No need to wait until St. Patrick's Day—Starbucks' Irish Cream Cold Brew is here to make the holiday season jolly.
Starbucks is proving that cool drinks can be enjoyed year-round. Just when we thought the chain was done rounding out their holiday menu, this Irish Cream Cold Brew is the prodigal surprise we didn’t know we needed! (At least something can supplement the loss of the Gingerbread Latte, eh?)
The Irish Cream Cold Brew is back for 2020, and it’s already earning rave reviews from fans on Instagram. We’re ready to order one, too.
What’s in the Irish Cream Cold Brew?
This drink starts with a classic Starbucks Cold Brew. Then, it’s topped with whipped cold foam infused with Irish cream syrup. We’re guessing that the cold foam is made from Starbucks’ trademark Vanilla Sweet Cream blended with Irish cream syrup. The resulting froth also gets sprinkled with a dusting of cocoa powder, creating a creamy introductory sip before a bold hit of cold brew.
This isn’t the first time Starbucks has experimented with cold brew. The chain created extra pumpkin spice chaos last year and earlier this year with its returning Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.
Get It Before It’s Gone
Starting December 2, Starbucks is offering its Irish Cream Cold Brew at $4.45 to $4.75 for a Grande. Since Starbucks steeps its cold brew for roughly 20 hours, this coffee is loaded with more caffeine than you’ll find in a latte. No, it might not make for a soothing nightcap, but it will definitely provide fuel for the frenzied countdown to Christmas.
We don’t know about you, but we’re putting aside the Peppermint Mocha in favor of the Irish Cream Cold Brew this year!
Change up cheesecakes with different liqueur flavorings. This “mudslide” version with coffee and Irish cream is my husband's favorite. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
If you want a dessert that will take the cake at a St. Patrick's Day celebration, look no further! The rich chocolate cake is incredibly moist and has a nice malt flavor that's perfectly complemented by the Irish cream frosting. —Jennifer Wayland, Morris Plains, New Jersey
I was given a bottle of Irish cream liqueur as a gift and had leftover peppermint candy, so I created this delicious trifle. It's always rich and decadent. —Margaret Wilson, Sun City, California
If you have a 4-in springform pan, this will be your new favorite dessert. The taste of Baileys Irish Cream comes through in every bite of this scaled down cheesecake. It's perfect for splitting with someone special. —Judy Ferril, Shorewood, Minnesota
Creme brulee is our favorite dessert and we love Irish cream liqueur, so I decided to put them together for a dinner finale we truly love. With a last name like Moynihan and a husband named Patrick, you can tell St. Patrick's Day is a very big holiday in our house! —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota
My husband and I are big fans of Irish cream, so I wanted to incorporate it into a brownie. I started with my mom's brownie recipe, then added frosting and ganache. This decadent recipe is the result, and we are really enjoying them! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
This mouthful is delightful and so cute in mini-ramekins. Creamy vanilla is comforting with a strong Irish Cream accent. I suggest garnishing with whipped cream.—Tiffany Rampey, Chicago, Illinois
Writer, blogger, content creator. I specialize in food and travel, plus digital commerce and the retail industry. Based in Portland, Oregon after a very long time spent in NYC.