The ‘Irish Coffee’ Dessert Cake with Irish Whiskey Whipped Cream is the perfect dessert to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!
St Patrick’s Day will be here soon and I’ve got enough Irish in me to start thinking about a celebration. This Irish Coffee Dessert Cake is perfect for a celebration.
This isn’t your standard coffee cake; this one is a dessert made with the flavors of Irish Coffee and that means there is some Irish Whiskey too!
My Dad’s parents were German and Swiss; my Mom’s English and Irish. Itend to identify more with my German lineage but I’m happy to go Irish and eat their foods…I love them!
I’m republishing this post from several years ago. The first time around I shared it with friends in a group called Progressive Eats where everyone would make a dish according to a theme.
My buddy Liz from the blog That Skinny Chick Can Bake thought March would be a great opportunity to share some fantastic Irish dishes then. These are great for an Irish celebration but such delicious food it should be something on your plates all year round!
Over the years I’ve often made corned beef to celebrate the holiday (even if I used it for these Reuben Sandwiches) but discovered a few years ago that our idea of Irish food for St. Paddy’s day and the Irish idea of food for that day are diametrically opposite.
Corned beef is not their standard fare at all; take a peek at the dishes in our list below for a more delicious and authentic experience. For me, this Bacon Colcannon with Irish Whiskey Steak is unique and amazing and far more traditional in Ireland than corned beef and cabbage.
Finishing a meal with this cake would be perfect; it’s your dessert, coffee, and after dinner drink all wrapped up into this sweet ending
Irish Coffee itself, in its original form, is quite wonderful and can be served as a dessert libation however I certainly understand the need someone first had to incorporate that deliciousness into wonderful desserts of all kinds.
This ‘Irish Coffee’ Dessert Cake first started turning up in Irish cookbooks in the 1960’s and ’70’s. A cake rich with coffee is cooled and liberally soaked in an Irish Coffee syrup that permeates every morsel.
Topping this decadence with whipped cream that has been flavored with a touch more whiskey makes for a seriously divine ending to an Irish celebration.
No wait. To ANY celebration! I’ve made it several times and no one has ever told me they won’t eat it because I made it in a month other than March. 
The cake itself is simple: a delicate one-layer sponge with an intense coffee flavor. But the real kick in this cake comes with the syrup that saturates it — more coffee, naturally with whiskey in it — and then it’s topped with whipping cream flavored with…yes, more whiskey!
To finish it all off, it’s sprinkled with that best-loved of Irish native nuts, the hazelnut. I toasted the hazelnuts and can’t imagine them any other way.
Be forewarned, this cake is amazing; dense, super saturated with coffee flavor and well, the whiskey…really what is there NOT to love?
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Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month we’re sharing Irish or Green recipes in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day. You’ll certainly find a delicious recipe to add to your repertoire! Our event is hosted by Liz who blogs at That Skinny Chick Can Bake. We have a full menu of dishes including appetizers, sides, an entree and desserts. You’ll certainly find a delicious recipe to add to your holiday table!
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.
St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
Appetizers
- Smoked Salmon Stuffed Baby Potatoes from The Redhead Baker
- Spinach Feta Rugelach from Mother Would Know
Drinks
- Hot Cocoa with Baileys and Coconut Whipped Cream (Dairy-Free) from The Wimpy Vegetarian
Main Course
- Spicy Lamb Cobbler from Spice Roots
Bread
- Irish Soda Biscuits with Caraway and Thyme from OMG! Yummy
Veggies/Side Dishes
- Bacon and Leek Irish Colcannon (Gluten-Free) from The Heritage Cook
- Cabbage with Bacon and Cream from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
Desserts
- Key Lime Pie with Graham Cracker Crust from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Irish Whiskey Cake from Creative Culinary (You’re Here!)
More Irish Favorites!
- Irish Coffee Cocktail
- Irish Soda Bread with Tart Cherries
- Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes with Irish Whiskey Frosting
- Irish Whiskey Lemonade Cocktail
- Home Cured Corned Beef
PIN IT! Irish Coffee Dessert Cake with Whipped Cream and Hazelnuts’
Irish Coffee Dessert Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- ⅔ cup butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 Tbsp instant espresso
- 2 Tbsp hot water
- 2 large eggs beaten
For the Coffee Syrup
- ¾ cup espresso or strong coffee I made mine with instant espresso
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons Irish whiskey
For the Whipped Cream Topping
- ¼ cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 Tbsp Irish Whiskey
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 Tbsp hazelnuts, chopped and toasted for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter an 8 or 9-inch cake pan, cut a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper to fit the bottom and butter the paper too.
- Cream the butter and sugar well until light and fluffy: then add the eggs one at a time and continue beating after each until the whole mixture becomes very light.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt; at low speed with the mixer fold two thirds of the dry mixture into the creamed butter, sugar and eggs.
- Dissolve the instant coffee in the water and add it to the batter; then fold in the remaining 1/3 of the flour.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan, and smooth the top of the batter, leveling it out.
- Bake for 25-40 minutes depending on the size of your cake pan, until the cake is just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan. Carefully turn the pan out onto a rack; remove the paper from the bottom and allow to cool. Wash the cake pan and dry carefully; it will be used again.
For the syrup
- Heat the strong coffee and sugar together gently until the sugar has dissolved then boil rapidly for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Irish whiskey.
- Return the cooled cake to the pan and pour the syrup over it; leave it to soak for 2-3 hours.
For the topping
- Whip the heavy cream til soft peaks form. Add the sugar and continue beating until peaks are stiff.
- Add the Irish whiskey and gently combine.
- Turn the cooled cake out onto a serving plate, decorate with the whipped cream and sprinkle with the chopped/toasted hazelnuts. Chill well before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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