Irish Cream Coffee Cake Recipe (2024)

By Lidey Heuck

Published March 7, 2024

Irish Cream Coffee Cake Recipe (1)

Total Time
2 hours
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour and 50 minutes
Rating
4(445)
Notes
Read community notes

This playful twist on a classic crumb cake adds a generous pour of Irish cream liqueur to the batter. While it’s often served with coffee, Irish cream is not coffee-flavored, but made with whiskey and cream, along with hints of chocolate and vanilla. It lends a rich vanilla flavor to this simple cake, and its boozy edge cuts the sweetness. Use an Irish cream liqueur that tastes good on its own, because its flavors will shine through. A simple crumb mixture, flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped pecans, forms both the streusel topping and a spiced ribbon running through the cake. The cake isn’t complete without the Irish cream glaze. Cut this coffee cake into big squares and serve with coffee; extra Irish cream is optional.

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have

    10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers.

    Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Print Options

    Include recipe photo

Advertisem*nt

Ingredients

Yield:12 servings

    For the Cake

    • ¾cup/170 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pan
    • 2cups/260 grams all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pan
    • ¾cup/150 grams granulated sugar
    • 2large eggs, at room temperature
    • ½cup/120 grams sour cream, at room temperature
    • teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2teaspoons baking powder
    • ¼teaspoon baking soda
    • 1teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
    • ½cup/120 milliliters Irish cream liqueur (such as Baileys), at room temperature

    For the Crumble

    • cups/195 grams all-purpose flour
    • 1packed cup/220 grams light brown sugar
    • ¾cup/170 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 1cup/100 grams pecans or walnuts, chopped
    • teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 1teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ½teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

    For the Glaze

    • 2tablespoons Irish cream liqueur
    • ½cup/62 grams confectioners’ sugar

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

622 calories; 32 grams fat; 16 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 74 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 42 grams sugars; 6 grams protein; 338 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Irish Cream Coffee Cake Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with butter, then line the bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides. Dust the exposed sides with flour.

  2. Step

    2

    Make the crumble: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, butter, pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Mix well with your hands until the mixture forms crumbles, then set aside.

  3. Make the cake: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and granulated sugar. Mix on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the eggs, one at a time until fully incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula after each addition. Mix in the sour cream and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.

  4. Step

    4

    In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low, add half the flour mixture, the Irish cream liqueur, then the rest of the flour mixture. Use a spatula to make sure the batter is well mixed.

  5. Step

    5

    Spoon half the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer. Scatter about a third of the crumble evenly over the cake, forming a thin, even layer. Spoon the rest of the cake batter over the crumble in big spoonfuls. Gently spread with a spatula to cover, then top with the remaining crumble mixture.

  6. Step

    6

    Bake until the crumble is browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with just a few crumbs on it, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool for at least 30 minutes, then run a knife around the edges of the cake and remove it using the parchment paper overhang.

  7. Step

    7

    Make the glaze: In a small bowl, combine the Irish cream liqueur and confectioners’ sugar and whisk until smooth. The glaze should be thick but pourable. Drizzle it over the cake and set aside until hardened, about 15 minutes, before cutting into squares and serving. The cake will keep, well-wrapped at room temperature, for up to 3 days.

Ratings

4

out of 5

445

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Name Laura

There should be a step 6. I emailed NYT and got this info:step 6 mentions the baking time to be 45-50 minutes, the center of the cake comes out with just a few crumbs on it. You would then let it cool for about 30 minutes before putting the glaze on top to avoid it sliding off the cake while it's too hot.

Moist, good Irish cream flavor

Followed recipe and was great, except doubled the Bailey’s in the glaze. Next time might add more pecans.

Marie

Could I use a bundt pan?

Sue

Skip the cake. Pour Bailey's over ice cream.

Silvia

Made it as a Bundt cake with great results. The only modifications made we subbed plain, whole milk yogurt for sour cream (because that's what I had in the house) and increased baking time by about 10 minutes.

Suzanne

Can you recommend how to adjust the baking powder and soda for high-altitude - Mile High City, 5280 feet.

Janice ewing

Why the parchment paper greasing pans worked for centuries?

abbie from NoCa

I made this today - needed to procure a 9"sq pan, but fortunately we live near several Amazon warehouses, so an order placed last night was delivered before I woke up. I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing, but it worked to my advantage.I followed this recipe exactly. I must say, it was quite delicious! Our guests had seconds and I sent them each back to their hotel with a large portion. I will definitely repeat this one, probably this weekend!

William Wroblicka

Step 6 says to bake the cake for 45 to 50 minutes. Step 7 tells you how and when to apply the glaze.

Thad

This cake was a hit at my house. Definitely going to make it again. I will concur with the recipe that you should keep it at room temperature. I put it in the fridge because I like chilled cake, and all the cold butter turned it very crumbly.

PatM

Because the paper helps you lift it out of the pan whole. A layer cake you could flip out upside down, but with the crumb topping it would be messy to flip.

jan

I would add an extra 2 or 3 Tablespoons of flour, reduce the baking powder just slightly and increase to baking temp to 360 or so. Check for doneness early (it will bake faster). ...High altitude baking is always and adventure. :)

Brie

Thank you! I had to scroll through 20 comments to find one from someone who actually made the cake! Appreciate your input.

William Wroblicka

There are many recipes for coffee cakes on the NY Times Cooking website that don't contain any alcohol.

Ann Haas

Despite all the butter in the crumb topping, it was very dry once baked although the interior crumb topping was very moist. If I make this recipe again, I think I'll use all the crumb mixture in the middle of the cake and then make a bigger batch of glaze to frost the cake once it's cooled.

Midge

I made it in a Bundt and it was fairly dry. Next time I'll add more sour cream or just bake it in the recommended 9" pan, thank you very much. :)

Eunice

I just made this, and it is sooo tasty! I used an 8x11" pan, and it took almost an hour to set up. I agree with Ann that the topping dried out a bit. Next time I will use most of the crumble in the middle. I used walnuts instead of pecans...yum. Suggestion: it would be nice if the ingredients were in the same order as the instructions, so you're not having to jump around. I almost put nuts in the cake ;)

Keetwoman

My husband, who NEVER eats such things, just polished off his second helping, pronouncing it to be "the best cake" he's ever eaten. That is saying something. Magically delicious.

Anyah.

works in a 9x13 pan without layering. bake for 25-30 minutes. Delicious!

Peggy Carey

I thought the crumb measurements looked too much so I reduced by a third and still thought that there was more than enough crumb. Discovered I don't like Irish Cream liqueur, so gave it all away to neighbors. Loved the texture of the cake though, so will try with another ingredient.

alisonia

Made half the recipe. It fit in a 9x5 silicone loaf pan, placed on a sheet pan in a 355 degree oven. Using walnuts, I put 3/4 of crumb mixture in the middle, 1/4 on top. Baked for 50 minutes. Turned out perfectly moist and delicious. I didn’t really taste much of the Bailey’s Irish Cream, so next time I would either double the amount, or skip it. I think more cinnamon and nuts, and mini chocolate chips would be delicious additions. This is a fabulous sour cream coffee cake.

M Hanners

I made this as written, but served it without the glaze. The glaze would be great, but I liked the cake with just the crumbs on top. I have 9 inch round baking tins and used one of those. It took 55 minutes to complete the baking at 350, which I checked with an oven thermometer, as my oven is not reliably accurate. At 45 minutes the center was still wet but 13 minutes later, the knife came out basically clean with a few crumbs and the cake didn't dry out on the outside.

What A Winner!

I used a 9x13 pan and followed the measurements as directed except for subbed rolled oats for nuts (possibly another quarter cup of butter but who doesn’t love butter?!?). Baked for ~37minutes at 350*F. Drizzled icing with only 1/4cup confectioners sugar and a tablespoon of Irish cream. What turned out was a moist yet fluffy cake! I thought the Irish cream could have been subbed out but by the third piece the family and I decided it just adds a little kick.This will be a new staple at our home!

Sue F.

Getting the top layer of batter on is a royal pain. Instead, put the batter in a pastry bag (or ziplock with a corner cut off) and "pipe" the batter on. East peasy and now uniform.

Julia

I found the dough to be very sticky and difficult to spread, even with a greased spatula. Despite that, it worked out great! It was just what the office post-Patty's day. I saw some comments saying it was dry, I didn't experience that, it was just on the denser side.

Joanne Ago, NH

This came out Great!! My baking time was longer by 15 minutes but other than that, I made and cooked it as directed. It is moist and delicious!

stuart f

Baked in a round 9" cake pan bc I don't have a square one... as a result I had to increase baking time by 10-12 min or so. Used walnuts for the crumb. Superb!

Emee

This was a perfect dessert for St. Patrick’s Day. I was hesitant to part with the last of my Baileys, but it was well worth it. The only change that I made was substituting mini chocolate and cinnamon chips for the nuts in the crumble because of tree nut allergies. When the cake was cut, it looked much moister than the one in the photo, even though my toothpick came out clean. Perhaps the chocolate and cinnamon chips added too much oil? Not that anyone complained - the cake was devoured!

Laura

I made this without the glaze and it was still great. Nice cake with a crumble top. Nuts are not necessary.

Leigh

I didn’t have any Baileys so I used Kahlua instead. The cake was lovely. I’m going to buy some Baileys though just to compare. 😉

Private notes are only visible to you.

Irish Cream Coffee Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Irish cream and Irish coffee? ›

Irish cream coffee (also known as Baileys coffee) can be considered a variant of Irish coffee, but involves the use of Irish cream as a "pre-mixed" substitute for the whisky, cream and sugar.

How does Irish coffee cake taste? ›

This exquisite cake perfectly blends the robust flavors of authentic Irish coffee with the sweet, tender crumb of our classic cake. Each slice offers a burst of coffee essence, harmoniously mixed with smooth, creamy frosting that complements the bold coffee notes.

What is Irish cream cake made of? ›

Combine cake mix and pudding mix in a large bowl. Beat in eggs, Irish cream liqueur, oil, and water with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes. Pour batter over nuts in the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour.

What makes coffee cake taste like coffee cake? ›

No, coffee cake does not taste like coffee. There is no coffee or caffeine in this cake despite its name. This streusel cake tastes like a lightly sweetened cake and oftentimes has spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

What is in Dunkin Donuts Irish Creme coffee? ›

Dunkin' said the special brew is “made of smooth velvety flavor with sweet crème and vanilla, enhanced with Irish Crème whisky notes.” Dunkin' rewards members have access to Irish Creme a little longer on the app.

Are Baileys and Irish cream the same? ›

Baileys is made by Diageo at Nangor Road, in Dublin, Ireland and in Mallusk, Northern Ireland. It is the original Irish cream, invented by a team headed by Tom Jago in 1971 for Gilbeys of Ireland; Diageo currently owns the trademark. It has a declared alcohol content of 17% by volume.

How do you keep coffee cake moist? ›

Melted butter is key for moist coffee cake, but this dessert tends to get drier over time. If you want to prevent coffee cake from getting stale for as long as possible, storing it in an airtight Tupperware is your best bet.

What is the difference between American and British coffee cake? ›

Coffee cake is different in various parts of the world. In the UK, it's exactly what it says on the tin; it's a coffee-flavoured sponge cake, whereas in the US, coffee cake is cake with a crumble topping that's served with a cup of coffee on the side. I used a Nigella Lawson recipe, and, oh my, is it good!

Why is my coffee cake chewy? ›

Overmixing

Overworking the batter, especially if it contains gluten, will result in a tough, chewy cake. You'll often see the instructions, “mix until just combined,” in cake recipes. This means to stop mixing as soon as you see that all ingredients are evenly incorporated.

Why is it called Boston cream cake? ›

The boston cream pie's name may be a mystery, but its origins are not. The dessert was first created in 1856 at Boston's famous Parker House Hotel (also the birthplace of Parker House rolls) by Armenian-French chef M. Sanzian.

What is the fancy name for coffee cake? ›

American Coffee cake—also referred to as gugelhupf or Austrian German: kaffekuchen—evolved from other sweet dishes from Vienna. In the 17th century, Northern/Central Europeans are thought to have come up with the idea of eating sweet cakes while drinking coffee.

Why is it called coffee cake if it doesn't have coffee? ›

These were adapted from Kuchen (cookie/cake) and Gugelhupf (spice cake). Coffee and other ingredients to make the cake were expensive and a little rare so to have coffee in the cake was not needed.

Why do they call coffee cake coffee cake? ›

Sometimes cake, sometimes bread, maybe with coffee but always sweet, the only real defining trait of a coffee cake is that it is meant to be served alongside a cup of coffee. It's a treat that asks nothing of you other than to slow down and enjoy a nice hot mug of coffee and a bite of something sweet.

Is Baileys the same as Irish coffee? ›

Baileys coffee is a spin on Irish coffee using Baileys Irish Cream instead of cream and sugar. Irish coffee is a classic co*cktail you probably already know: warm coffee with a shot of Irish whiskey, topped with whipped cream. The modern version was invented in the 1950's in Ireland.

What's the point of Irish coffee? ›

The coffee specialty with the subtle sweetness and a shot of Irish whiskey has a very unique character. It warms you up wonderfully and spreads a special feeling of coziness. Read the best tips here about the delicious hot beverage from the Emerald Isle.

What is special about Irish coffee? ›

Classic Irish coffees are made with just four ingredients: hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar and whipped cream. Oftentimes in restaurants, Irish coffees are overwhelmingly sweet and rich. I love making them at home because you can make them exactly how you like them. Plus, Irish coffees are so simple to make.

Do people in Ireland drink Irish coffee? ›

While Ireland as a country prefers tea as their hot drink of choice, Irish coffee in particular is making a name for itself both in and out of Ireland. This delicious yet strong beverage can be found in many of Ireland's pubs and is a rather simple drink to make.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. An Powlowski

Last Updated:

Views: 5693

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. An Powlowski

Birthday: 1992-09-29

Address: Apt. 994 8891 Orval Hill, Brittnyburgh, AZ 41023-0398

Phone: +26417467956738

Job: District Marketing Strategist

Hobby: Embroidery, Bodybuilding, Motor sports, Amateur radio, Wood carving, Whittling, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Prof. An Powlowski, I am a charming, helpful, attractive, good, graceful, thoughtful, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.