This vegan Baileys recipe offers a great way to make this classic liqueur at home using simple ingredients. It has the same great flavor you love but is much healthier. Plus, it is creamier than the original Baileys and can be made in just 10 minutes.
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I love Baileys but after going vegan, I missed it. That is when I started experimenting and came up with this recipe. It has been a hit among my friends, both vegans and non-vegans.
Enjoy this delicious vegan Baileys with vegan cookies on the side! My favorites are vegan shortbread cookies, vegan crescent cookies, and vegan chocolate cookies.
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❤️ Why you’ll love it
I absolutely love this vegan baileys recipe. It is such a fun and simple recipe to make, and the result is a creamy, delicious, and boozy drink that is perfect for sipping on its own or using as an ingredient in other cocktails or desserts.
The combination of Irish whiskey, espresso, and almond milk creates a rich and velvety base that is just so lusciously smooth.
Plus, the addition of cocoa powder and a touch of vanilla extract gives it a subtle hint of chocolate flavor that is just so delicious. I also really appreciate that this recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. It just makes it so convenient to make whenever you want.
🧾 Key ingredients
This vegan Baileys recipe calls for simple, easy-to-find ingredients that you can get at your local grocery store. You may even have some of these ingredients in your kitchen already.
Irish whiskey is the star of this recipe. It gives the Baileys its signature kick and depth of flavor. When combined with the other ingredients, it creates a rich, creamy, and slightly boozy drink.
Espresso is another key ingredient that adds a robust coffee flavor to the Baileys. It pairs beautifully with the whiskey and creates a well-balanced, luxurious drink.
Almond milk is the dairy-free alternative to traditional cream in this recipe. It is rich and creamy, and when blended with the other ingredients, it creates a lusciously smooth Baileys.
Vanilla extract and cocoa powder add the perfect finishing touches to this recipe. They enhance the flavor of the Baileys, giving it a subtle sweetness and a hint of chocolate, making it even more delicious.
🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
🥘 Equipment
For this vegan Baileys recipe, the most important piece of equipment you will need is a good quality blender. It is essential for achieving a smooth and creamy consistency.
👩🍳 Instructions
Preparing the ingredients
Gather all your ingredients. This includes coconut milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, instant coffee, and Irish whiskey.
Making the vegan Baileys
STEP 1
Add the coconut milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, instant coffee, and Irish whiskey to your blender.
STEP 2
Blend all the ingredients together for a couple of minutes. This will ensure that everything is well combined.
STEP 3
Once the mixture is ready, transfer it to a clean glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid.
STEP 4
Before serving, make sure to shake the bottle well. This will help to mix any settled ingredients back together.
STEP 5
Your vegan Baileys is now ready to be enjoyed. Serve it chilled, over ice. Remember to store any leftovers in the fridge.
💡 Expert tip
The key to this vegan Baileys recipe is to blend the ingredients for a good couple of minutes. This process not only mixes everything thoroughly but also helps the cocoa powder to dissolve, giving your Baileys a smooth, creamy texture.
🔄 Variations
For a nutty twist, try using hazelnut milk instead of almond milk. It will add a unique flavor to your vegan Baileys without overpowering the other ingredients.
If you are a fan of strong coffee, consider adding an extra shot of espresso. This will give your vegan Baileys a more pronounced coffee flavor, perfect for those who can’t get enough of this classic pairing.
For a smoother texture, you can strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth before transferring it to a bottle. This will remove any larger pieces of the cocoa powder and give your vegan Baileys a more refined consistency.
🥣 Serving ideas
This homemade vegan Baileys is a delicious addition to a wide range of beverages. I love to enjoy it on the rocks for a classic, refreshing treat.
If you like to mix it up, you can add this homemade vegan version to other drinks. For a refreshing kick, consider adding a splash to your favorite coffee-based drinks. It is a great addition to an iced coffee, a hot coffee, or a latte macchiato.
You can also enjoy it with other beverages. Add it to a chai latte for a warming, spicy treat, or mix it into a milkshake for a creamy, decadently sweet dessert.
And if you are feeling adventurous, try incorporating it into a variety of cocktails. It is a perfect substitute for traditional Baileys in drinks like eggnog, mudslide, martini, or a classic b-52. You can even use it to make vegan Jell-O shots for a fun, boozy treat.
❄️ Storing tips
Storing and reheating this vegan Baileys recipe is super easy since it doesn’t compromise the flavor.
To store, transfer the leftover Baileys to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for about 4-5 days, but I wouldn’t push it past a week.
Unfortunately, freezing is not recommended for this particular recipe. The creamy texture of the almond milk can be altered, making it less enjoyable when thawed.
🤔 FAQs
What type of whiskey should I use?
You can use any type of Irish whiskey you like. If you prefer a stronger flavor, you can use a whiskey with a higher alcohol percentage. If you want a milder flavor, you can use a whiskey with a lower alcohol percentage.
Can I use instant coffee instead of espresso?
Yes, you can. If you do not have an espresso machine, you can make a strong cup of instant coffee and use it in this recipe. The flavor will be slightly different, but it will still be delicious.
Do I have to use a blender?
Yes, you do. The ingredients in this recipe need to be well mixed in order to achieve the right flavor and consistency. If you do not have a blender, you can use a food processor or an immersion blender.
Want some cookies with it?
We have numerous vegan cookie recipes you might enjoy with homemade vegan Baileys.
THANK YOU so much for visiting our website. Please comment below if you have tried this recipe. We LOVE hearing from you! If you loved the recipe, please don’t forget to give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ RATING. We appreciate all of our readers.
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Copycat Vegan Baileys Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Irish whiskey 1 fl oz
- 1 shot Espresso 1.35 fl oz
- 1 + ⅔ cup Almond milk 13.5 fl oz
- ½ cup Cane sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- ½ tsp Cocoa powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and mix for a couple of minutes.
- Serve chilled on the rocks. Shake well before serving. Store in fridge.
Notes
Can you use other dairy-free milk?
- Cashew milk – Almond milk can have a more pungent, nutty taste than cashew milk. If you want to tone it down, use this cashew milk recipe.
- Full-fat coconut milk – It could be a substitute for adding a more decadent texture like heavy cream. If you use that in combination with nut milk, boil it before adding the alcohol. Otherwise, the full-fat coconut milk will solidify when you put it in the fridge and can compromise the texture. It would be best to double the vanilla extract to overpower the coconut taste.
- Soy milk – You can also try soy milk, which is not as thin as nut milk. I’m not too fond of the taste, but it can be an alternative for you.
Elisa
At last a vegan Baileys recipe without coconut milk! I’ve made the coconut version and as soon as it cools or you add ice is starts to solidify and is gross to drink. I can’t wait to try this one ( :
Emese
Hi Elisa, let us know how it goes.
Stephanie
This was fantastic! I had everything on hand and it was made in less than 5 minutes. A keeper for sure!
Mark Vitelli
is it only refridgerate after opening? I wish to give as a gift but how long will it last in the sealed bottle without refridgertion?
My Pure Plants
Hi Mark,
Yes, it has to be kept in a fridge to last long. If you want to give it to a gift, you can have it on room temperature for a couple of hours provided it is not a hot summer day though. Alcohol helps to preserve it and there is no real dairy to go bad quickly. So it should be fine.
Kim
Would this be as good using coconut sugar? Thanks!
My Pure Plants
Yes it would be delicious with coconut sugar, it might only be a little darker. Not that would be a large problem. 🙂
Ornia
Has anyone tried with monkfruit instead of cane sugar?
My Pure Plants
We haven’t sadly, but we would be curious too.
Susan
Love your recipe, I made similar a month ago using Almond Cooking milk to simulate “cream”. We don’t drink it enough to warrant the mason jar i filled with the similar recipe. I will try yours next time but make very little. Mine is almost a month old now and I guess I should throw it out. I hate too…but oh well, better safe than sorry I suppose.
My Pure Plants
Almond cooking cream sounds like a great addition. Where I live I only ever see rice and soy cooking cream. Let us know how you like our version when you do make it.
Florence
I would like to know for how long can you keep it in the fridge?
My Pure Plants
As long as you would keep the milk you make it from. I would say 7-10 days tops.
Marva
Just made the Irish cream. Simply delicious !
Plan on giving a few for gifts. ?
My Pure Plants
We are so glad to hear this! We love homemade gift giving as well.
Evans
It looks so delicious. Can’t wait to try it out!
Alyssa Marie
Baileys is one of my favorites! This recipe looks so easy and so much healthier and cheaper than buying regular Baileys! Definitely going to give it a try!
Ayushi
This looks so delicious and easy to make, I’m definitely going to give it a try 🙂