Why it works: Coffee and vanilla are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 9% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,391 recipes. Both carry sotolon, which smells curry, maple. The science ↓
Frozen Black Irish
Ingredients
Directions
Mix briefly with half a glassful of crushed ice.
Pour into a double-cocktail glass.
Garnish with a sprig of mint.
Serve.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 3 of 5 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 3 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Cream | 1 tbsp (15ml) heavy | 51 |
| Ice Cream | 1 tbsp (15ml) heavy | 51 |
| Vanilla | 1 tsp extract (4ml) | 12 |
| Coffee | not in our table | 0 |
| Vodka | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Coffee + vanillatop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,391 recipes
Shared aroma: sotolon (curry, maple).
-
Cream + vodkatop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together202 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Cream + vanillatop 15% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together12,301 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonanone (fruity, floral).
-
Coffee + creamtop 17% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together2,339 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-heptanol (bitter, floral).
-
Coffee + vodkatop 23% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together65 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Cream and vanilla barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 12,301 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Vanilla ice cream
- Adds creaminess and body, giving the drink a thick, frozen texture.
- Kahlua coffee liqueur
- Adds coffee flavour and sweetness to the drink.
- Bailey's irish cream
- Adds creamy dairy richness and sweetness.
- Vodka
- Adds alcoholic strength with little flavour, keeping the drink lighter.
The step that matters
Mix briefly with crushed ice. Mixing only briefly chills and partly dilutes the drink while keeping it thick. Over-blending melts the ice and ice cream, making the drink thin and watery.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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