Christmas Coffee with Amaretto Whipped Cream

Merry Christmas, everyone! We've made it to the big show. Whether you played Santa, Mrs. Claus, an elf (or all three!) this season, you're a gee-dang hero in line for a much deserved break. Try this simple Christmas Coffee recipe to get yourself in a state of cheer while the presents are opened and all your efforts are celebrated.

Freshly brewed coffee is mixed with Kahlúa, vodka and Irish cream, then topped with a delicious Amaretto whipped cream to take things over the top. I honestly couldn't be happier about waking up early if I get to have a mug of this in my hands.

Joe's favorite cocktail of all time is the White Russian. When I set about planning what to drink this morning, I turned to the Dude for inspiration. That said, it's pretty cold here and I wanted something I could wrap my hands around to warm them up. Then a thought came to mind - what about a HOT White Russian?? And so, my Christmas Coffee recipe was born.

As an added bonus, this recipe doesn't require any fancy equipment or real forethought. The most "difficult" piece of the puzzle is making the amaretto whipped cream, but even that only takes about 5 minutes to make. So if mornings aren't your strong suit and you're in need of a little Christmas spirit (pun intended), this spiked coffee recipe is perfect for you.

How to Make My Christmas Coffee

We have already established that I'm not a morning person. Waking up is hard! So when I'm trying to get my cheer on without a lot of fuss, this recipe is the bee's knees. It's so SIMPLE!

All it requires is pouring everything together and warming it for a few minutes over low heat. If your coffee is brewed, pour it into a saucepan with the Irish cream, Kahlúa and vodka. The coffee is already hot, so the process of getting everything else nice and warm shouldn't take more than a few minutes.

TIP: Don't let your Christmas Coffee come to a boil! If it does, you risk burning off all the adult fun.

While your beverage is coming to temp, place your mugs in the microwave and zap them for about 3 minutes. This will ensure they're nice and hot, meaning your Christmas Coffee will stay cozy for a bit longer.

Finally, whip together your amaretto whipped cream. Bring the cream to soft peaks in a mixing bowl.

TIP: Using a chilled mixing bowl and beaters will get your cream whipped faster. If you want to do this quickly, swirl around a few ice cubes in the bowl for about a minute!

When soft peaks form, tip in your powdered sugar. Beat until the peaks become stiff. Now add the amaretto to the mix and whip again, beating until the cream is stiff enough for your liking.

Everything is ready to go now. Simply distribute the Christmas Coffee among your warmed mugs and top each with a hefty dollop of amaretto whipped cream. Merry Christmas to YOU!

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of coffee should I use?

Honestly, any kind that you usually make should work just fine. I personally am using a holiday roast, but whatever you normally brew will be delicious for this spiked coffee.

If you don't have normal coffee on hand and are working with espresso instead, you have a few options. The first is to turn your espresso into an americano by adding hot water to taste, then using it like brewed coffee.

The second option is to make a latte using the espresso and whatever milk you prefer. Omit the cream, adding just Kahlúa and vodka to taste.

Can I make an iced Christmas coffee?

Absolutely! If you're someone who only drinks iced coffee or you live somewhere warm, you may want to make an iced version of my Christmassy spiked coffee recipe. You can either opt to use a blast chiller like this, or you can opt to use cold brew instead of the hot coffee.

If you're in the market for a cold brew set up, this one is my personal favorite and is super inexpensive! You can make a huge amount of cold brew coffee concentrate with it, which is great for all you caffeine fiends out there like me.

Is there a vegan version of Christmas Coffee?

Heck yeah! Simply substitute the Irish cream for a non-dairy alternative. When it comes to making the whipped topping, use canned unsweetened coconut cream instead of heavy whipping cream. It should come to stiff peaks just like the dairy kind.

Can I make this spiked coffee ahead of time?

Unless you're going for an iced Christmas Coffee, I wouldn't recommend trying to make this beverage ahead of time. That said, there are a few ways to make life a little easier on yourself.

First, invest in either a programmable coffee maker or a smart plug (we use one with our percolator!). Set up your coffee the night before so you can wake up to the smell of hope. I do this every single night, and it's helping me become a better (morning) person.

Second, feel free to make the amaretto whipped cream ahead of time. It should easily last overnight so all you have to do is spoon a dollop on top of your mug when you're ready.

Finally, you can measure out and mix your booze ahead of time. Kahlúa, vodka and Irish cream play nicely together and don't require any refrigeration.

What should I do with my leftover amaretto whipped cream?

I'm a huge fan of amaretto flavored anything, so I'll happily eat this stuff by the spoonful. That said, it's delicious for serving with desserts and pairs with many flavors you're probably already working with.

I love spooning a bit on top of brownies or flourless chocolate cake, apple pie, coffee cake, Belgian waffles or fluffy pancakes, ice cream sundaes, fruit or nut streudel... really, I'll put it on just about anything sweet. I'm certain you can find a way to make sure you don't let any go to waste.

Any cozy drink ideas for the sober among us?

Heck yeah! Check out my creamy, dreamy Hot Chocolate and guilt-free Pumpkin Spice Latte syrup. This recipe from Delish is also a great non-alcoholic interpretation of Christmas Coffee. And if you're okay with just a *touch* of alcohol, don't forget to top either with the yummy Amaretto whipped cream.

Need some ideas for what to pair with your ho-ho-holiday breakfast cocktail? Check out these breakfast and brunch recipes:

• Poutine with Sheet Pan Potato Wedges
• Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread
• Pantry Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes
• Ham and Swiss Strata

If you tried this yummy, boozy Christmas Coffee recipe, let me know how it turned out for you!

If all you want for Christmas is yummy food ideas delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for my email newsletter. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook. Till next time, I hope you all have a safe, wonderful and delicious holiday! Merry Christmas to you and yours.