We're in our second month of shelter in place, and I'm definitely starting to lose my mind. Luckily, I have work during the week to keep my brain occupied, but it's still a struggle trying to get through each day not knowing when this COVID-19 crisis is going to end. As you can imagine, I've been watching a lot of TV shows and movies (need recs? I GOTCHU), playing Animal Crossing since the new Switch version was released, and being on my phone.

This is probably the hardest I've binged on Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok in a long time -- which means I’ve been seeing this whipped coffee drink EVERYWHERE 🤔 I tried resisting the fad, but being bored at home has its drawbacks!

After trying it just once, I started thinking about all the possibilities this IG-friendly drink had. So I got to it and started testing different dalgona (whipped coffee) recipes.

Next on my list is to test matcha dalgona (whipped matcha) recipes. In fact, if you put anything with whipped cream, can you call it dalgona?

Either way, check out the whipped flavor combos below if you're just as bored as I am! Before you start, here are three recommendations/notes:

Use some kind of electric mixer for the whip. It's possible to do it by hand but your forearms will be SO tired -- especially if you want a dalgona more than once a week!
You can make the dalgona with 1-2 tbsps of sugar depending on how sweet you like it. I prefer 1 tbsp because I have sugar in other components of each drink, and I’m not really a sweets person.
Each recipe is for 1 drink basically so double or triple to your heart's content if you need to make these for someone other than yourself!

Basic Dalgona Whip

Makes 1-2 servings

2 tbsp instant coffee
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp hot water

Using a standing mixer or hand mixer, blend the ingredients together.
Keep whisking until the mixture thickens and lightens.
It is ready when you can see soft peaks form when you lift the whisk out.
Use immediately!

Again, depending on how much coffee flavor/caffeine you actually want, this could make 1 serving OR you can drink less and divvy it up between 2 people. I make this decision based on how sweet each drink is and how much coffee I want to cut that.

Dirty Chai Dalgona

Basic dalgona whip
1 tbsp Trader Joe's spiced chai mix
1 tbsp hot water for chai
1 cup milk of your choice
Ice (optional)

Prepare the dalgona whip in your mixer and put together the rest of your drink while it mixes.
Mix the chai powder with hot water until it completely dissolves and pour into a clean glass.
Add ice and 1 cup of the milk of your choice to your glass.
Top with the whip (I do a 3:1 chai to coffee ratio here because I like a stronger chai flavor), take a pic, and then mix it all together to drink!

Brown Sugar Syrup Dalgona

Basic dalgona whip
1 cup milk of your choice
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp water
Ice (optional)

Start your dalgona whip mix.
In a small pot or saucepan, mix the brown sugar and water, and start heating over medium-high heat.
Stir until the sugar is dissolved and keep cooking until the mix starts bubbling.
Keep an eye on your syrup and take it off the heat once it has thickened.
In a glass, pour in 1 tbsp of the syrup, some ice, milk, and top with the dalgona whip (I do more coffee in this one because the syrup is so sweet but up to you!).
You can make 2 drinks or just save the leftover syrup in your fridge for a second drink later!

Mocha Dalgona

Basic dalgona whip
2 tbsp cocoa powder (I used Ghirardelli)
1½ tbsp sugar
2 tbsp hot water
1 cup milk of your choice
Ice (optional)

Make your dalgona whip.
Put cocoa powder, sugar, and hot water in a heat-safe mug or bowl and stir until the powder is dissolved.
Pour hot cocoa mix in a glass with some ice and add milk of your choice (I just used almond milk).
Top with dalgona whip and enjoy! You can sprinkle some cocoa powder on top for aesthetics but I just drank it as is.