Homemade Vegan Irish Cream

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! In my pre-vegan days I loved Irish cream and while you can’t buy a Vegan Irish Cream at a store near you, it’s easy enough to make yourself. You can make a gluten-free version by using a gluten-free Irish whiskey like Jameson.

Is Baileys Irish Cream Vegan Friendly?

The regular Baileys Irish Cream kind does have dairy in it, but recently they came out with Baileys Almande which is 100% vegan.

But don’t worry if you can’t find it where you live, this recipe is very easy to make. 

How Do I Make Vegan Irish Cream?

First you make a cashew cream and then add in some light coconut milk and brown sugar. Cooking it dissolves the sugar and gives us a chance to infuse the base with some spices and vanilla that really make this version stand out.

After it’s simmered and the spices are strained out, add the whiskey and almond extract. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Right now I’m freezing some in ice cube trays to make some frozen dessert cocktails later. I’ll keep you updated.

It does make about 4 cups so it’s a lot if you aren’t having a party. It’s great by its self, in coffee, or to use in dessert recipes that call for regular Irish cream.

How Do You Serve Vegan Irish Cream?

There are as many ways as your imagination! Try it straight up, over ice, in coffee, or over vegan ice cream.

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Cashew Coconut Irish Cream

Yield: 4 cups

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes I’m sure it comes as no surprise that regular Irish Cream is not vegan. It was the cream in the title that tipped you off, right? But if you’ve seen any of my other recipes you know that you can make mock cream out of plant-based ingredients. Here we make our own from cashews.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight then drained
• 3 cups water
• 1 13.5 ounce can lite coconut milk
• 4 whole green cardamom pods
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 whole vanilla bean
• 1 cup brown sugar, or white or coconut sugar
• 3/4 cup Irish whiskey like Jameson
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

1. Add the soaked and drained cashews to a blender with the 3 cups of water and blend for 3 to 5 minutes until smooth.
2. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl with a spout. (You can use the leftover cashew pulp in baked goods if you want to save it.)
3. Strain the mixture through the fine mesh strainer one more time into a large saucepan and mix in the coconut milk, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick in the pot together.
4. Scrape out the seeds from the vanilla bean and mix in the saucepan with the brown sugar.
5. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it just starts to boil, then turn to low. Whisk as it cooks so it does not burn on the bottom and simmer for 15 minutes. This will thicken up the mixture.
6. Strain the hot mixture through the strainer a final time into a bowl to remove the whole spices. Then stir in the whiskey and almond extract. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
7. Serve cold, over ice or in a hot or iced coffee. It’s also wonderful topping vegan vanilla ice cream.

Nutrition Information

Amount Per Serving Calories 747Saturated Fat 22gSodium 37mgCarbohydrates 56gFiber 2gSugar 39gProtein 12g

Did you make this recipe?

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More Recipes to Try

• Coconut Oat Vanilla Nut Vegan Coffee Creamer
• Vegan Hazelnut Mocha Coconut Latte or Frappuccino
• Make Cold Brew Coffee in Your Own French Press