My delicious vegan Baileys style Irish liqueur is easily and quickly made at home. Perfect for parties or in a decanter as a present.
I love Baileys Irish Cream and after going vegan I missed it for a long time, so I was really happy when I got a bottle of homemade vegan Baileys for my birthday a few years ago. To be precise, what I got was vegan Baileys and vegan “mett”, a raw minced pork specialty that people in Berlin like to eat on bread rolls and call “Hackepeterbrötchen”.
The vegan “Mett” was made of rice and I thought it was really sweet that some of my omni friends had looked up vegan recipes and stood in the kitchen to give me these things for my birthday. As “Mett” has always made me run for the hills, I unfortunately couldn’t make friends with the vegan version either, but the Baileys completely convinced me: it was the perfect present. Especially when I tried the original recipe on Oh She Glows myself a few days later. Not only was it quick and easy, it also turned out very well. I tweaked the recipe a bit, added vanilla and used coconut sugar, which gives a nice hint of caramel.
I filled it in a pretty decanter* that I presented at a party the next day, and it quickly made friends. People said, after just one sip, “oh my god that is better than the real one”, and I overheard them make drunk plans to sell this vegan Baileys online. So that makes a nice present for vegans as well.
Vegan Baileys 2.0
Meanwhile I noticed that a lot of other vegan Baileys recipes use vegan cream and are therefore much quicker to make than the coconut milk version. I went back to the kitchen and tried it out, and my new vegan Baileys is not only ready in minutes, I actually like it even more than the old one! The caramel and vanilla notes are still there, and I’ve also added a little chocolate.
What do you need for the vegan Baileys?
- Espresso: You could also use a strong coffee, decaf or grain coffee. If it tastes of coffee, it will work for this recipe.
- Coconut sugar:I love the flavour and the colour coconut sugar adds to this recipe. You can substitute it with brown sugar, though the caramel note will be slightly milder.
- Cacao powder: You’ll find cacao powder in the baking supplies aisle. There are also some with a fair trade label, which I find important when using cacao powder.
- Vanilla powder: I definitely recommend using real vanilla. You can also use liquid vanilla extract.
- Oat cream: I used vegan oat cream by Oatly, but soy cream works well too. Important: use vegan cooking cream, not whipping cream and not oat milk — oat milk is too thin and the result will be watery.
- Whiskey: I can’t imagine pouring anything but Jameson (no paid ad) into my Irish cream, but of course that’s up to you.
Can you also buy vegan Baileys?
Meanwhile the company Baileys has launched an almond edition* due to the increasing demand for lactose-free or vegan Irish cream liqueur. That’s great and I won’t say no if someone offers me one, but to be honest? I personally prefer this homemade version!
Vegan Baileys
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- double espresso hot
- 80 g coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
- 50 ml oat milk
- 500 ml oat cream
- 150 ml Whiskey
Instructions
- First, gather all your ingredients and prepare them in the right amounts. That makes it so much easier and more fun and you're less likely to forget anything 🙂
- Combine espresso, coconut sugar, cacao powder, vanilla, salt and oat milk in a big vessel and stir well to dissolve the sugar and cacao powder. The espresso needs to be hot for that.
- Add oat cream and whiskey and stir again. Fill it into a bottle that has a lid. Then it's best to leave it in the fridge for a few hours or over night, for taste and texture to fully develop.
- Taste and add a little more sugar if you'd like it sweeter or more oat milk if the Baileys is too thick.
- Keep the Baileys in the fridge and serve on ice or add to your coffee. Give the bottle a light shake before using. The Baileys should keep for at least two weeks.
Nutrition
FAQ:
How long does homemade vegan Baileys keep?
Stored in the fridge, it should keep for at least two weeks. Give the bottle a light shake before serving, as the ingredients can settle.
Can you freeze vegan Baileys?
I wouldn’t recommend it: the cream can split when thawing. It’s best stored in the fridge and consumed within two weeks.
Which vegan cream works best?
I recommend oat cream, for example by Oatly. Soy cream works well too. Make sure to use cooking cream, not whipping cream and not oat milk, as oat milk is too thin and will make the Baileys watery.
Does vegan Baileys make a good gift?
Poured into a pretty decanter or bottle, it makes a wonderful homemade gift that’s guaranteed to impress.
What else can you make with vegan Baileys?
- Baileys Affogato: Pour the vegan Irish cream over a few scoops of vegan ice cream in a glass, sprinkle with chopped dark chocolate and serve immediately to create an effortless but impressive dessert.
- Baileys in your coffee: A splash of vegan Baileys in your morning coffee or cappuccino turns an ordinary cup into a little luxury moment. Especially nice on cold evenings.
- Baileys Muffins: This vegan Baileys also inspired my vegan Death by Chocolate and Irish Cream muffins , definitely worth trying!
More homemade vegan gift ideas
Fresh from the fusion kitchen
Hello, what’s the shelf/refrigerator life span of this drink? Thank you
Hi Flor,
it should last about two weeks in the fridge,
kind regards, Nina