This Coffee Cookies recipe with Baileys is so delicious! Once you've made this decadent treat, it will be on your regular list of desserts.
You might want to double the recipe if you're taking these cookies to a party as they will be gone in no time! Fans of Baileys will want to check out this Baileys Latte recipe, Bailey Iced Coffee, and this list of Baileys Irish Cream Desserts.
First time I made these, I couldn't believe how tasty they were! It's one of my favorite cookie recipes. You won't be able to have just a small piece of this delicious treat. It's the best coffee cookie!
Baileys Irish Cream has that distinctive creamy hazelnut and caramel flavor, so it's easy to see how it would be so decadent when added to a this coffee cookies recipe.
I have all kinds of other ideas for treats up my sleeve now that I've tried this coffee cookie recipe!
One thing I have to strongly suggest. Don't use another Irish Cream. Just. Don't.
Baileys Irish Cream is the original and the best! In fact, Baileys Irish Cream is both the world's top-selling liqueur brand and the world's top-selling cream liqueur brand.
Really, the flavor of Bailey can't be beat. It's perfect for all coffee lovers!
When I'm making Irish Cream Recipes, I never skimp on ingredients. It stinks to work so hard and not get a good result because you didn't use the best ingredients.
And simply sipping Baileys Irish Cream is pretty divine, too.
Side note: Finding Irish Cream coffee isn't always easy. The link below is a brand that has free shipping. Put the other bag in the freezer to keep it fresh.
A steaming cup of this coffee will be wonderful with one of these cookies. Don't forget to make a pot to serve your guests when you bring out a tray of these Baileys coffee cookies!
Ingredients
To make the cookies, you'll need unsalted butter, sugar, eggs, Irish Cream ground coffee, vanilla, Baileys Irish Cream, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. You'll also need a circle cookie cutter (2-3 inch)
For the frosting, you'll need more unsalted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, Baileys Irish Cream, and heavy whipping cream.
You'll also need a disposable piping bag fitted with a star tip.
How to Make The Cookies
Follow these detailed instructions to make the best coffee cookies ever!
Preheat oven to 350º.
Using a standing mixer or electric mixer and a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Using a small bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla, Baileys and coffee grounds.
Mix at a medium-high speed using a whisk until completely combined.
Gradually add the coffee liquid to the butter and the sugar mixture and mix until fully combined.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt and mix until combined.
Gradually mix into the wet mixture at a low speed until fully combined.
Follow these important steps exactly. The dough will still be really wet and soft, mix in another ¼ C of flour into the dough.
Lightly flour a cutting board and scoop the cookie dough onto the board.
Sprinkle some more flour onto the dough and begin to knead the dough until flour is combined. You want the dough somewhat firm because you will be using a cookie cutter.
Lightly flour the cutting board again and roll your dough out to about ¼ -inch thickness.
Using your cookie cutter, begin to cut your circles out. You will want to cut out 36 circles to get 18 cookies.
Place either a silicone mat or parchment paper on the baking trays to prevent sticking. Bake on the prepared baking sheets in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until crispy edges are slightly golden brown.
Allow the cookies to cool completely to room temperature on a wire rack.
Now to make them look like this!
How to Make the Frosting
Using a standing mixer, combine all ingredients and mix on medium speed until fluffy and stiff peaks form.
If your frosting looks like powdery rocks, add in 1-3 more tablespoon heavy whipping cream.
Frost the Cookies
Once the frosting is stiff and smooth, scoop it into a piping bag.
Using 1 cookie, pipe a small dollop of frosting into the center of the cookie.
Place another cookie on top and sandwich the two cookies together.
(You can use a knife to spread the frosting inside, but you probably won't have the pretty ridges as seen here. I'm betting you can get creative doing it that way!)
Enjoy with this decadent Roasted Marshmallow Cocktail! It's so much fun to create Baileys drink recipes!
Below is a printable version of this coffee cookies recipe you can take to the store! Let me know if you make this coffee cookies recipe.
Other Irish Recipes
Next time check out these Guinness Cupcakes for another great dessert for St. Paddy's day (or any day!) Looking for something for the kids? They will love these Green Cupcakes! Think Thin Mints in a cupcake!
I also have an entire roundup of St. Patrick's Day cupcakes. Want even more? Check out my St. Patrick's Day board on Pinterest!
And if you're going to Ireland, you must visit have a Guinness Draught at Guinness Storehouse in Dublin! Only thing is, please let me know if you go!
And please remember to drink responsibly.
You can add chocolate chips, dark, chocolate, chocolate chunks, substitute brown sugar or turbinado sugar, or even mix in some delicious coffee flavor like espresso powder or chocolate coffee beans.
Because of the creamy insides, you will want to refrigerate these cookies in an airtight container. They will keep for 3-4 days.
Yes, these cookies can be frozen in an airtight container for up to a month.
Baileys Coffee Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- circle cookie cutters
- disposable piping bag fitted with a star tip
- large cookie sheet
- small bowl, medium bowl, large mixing bowl
- stand mixer or hand mixer with separate bowl
- airtight container for storage
Ingredients
Cookie Ingredients
- 1 C unsalted sweet cream butter softened
- 1 ¼ C sugar
- 2 Large Eggs
- 2 tablespoon ground coffee Irish cream ground
- 1 ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon Baileys Irish Cream
- 2 cups flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Frosting ingredients
- ½ C butter unsalted, softened
- 1 ½ C powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon Baileys Irish Cream
- 2-4 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
Instructions
Cookie directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Using a standing mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Using a small bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla, Baileys and coffee grounds. Mix using a whisk until completely combined.
- Gradually add in the coffee liquid to the butter and the sugar mixture and mix until fully combined.
- In medium mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt until combined.
- Gradually mix flour mixture into the wet mixture until fully combined
- Dough will still be really wet and soft, mix in another ¼ C of flour into the dough.
- Lightly flour a cutting board and scoop the dough onto the board.
- Sprinkle some more flour onto the dough and begin to knead the dough until flour is combined. You want the dough to be like a sugar cookie cut out dough because you will be using a cookie cutter.
- Lightly flour the cutting board again and roll your dough out to about ¼ inch thickness.
- Using your cookie cutter, begin to cut your circles out. You will want to cut out 36 circles to get 18 cookies.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are slightly golden
- Allow cookies to cool completely
Frosting Directions
- Using a standing mixer, combine all ingredients and mix on medium speed until fluffy and stiff peaks form
- If your frosting looks like powdery rocks, add in 1-3 more tablespoon heavy whipping cream.
- Once frosting is stiff and smooth scoop into piping bag or simply use a knife.
- Using 1 cookie, pipe or spread a small dollop of frosting into the center of the cookie. (If using a knife, try to give the edges a scalloped look.)
- Place another cookie on top and sandwich the two cookies together
trudy
it does call for 2 tbsp
irish cream coffee how much of coffee and how much of irish coffee?
Kelly Stilwell
Hi Trudy- sorry I'm just seeing this. In the directions, you can see 2 TBSP of Irish Cream ground coffee (there's a link so you can see the product) and 1 tsp Baileys Irish Cream. You can use regular ground coffee, but it won't have quite the same flavor. Let me know how they turn out!
Lori Putnam
I misread the recipe, as I hadn't read the story first. I thought these were "Bailey's Irish Cream" coffee-cookies...like cookies you would want to eat with a cup of coffee. So, for those in my house who abhor coffee, can I just skip that ingredient and make a cookie that tastes like Baileys? Or will they just be blech?
Kelly Stilwell
Hi Lori- I don't think it would affect the flavor that much if you took it out. Let me know how they are! For a cookie to have with coffee, try these biscotti! https://kellystilwell.com/easy-biscotti-recipe/ The oatmeal raisin cookies with pecans are also really good! Thanks for visiting!
Jen
Has anyone tried freezing these for later use, say making in advance for a wedding?
Kelly Stilwell
Hi Jen- You can freeze the cookie part for up to two weeks in an airtight container. Allow cookies to defrost a day before. Hope that helps!
Carol
Irish Cream is available in ANY liquor store.
carol
Oh, sorry. I see you were referring to "Irish Cream" ground coffee.
Cindy
Lesson learned- read the comments first!
Funny tho- the cookies in the picture look like they have ground coffee in them!
Melinda
I agree. The cookies definitely look like they have ground coffee in them. I would think instant coffee powder would incorporate into the batter and color the dough rather than looking like the individual brown specks that seem to be the size of grounds.
Kelly Stilwell
So sorry I didn't see this comment before now, Melinda. It is absolutely Irish Cream ground coffee and not instant! Please let me know how they turn out!
Jess
This looks amazing! Is it possible to shape the dough into balls and bake it that way instead of rolling and using a cookie cutter?
Kelly Stilwell
Hi Jess- as these are sandwich cookies, I'm not sure how they will work out. You can certainly give it a shot, but I don't know if they will bake flat enough. Let me know how it works out if you try!
Claire bergeron
Is the coffee you're using instant?
Kelly Stilwell
The coffee is regular ground coffee. If you click on the link, it takes you to the exact product. However, you don't necessarily have to use that coffee. Any ground coffee will do. You could probably use instant, but it will not be quite as good. Let me know how they turn out!
J
Sorry but I'm confused ... the recipe calls for ground coffee, yet in the comments you replied to a question by saying use INSTANT coffee...?? So are you saying Instant is an alternative, but grounds is the actual ingredient called for?
aula
you can buy speciality Irish coffee, ground it yourself to your liking, then make coffee with what is left.
Lori
The link doesn’t take you to instant coffee. It’s regular ground coffee.
Kelly Stilwell
It is actually regular ground coffee, Lori. I'm going to remove some of the comments as it's confusing. You can absolutely eat ground coffee, just like you can eat a chocolate covered espresso bean. Enjoy!
Kay
I guess this is a silly question, but I noticed the coffee isn't instant. You can eat regular coffee grounds?
Kelly Stilwell
Yes, you can eat a dessert with coffee grounds in it, just like you can eat a chocolate covered espresso bean. It adds a lot of flavor!
Bud Sponseller
I rolled the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness (not 1 inch) in order to get 36 cookies.
Gina
Amazing!!! Got a lot of compliments!
Kelly Stilwell
Woo hoo! Made my day, Gina!
Lizzie
They also make baileys chocolate chips if you really want to go over the top with this.
Kelly Stilwell
I had no idea, Lizzie! Thanks for the tip!
Kelly Stilwell
Thanks for letting me know, Gina! YAY!