This dairy free Irish cream recipe blends cashews, coconut sweetened condensed milk, espresso, and whiskey into a smooth homemade liqueur inspired by Baileys.
If you love the flavor of Baileys but want to skip the dairy, this homemade Irish cream hits the mark. It's made with cashews and coconut sweetened condensed milk for a silky texture that rivals the real thing, plus espresso, cocoa, and whiskey for that familiar flavor.
You can serve it chilled over ice, swirl it into coffee, or bottle it up for a homemade gift. It's also perfect in a Baileys Eggnog Cocktail.
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It has a rich and creamy texture even without dairy. Who knew cashews could make such a tasty beverage?
- Quick and easy to make at home. Simmer some cashews, then blend. It's ready in minutes.
- Great on its own or in cocktails. Honestly, I love it all on its own, served over ice. It's also perfect for the holiday season and St. Patrick's Day.
Want more homemade drinks for the holidays and winter season? Then give these a try:
🥥 Ingredients
Here's everything you need to make homemade vegan Irish cream.
- Cashews: Use roasted, unsalted cashews. I have experimented with both roasted and unroasted cashews, and I've noticed that roasted cashews blend and liquefy much more effectively. Many roasted nuts are also salted, so be sure to find ones that are unsalted. If you can't locate roasted cashews, you can always roast them yourself before using them in the recipe.
- Irish whiskey: It wouldn't be Irish cream without the Irish whiskey. Use a quality, though not top-shelf, whiskey here. Jameson, Bushmills, and Tullamore Dew are all excellent and widely available options.
- Sweetened condensed coconut milk: Essentially the same as regular sweetened condensed milk, except that it's made with coconut milk rather than cow's milk. It may be hard to find, though I did locate cans at my local food co-op and Walmart. Nature's Charm and Andre Prost are two brands I've come across.
- Espresso: A single shot of espresso is sufficient to subtly flavor the Irish cream liqueur.
- Cocoa powder and vanilla: A tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder and a teaspoon of vanilla add a touch of chocolate and vanilla flavors. Both of these are typically found in Irish creams like Baileys.
Check out the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.
☕ Substitutions & Variations
- Espresso: Instead of brewed espresso, you can also use espresso powder or an equal amount of strongly brewed coffee.
- Adjust flavors: You can use more, less, or none of the espresso, cocoa powder, and vanilla.
- Alcohol-free version: Simply leave out the whiskey, though keep in mind you'll have fewer servings.
- Sweeter: For more sweetness, blend in 2 tablespoons of maple syrup.
🔪 How to make dairy free Irish cream
- Step 1: Cover the cashews in a small pot with water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
- Step 2: Turn off the heat and let the cashews sit for another 15 minutes. Then, drain off any remaining water.
- Step 3: Add the cashews to a pitcher with 1 ½ cups of fresh water.
- Step 4: Blend the cashews and water until smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Step 5: Add the sweetened condensed coconut milk.
- Step 6: And the shot of espresso.
- Step 7: And the cocoa powder and vanilla.
- Step 8: Blend, then add the whiskey and blend until smooth.
- Step 9: Store in a jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- Step 10: Serve cold over ice or add to coffee or other beverages.
📋 Notes from the kitchen
- Be sure to use roasted, unsalted cashews in this recipe.
- Allow the cashews to simmer for the full time and then sit afterward to properly soften and blend.
- Give your bottle of Irish cream a shake before serving. There will be some separation after it sits.
🍳 Equipment
Blender: The high power of a blender, whether a stick blender (also known as an immersion blender) or a regular stand blender, is needed to properly blend the cashews with the other ingredients to create the Irish cream.
🥡 Storage
Store the liqueur in an airtight bottle in the fridge for up to two weeks. Give the bottle a shake before serving, as some separation will occur. I don't recommend freezing.
🙋🏻♂️ FAQ
Sweetened condensed coconut milk is a thick, reduced and sweetened coconut milk ingredient that is similar to the sweetenend condensed milk made with dairy. It's a common ingredient in baking, used to make items such as caramel and fudge. It's also used in drinks, like my Thai Iced Coffee.
I don't recommend it. In this recipe, we're essentially making a homemade cashew milk as the base of the Irish cream. Cashews make an extra creamy milk and not all alternatives will do the same.
Whether homemade or store-bought and with or without dairy, you should keep Irish cream in the fridge as it is made with perishable ingredients.
🍰 Pairing
Any of these recipes would pair well with this homemade Irish cream:
📖 Recipe
Dairy Free Irish Cream
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: about 32 ounces 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Make a creamy, dairy-free Irish cream with cashews, coconut condensed milk, espresso, and whiskey-an easy vegan twist on classic Baileys.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup roasted unsalted cashews
- 1 12-ounce can sweetened condensed coconut milk
- 1 ounce espresso
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup Irish whiskey
Instructions
- Soften the cashews. In a small pot, cover the cashews with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the cashews sit in the hot water for an additional 15 minutes to fully soften.
- Blend until creamy. Drain the cashews and transfer them to a blender with 1 ½ cups of fresh water. Or if using a stick blender, add the cashews and water to a wide pitcher. Blend on high for 30 seconds, or until the mixture is completely smooth.
- Add other ingredients. Add the sweetened condensed coconut milk, espresso powder, cocoa powder, whiskey, and vanilla. Blend again for 30-60 seconds, until the mixture is velvety and uniform. Taste and add more espresso or cocoa for a stronger flavor if desired.
- Store and serve. Pour the Irish cream into a clean bottle or jar, seal, and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Separation is natural - just shake before serving. Serve chilled over ice, as part of a cocktail, or stirred into a mug of coffee.
Notes
Be sure to use roasted, unsalted cashews in this recipe.
Allow the cashews to simmer for the full time and then sit afterward to properly soften and blend.
Give your bottle of Irish cream a shake before serving. There will be some separation after it sits.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 mintues
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Irish
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