*Kim’s original recipe mentions that you could substitute half and half for the heavy cream for a lighter version. To more closely replicate the original, I have always used heavy cream.
**Kim has also used rum instead of whiskey. I have not tried that variation, and though it would change the flavor profile, those who enjoy rum may like to try.
***Kim sometimes uses 1 tablespoon of instant coffee instead of the espresso powder. Just make sure it’s the kind that dissolves in water, not coffee grounds. I keep a small jar of King Arthur Flour’s espresso powder on hand, but other options can generally be found in the coffee/tea aisle of the grocery store. To avoid buying a whole jar if you don’t think you’ll use it for anything else, you could purchase one of those little packets of Starbucks Via instant coffee.
***Caramel sauce may be used in place of the chocolate sauce. I prefer chocolate sauce by a small margin, and like to use my homemade salted hot fudge sauce. When using salted chocolate sauce, I omit the pinch of salt.