This Irish Coffee Mousse with Caramel Sauce incorporates Irish Whiskey and Bailey’s for the perfect after dinner treat.
Espresso powder and caramel sauce make a caramel/mocha mousse amped up with Irish Whiskey while the whipped cream topping incorporates the Baileys Irish Cream.
It is pretty amazing if I do say so myself!
This keeps well. You could make it a day ahead or the morning before serving.
I served it in Irish coffee glasses but any container will actually work.
Chef’s Tips for Irish Coffee Mousse With Caramel Sauce
- This recipe uses a number of smaller mixtures so it is advisable to measure out your ingredients for each stage at the beginning. Once the caramel is at the right point you need to work fairly quickly.
- When making caramel use a stainless steel or other smooth surfaced pot. When syrup starts to boil it is essential to swirl the mixture periodically and then wipe down the side of the pot with a brush and water. Stirring with a spoon can cause burning where the spoon drags across the base of the pot. The reason you need to wipe down the walls of the sauce pan is that when you swirl the syrup it will leave a film of syrup on the side. When that film dries out the mixture will crystalize. Once there is crystallization on the side it forms a base for more more crystallization (picture a coral reef growing). Your entire batch of syrup can crystalize (dry out to a crumbly, sugary mixture). If this happens you can add water and return it to a syrup and start again in a clean pot but you would rather avoid this for sure. (Does this sound like the voice of experience talking? I used the Rock cookware once for caramel and the bumpy surface meant my brushing wasn’t getting the sauce pan wall clear of the syrup… and yes… the whole thing crystalized!)
- This mousse keeps very well so you can easily make it a day ahead. I actually had some on day 3 (yes.. I had some leftover!) and it was still fine. The whipped cream was a bit softer but it still had held its piped shape.
Irish Coffee Mousse With Caramel Sauce
Irish Whiskey in a mocha mousse with whipped topping and Baileys.
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Servings: 6 servings
Equipment
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
Caramel
- 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsps sugar divided 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsps
- 1/4 + 2Tbsps cup water divided 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsps
- 2 cups whipping cream divided 1/2 cup + 1 1/2 cups
- 2 Tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsps Irish Whiskey
- 1 1/2 tsps espresso powder or instant coffee granules
- 1 1/4 tsps unflavoured gelatin
- 1/4 cup Baileys Irish Cream divided 2 + 2 Tbps
Instructions
- Measure out the ingredients for the mousse mixture but do not combine yet-measure out all the sugar, 1/4 cup of water, 1/2 cup of whipping cream, 2 Tbsps butter, 2 Tbsps Irish Whiskey. Then measure out the espresso powder, the gelatin and the other 2 Tbsps water. Set out a pastry brush and a cup of water.Reserve the other 1 1/2 cups of whipping cream and the Baileys for the topping.
- Stir the sugar and 1/4 cup of water in a stainless steel saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves and the liquid is clear. Increase the heat and boil without stirring until the syrup turns a deep golden colour. Periodically swirl the pan and then dip the pastry brush in a cup of water and brush down the edges of the pan where the syrup swirled up the edge of the pan. (This took about 12 minutes for me).
- When the syrup is a deep amber colour add the 1/2 cup of cream and the butter. The mixture will explode and bubble up. Stir until the butter melts and mixture is well combined. Remove saucepan from the heat. Measure out 6 Tbsps of the caramel and set aside in a small ramekin. Add the Irish whiskey to the caramel in the pot, stir and pour into a bowl.
- Heat the 2 Tbsps of water remining and the coffee powder so the coffee dissolves. Don't make it too hot- just enough to melt the coffee granules. Sprinkle the gelatin over the coffee mixture and allow to stand about 10 minutes to soften. Then warm the mixture in the microwave gently- about 15 seconds on medium heat.
- Stir the gelatin to mix well and stir it into the caramel mixture in the bowl. Put a few inches of cold water in the bottom of your sink and allow the caramel bowl to sit in the cold water for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. You want the mixture to be cool but not fully set.
- Meanwhile beat the remaining 1 1/2 cups of whipping cream in a separate bowl to soft peaks. Measure out 2 cups of the whipped cream and fold it into the caramel mousse mixture until it is well blended. Divide the mousse mixture between 6 serving glasses or dishes. Leave the extra whipped cream in the bowl.
- Add 2 Tbsps of the Baileys to the whipped cream remaining in the bowl and continue to beat until it is stiff. Pipe or spoon the whipped cream over the mousse in the serving glasses. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or up to a day.
- Set aside the 6 Tbsps of caramel and remaining 2 Tbsp of Baileys until ready to serve. Gently warm the caramel about 15 seconds on medium low in the microwave just till it is pourable. Drizzle the caramel over the 6 serving glasses and then drizzle with a bit of Baileys. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 359kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 70mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1283IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg
