster-fairies/#

https://www.thespeckledpalate.com/the-boyfriend-irish-coffee/#mv-creation-235-jtr