Kaffe Karlsson is a Scandinavian coffee cocktail full of flavour and oh-so-comforting! Made in minutes using just 5 simple ingredients.
Kaffe Karlsson originates from Scandinavia and is most similar to what many know as Irish Coffee. But this one's a special, dare I say more exciting, twist!
Mainly served at Christmas, it pairs so well with my festive ginger cookies and my date caramel slice.
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💌 Why I Adore This Cocktail
- 5 ingredients only
- Super simple
- Easy to customise
- Ultra comforting
- Perfect all year round
Plus, I prepared step-by-step photos & video for you!
This way you can see exactly how it's made.
🍊 Ingredients
This brilliant coffee cocktail requires just 5 ingredients!
Ingredient Details
Whipping cream - any cream that could be whipped will work. To make it easier you could also use whipped cream that comes in a can and doesn't need to be whipped. For some added flavour, you could also use coconut cream.
Coffee - any type of coffee is fine, but make sure it's strong! You can use decaf if you prefer, but still make it strong like an espresso.
Cointreau - orange-flavored liqueur, typically found in supermarkets worldwide.
Bailey's - use dairy-free cream liqueur for a vegan version.
Dark chocolate - optional, but so delicious. Dark chocolate works best, but you could experiment with other flavours too.
TIP - Find the quantities and exact instructions on how to make this cocktail at the bottom of this post.
🥄 Equipment
- Chopping board
- Knife
- Measuring spoon/cups
- Hand mixer (if you want to whip the cream yourself)
⏲️ Steps
There are just 6 simple steps to this brilliant cocktail.
PS - This is a quick overview - detailed instructions are waiting for you at the bottom!
- Grate or shave dark chocolate. Set aside.
- Pour coffee into a large serving glass.
- Add Bailey's.
- Then add cointreau.
- Top if off with whipped cream.
- Sprinkle grated or shaved chocolate on top. Enjoy!
💡 Top Tips
- Always taste and adjust before serving - this way you can customise it to taste!
- Making it for several people with different alcohol preferences?
- Make it less strong and then add extra cointreau shots to taste.
- Sip it right away! It won't stay good for super long.
- You don't have to buy Bailey's (the specific brand) - any kind of cream liqueur will do.
- I used a dairy-free coconut cream liqueur from Amarula (not sponsored, just a recommendation if you're looking for something vegan).
Remember! The better the coffee, the better your Kaffe Karlsson will taste!
❓ FAQ
Don't worry at all, this is completely normal. Simply give it a stir with your straw before drinking.
Check out these brilliant lists of Bailey's and cointreau recipes. They both keep well so you don't need to worry about finishing the bottle quickly after opening.
It's naturally gluten-free and can be made vegan (that's how I made it). Simply use dairy-free Baileys'/cream liqueur and dairy-free whipped cream. Tastes brilliant!
It's easier than it looks! You'll either need a grater or a knife. Follow this guide to learn how to safely & efficiently shave the chocolate.
🥥 Substitutions
There are several ways you can change this recipe to suit your preferences.
Whipped cream could be replaced with coconut cream, dairy-free cream, or any other creamy topping of your choice!
Cointreau could be replaced with a similar citrus-based liqueur or orange extract.
Dark chocolate - you could use chocolate sprinkles instead.
☕️ Variations
Vegan - use whipped coconut cream and dairy-free cream liqueur.
Alcohol free - use orange extract instead of cointreau and chocolate milk instead of Bailey's.
Decaf - choose decaf coffee.
🍬 Serving
Kaffe Karlsson can be served in SO MANY ways all year round.
It's particularly popular around Christmas, but don't let that stop you from making it during spring or summer too!
Serve it as:
- Afternoon cocktail
- Happy hour cocktail
- Instead of a dessert
- Festive drink
- After dinner
📦 Storage
To make this recipe ahead, simply just follow the same instructions, but skip the whipped cream and chocolate.
Store it in an airtight jar or container for up to 2-3 days.
When you're ready to serve it, remove from the fridge and top off with cream and chocolate.
👩🍳 More Drinks
Looking for some amazing drinks?
Well, you’ve certainly come to the right place.
Or check out my full recipes section here.
If you enjoyed reading this or have any questions, reach out to me via the comments section below (I check it daily!)
And last but not least, if you made this recipe, it would mean a lot if you could leave a rating or comment below!
This helps other people find my recipes - thank YOU!
🍴Recipe
Kaffe Karlsson - Scandinavian Coffee Cocktail
Equipment
- Chopping board
- Knife
- Measuring spoon
- Hand mixer if you want to whip the cream yourself
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dark chocolate shaved/grated
- 150 ml strong coffee
- 25 ml Bailey's or another cream liqueur
- 25 ml cointreau
- ½ cup whipped cream
Instructions
- Grate or shave dark chocolate. Set aside.
- Pour coffee into a large serving glass.
- Add Bailey's.
- Then add cointreau.
- Top if off with whipped cream.
- Sprinkle grated or shaved chocolate on top. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- This recipe serves 1, but you can always double/triple/multiply the ingredients.
- Always taste and adjust before serving .
- Making it for several people with different alcohol preferences?
- Make it less strong and then add extra cointreau shots to taste.
- Sip it right away! It won't stay good for super long.
- You don't have to buy Bailey's (the specific brand) - any kind of cream liqueur will do.
- I used a dairy-free coconut cream liqueur from Amarula.
- It's normal if your drink separates a little. Simply give it a stir with your straw.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The nutritional information above is calculated automatically. The author of this post cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of this data.
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