So – I honestly can’t believe I’m sharing this recipe with you today.
Not because it isn’t great – this has been a go-to gift of mine for some time now, and I know it’s absolutely delicious.
But because this is my party-trick recipe: one I know has a huge payoff (be ready to hear, “You made this?!”), but literally takes five minutes to make. It’s such an impressive gift, that I almost hate to reveal how easy it is to make. But you’ll keep my secret safe, right?
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As a cream liqueur, traditionally* Irish Cream is made with dairy products. But today we’re broadening the recipe for our vegan and lactose-intolerant friends by removing dairy from the equation. How can we do that? By turning to the plethora of alt-milks available on the market today.
If, like at my local supermarket, your milk aisle has more non-dairy milk than dairy milk, you can procure almost all the ingredients for this recipe in one stop. The one thing you may have to make a second stop for? The booze – which here in North Carolina (and many states) cannot be sold in a traditional grocery store. Here’s a quick rundown of the ingredients you need for this recipe, and then let’s get to it!:
Cocoa Powder: the good stuff is of course welcome here, but there’s so little of it in this recipe that the store brand is fine, too. I’m using a favorite cacao from Mexico here.
Whiskey: Irish whiskey is the classic here, but if you’re partial to another country’s whiskey, I won’t tell anyone if you don’t. Go for the best you can afford – it doesn’t need to be top-shelf stuff, but just make sure it won’t be confused for gasoline (think, what you might pour on a weeknight, not what you’d drink on a special occasion). To save a little money, I use Ibotta and/or look for rebates while I’m browsing the ABC store shelves.
Extra-Creamy Oat Milk: this variety is my favorite for this recipe, but when shooting this recipe, only this option was in stock (but the results are still delicious!). If there’s another alt-milk on the market you enjoy more, you can use it but it needs to be ultra-creamy.
Condensed Oat Milk: Likely the most difficult item to source from the ingredients list as it’s a relatively new product – but it’s out there! I buy mine at my local Harris Teeter, but you can also find it on Amazon. Can’t swing it? Condensed coconut milk is great, too – you’ll just notice the coconut flavor in the final product.
Vanilla Extract: It’s not the primary flavor in this drink, so it doesn’t need to be the fancy stuff from a faraway place – but please use the real stuff (frankly, I’d rather you omit it than use the imitation stuff).
Glass Bottles: Not an ingredient, but you should consider how you’ll store the stuff before you make it. With sustainability in mind, I like to reuse glass bottles or jars (just be sure to sanitize them first!), but you can also purchase classic flip-top bottles on the cheap from IKEA or find a range of options at Amazon.
*the first and most well-known brand of Irish Cream, Baileys, has only been around since 1973. The more you know!
Vegan Irish Cream Recipe
Makes approximately 30-fluid ounces Adapted from Smitten Kitchen
1-tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup extra-creamy oat milk
1 (11.25-oz.) can sweetened condensed oat milk (or sub sweetened condensed coconut milk)
½-tsp vanilla extract
1 cup Irish whiskey
Add the cocoa powder to the bottom of a large glass measuring cup or pitcher, and whisk in a splash of the oat milk to form a paste. Continue whisking while slowly pouring in the remaining oat milk (stopping to whisk vigorously if it appears to not be incorporating evenly). Once incorporated, whisk in the remaining ingredients until combined. Funnel into glass bottles and refrigerate for up to two weeks – if it lasts that long!
Final thoughts on gifting Vegan Irish Cream
Well, there you have it – a delicious, festive drink that’s perfect for sharing. It’s sure to be a hit, whether you tote a bottle along as a host gift, or wrap it up for a Secret Santa gift exchange. Just be sure to not leave it out of the fridge for too long, okay?
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What is your favorite winter cocktail?
