Irish Mudslide

Waking up to a group text that says “St. Patrick’s Day at my place?” is how this Irish Mudslide became a regular in my blender. I didn’t want a complicated setup or a sink full of shakers. I wanted something fun, cold, and easy enough to make while still chatting in the kitchen. That’s when I remembered the magic combo of Irish cream, coffee liqueur, and vanilla ice cream.

This drink tastes like a coffee milkshake that decided to become one of your favorite cocktails. The Irish cream brings that smooth, sweet flavor, the coffee liqueur adds depth, and vodka gives it a clean kick without changing the dessert vibe. I love this because it feels like a treat, but you can make it in minutes, and it’s basically impossible not to smile when you see that bright green color.

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Why You’ll Love This

An Irish Mudslide is a blended cocktail that feels like a boozy milkshake with a coffee-and-cream vibe. It’s sweet, smooth, and easy to sip, and the green color makes it perfect for themed parties. If you like dessert-style cocktails, this one is hard to beat.

• It’s basically a milkshake-style cocktail in a glass
• No shaking skills needed, just blend and pour
• Great for parties because it’s easy to scale up
• Irish cream and coffee liqueur make it taste rich and smooth
• The green color makes it festive and photo-friendly
• Easy to adjust thickness with more ice cream or milk

Once you make it, you’ll see why it’s one of those cocktails people ask for again.

Ingredients

This recipe works because it layers familiar dessert flavors: vanilla, coffee, and creamy Irish cream. Vodka adds a clean kick without changing the flavor too much. Milk helps the blender move and lets you control how thick the final drink is. The green food coloring is optional, but it’s what gives it that “Irish” party look.

Here’s what you need:

• 1 oz Irish cream liqueur
• 1 oz coffee-flavored liqueur
• 1 oz vodka
• 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
• A splash of milk
• Green food coloring just a drop or two to get that perfect green color

A few ingredient tips that help:

• Irish cream: This is the creamy base flavor. A good Irish cream makes the drink taste smoother and less sugary.
• Coffee liqueur: Adds that classic mudslide-style coffee note. It keeps the drink from tasting like plain vanilla ice cream.
• Vodka: Keeps it from being too sweet while still staying neutral.
• Vanilla ice cream: The texture maker. Higher-quality ice cream blends thicker and tastes richer.
• Milk: Start with a small splash. You can always add more if the blender struggles.
• Food coloring: Start with one drop. You can always add another, but you can’t take it out once it’s too green.

Warning: Food coloring gets intense fast. Add it in tiny amounts, blend, then check the color before adding more.

Suggested Liquor Brands and Substitutions

You can make this with what you have, but a few brand choices can make it taste smoother and more “dessert bar” than “random freezer drink.” Substitutions also work well if you’re missing one piece.

• Irish cream liqueur: Baileys is the classic, but any Irish cream works. If yours is very sweet, use a little less coffee liqueur to balance.
• Coffee-flavored liqueur: Kahlúa is the standard choice. Other coffee liqueurs work too, especially if you like a stronger coffee note.
• Vodka: Tito’s, Smirnoff, Absolut, or any smooth vodka is fine since the flavor is mostly hidden behind the cream and coffee.
• Ice cream swap: Vanilla bean ice cream gives the best flavor. Dairy-free vanilla also works, but the texture can be a bit lighter.
• Milk swap: Use whole milk for a richer drink, or half-and-half if you want it extra thick. Use oat milk for dairy-free, but expect a slightly different texture.
• Coloring alternative: Skip the food coloring and garnish with something green (like a mint sprig) if you want the theme without coloring.

If you’re serving guests, I like using a classic Irish cream and Kahlúa. It’s the most reliable “mudslide” flavor combo.

Equipment and Glassware

This is a blender drink, which means it’s beginner-friendly. You don’t need bar tools, but you do want a blender that can handle ice cream smoothly.

What you’ll need:

• Blender
• Measuring Jigger
• Spoon
• Hurricane Glass or any large, tall glass

Home tip: Chill your glasses for a few minutes if you can. A cold glass keeps the drink thicker longer.

How to Make It

This Irish Mudslide comes together in minutes. The main goal is blending it smooth without over-thinning it. Start with less milk, then add more only if needed.

1. Add ingredients to the blender.
   Add the Irish cream, coffee-flavored liqueur, vodka, vanilla ice cream, and a small splash of milk.
2. Add green food coloring.
   Put in a drop or two of green food coloring. Start small. You can always add more.
3. Blend until smooth.
   Blend until the drink looks creamy and fully mixed. If it’s too thick for your blender, add a tiny splash more milk.
4. Pour and serve.
   Pour into your glass and enjoy right away.

Common tweak: If you want it thicker, add another scoop of ice cream. If you want it thinner, add a splash more milk and blend again.

Pro Tips

Blended cocktails are easy, but a few tricks make them taste better and look nicer. These tips help with texture, sweetness, and getting that perfect green shade without going overboard.

• Start with less milk. You can always add more, but you can’t “un-thin” it.
• Use slightly softened ice cream so it blends smooth without needing extra milk.
• Chill your glass so the drink stays thick longer.
• Add food coloring one drop at a time. Blend, check, then decide if you need more.
• Want a thicker texture? Add another scoop of ice cream instead of more ice.
• Want a stronger coffee taste? Add an extra 1/4 oz coffee liqueur, but taste first so it doesn’t get too sweet.
• For a cleaner look, wipe drips off the glass before serving. Small detail, but it makes photos better.
• Serve right away. Frozen cocktails change texture fast as they sit.

Once you get the base version down, you can have fun with garnishes and different ice cream choices.

Variations

This recipe is easy to customize depending on the occasion and who you’re serving. You can change the flavor, change the color vibe, or make it less boozy without losing the whole idea.

• Mint Irish Mudslide: Add 1/4 oz peppermint liqueur and skip the food coloring. The mint gives you the “green” feel naturally.
• Chocolate version: Add 1 tbsp chocolate syrup or a splash of chocolate liqueur for a richer dessert-style drink.
• Extra strong version: Add 1/2 oz more vodka or Irish cream, but keep the milk light so it doesn’t get too thin.
• Frozen coffee version: Add 1/2 oz cold brew concentrate for a stronger coffee bite.
• Mocktail version: Use decaf coffee, skip the alcohol, and blend vanilla ice cream with a splash of milk and a touch of coffee syrup. Add green coloring if you want the theme.

If you’re serving a group, the mint version is a fun change because it feels festive without relying on food coloring.

When to Serve and Pairings

This is a party drink. It’s sweet, cold, and easy to sip, so it works best when you’re not trying to be fancy. It’s especially perfect when people are snacking and you want a dessert-style cocktail instead of a citrus drink.

Great times to serve it:

• St. Patrick’s Day parties
• Game nights and movie nights
• Birthday gatherings
• After-dinner dessert drinks

Pair it with:

• Chocolate chip cookies or brownies
• Mini cupcakes or donut holes
• Salty snacks like pretzels or popcorn (salt balances the sweetness)
• A simple snack board with nuts and fruit
• Other creamy cocktails if you’re doing a dessert drink spread

Storage and Serving Notes

This drink is best fresh from the blender. Once it sits, it starts to melt and separate, and you lose that thick milkshake texture. The good news is it’s quick to make, so blending right before serving is easy.

If you want to prep ahead:

• Measure your Irish cream, coffee liqueur, and vodka into a container and refrigerate.
• Scoop ice cream into a freezer-safe container so it’s ready to grab.
• Blend everything right before serving so the texture stays thick.

Serving note: If you’re making a big batch, blend in smaller batches so you don’t overload the blender and end up adding too much milk just to get it moving.

FAQs

This is a simple recipe, but people usually have questions about thickness, sweetness, and the green color. Here are the quick answers that help the most.

Can I make this without a blender?
Not really in the same way. The blender is what gives it that milkshake texture. If you don’t have one, you can shake the alcohol with milk and pour it over ice, but it won’t be a frozen mudslide.

How do I make it thicker?
Add more ice cream, not more ice. Ice cream thickens and adds flavor, while ice can water it down.

How do I make it less sweet?
Use a little less Irish cream or coffee liqueur and add a splash more milk. You can also add a tiny pinch of salt to balance sweetness.

Do I have to use green food coloring?
No. It’s optional. You can skip it completely or use a mint garnish to keep the theme.

Can I use dairy-free ice cream and milk?
Yes. The texture may be a little lighter depending on the brand, but it still works. Oat milk tends to blend smoothly.

How strong is this cocktail?
It’s moderate. The ice cream and milk make it taste gentle, but there’s still vodka and liqueur in it. If you want it lighter, reduce vodka to 0.5 oz.

More Cocktails to Try

If you liked this Irish Mudslide, you’ll probably enjoy other creamy, dessert-style cocktails that feel fun and easy to serve.