The Best Low Carb Copycat Baileys Irish Cream Recipe
If you are missing the creamy texture and chocolate kissed flavor of Baileys, then try out The Best Low Carb Copycat Baileys Irish Cream Recipe that captures it well!
There’s nothing quite like cozying up with a warm cup of coffee or adding a splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream to your favorite dessert without worrying about the high carb count.
My low carb version fits into a low carb diet offering the sweet flavor without the extra sugar.
You can also make this low-carb Baileys an alcohol-free Irish Cream Liqueur just by omitting the whiskey called for. I will show you how easy it is to combine some simple ingredients to make your St Patrick’s Day or holiday season celebration that much better when you have this homemade Irish Cream on hand!
This easy recipe offers different ways for you to customize it with your choice of sugar free sugar substitute, choice of cream plus go over some tips, substitutions and frequently asked questions that you may have.
Keep reading for the full recipe you can print or PIN to your Pinterest account!
Ways to make this Keto Irish Cream Recipe like the Real Thing
When I ventured out to make my own homemade Baileys Irish Cream I knew that I wanted to make it as close to the Original Irish Cream Liqueur as possible.
The main ingredient that really sets it apart from other copycat recipes is the use of Jameson Irish Whiskey, the good stuff real Baileys uses.
This is the kind of whiskey found in the creamy flavored Irish whiskey we all know as Baileys, so naturally I had to use this brand of whiskey.
Distilled in Ireland since the 18th century, Jameson carries with it a legacy of quality and tradition that enhances the overall taste experience.
Jameson whiskey is deeply rooted in Irish tradition, with a history dating back to the 18th century.
Established by John Jameson in 1780, the Jameson Distillery has become synonymous with quality Irish whiskey production. It uses a mixture of malted and unmalted Irish barley for best flavor that has all been sourced from within a 50 mile radius around the distillery in Cork.
It is a very local whiskey for sure as all of the barley used is grown in Ireland plus the water used is sourced from the Dungourney River which flows directly through the distillery.
Do not worry if you are not choosing to use the alcoholic beverage in your version, it will still taste amazing!
Most distilled spirits, including whiskey, are generally considered gluten-free due to the distillation process, which removes gluten proteins. Nonetheless, individuals with extreme sensitivities may still experience reactions, and it’s always wise to exercise caution.
What you will need to make your Copycat Keto Baileys
- Monk fruit sweetener or granulated erythritol
- Instant Espresso Powder
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Heavy Cream or Canned Unsweetened Coconut Milk
- Almond Extract
- Vanilla Extract
- Jameson Irish Whiskey
Let’s make our Low Carb Copycat Baileys Irish Cream
A Low Carb Bailey Irish Cream must not only be sweet but have a creamy taste. A creamy texture is the key to your homemade Baileys recipe turning out so go with heavy whipping cream or canned unsweetened coconut milk.
Other dairy-free milks, like unsweetened almond milk, will work but remember that the thinner the milk the less creamy it will be.
Mix all of your dry ingredients in a small bowl.
Whisk the granulated sweetener you chose with the instant espresso powder and cocoa powder.
This helps the lighter ingredients like the cocoa powder to be mixed into the coffee liqueur better.
Once they are well blended, slowly add in your heavy cream or coconut milk you chose.
Whisk well once again until almost all of the little bits are dissolved.
Pour in the extracts along with the Jameson Whiskey, if you are using it.
Whisk well once more then pour into an airtight glass jar or bottle.
I prefer a glass bottle over glass jars as it is easier to pour from when I go to use it. I used a funnel and poured it into my labeled glass bottle with a best by date 2 weeks out.
Since it does not contain any preservatives to make it shelf stable, it must be kept in the fridge up to 2 weeks or the expiration of the fresh cream you used. If you chose to go with my original recipe and used the whiskey, it will last a bit longer.
If you left the whiskey out, stick with the 2 weeks. This recipe makes approximately one 12 fluid ounce jar full.
A 1 oz serving, which equals 2 tablespoons is more than enough for a delicious drink with hot coffee, or a spruce to your favorite recipe to make the most delicious desserts.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 2 tablespoons | |
| Servings: 12 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 86 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 7.4g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat 4.6g | 23% |
| Cholesterol 27mg | 9% |
| Sodium 8mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 0.7g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.1g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 0g | |
| Protein 0.5g | |
| Vitamin D 10mcg | 52% |
| Calcium 13mg | 1% |
| Iron 0mg | 0% |
| Potassium 18mg | 0% |
This nutritional information is based on using erythritol as a sweetener and unsweetend cocoa powder with Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Tips, Substitutions, and FAQs
- If you are looking to use this Low Carb Baileys Irish Cream in your morning coffee, just omit the alcohol and it will still be delicious!
- You can substitute the cocoa powder with some sugar free chocolate syrup for easy blending. Consider reducing the added sweetener a bit so it doesn’t end up too sweet.
- Make a great blended frozen drink when you add a tasty blend of espresso with some keto ice cream and a bit of sugar free Baileys.
- There are tons of recipes that can be enhanced with the addition of a few tablespoons of your homemade low carb Baileys Irish Cream. The best way is to substitute a few tablespoons in for a few tablespoons of whatever liquid is being used in the recipe.
- If you have chosen a granulated sweetener that is not dissolving very well, you can add everything to a medium saucepan EXCEPT for the extracts and whiskey. Over medium heat let it come to a slow boil and simmer for 5 minutes. That should be enough to dissolve the sweetener into the cream you chose. Make sure it cools before adding the extracts and whiskey if you choose.
- You can make a sugar free Kahlua much in the same way. Instead of adding in the cocoa powder and whiskey, you would exchange them with instant coffee granules and rum.
- Any sugar alcohols can be used like xylitol, erythritol, or others like allulose or monk fruit. Just keep in mind that the sweetness will be a little less than regular sugar because sugar alcohols are about 70% as sweet as that much sugar equivalent.
- Make a Low Carb Baileys Cold Brew when you use a few tablespoons of your homemade Baileys in place of the milk or creamer you would usually use!
- Enhance your coffee when you add in a chunk of one of your favorite keto chocolate bars into the bottom of the mug, then pour on coffee, stir and top with some of your homemade Baileys!
Is there a way to make this low carb Baileys dairy free also? Yes, just switch out the heavy cream called for in the recipe with your choice of dairy free milk. I would suggest using full fat canned coconut milk that has been shaken up. This helps distribute the coconut cream with the coconut water, so it is pourable. Room temperature coconut canned milk also makes the difference in it not clumping. Alternatively, you can use unsweetened almond milk or cashew milk for a neutral flavor base.
Can I make a large batch and freeze it for later? One of the great options with alcoholic drinks is being able to freeze them. Alcohol does not freeze completely so it will stay somewhat viscous. The heavy cream though will freeze so go with a glass jar and only fill it halfway to leave room for expansion. It will stay fresh up to 3 months this way. If you are on a keto diet, this is the best way to plan ahead if you are going to be celebrating with drinking a mixed drink and want to have some sugar free options on hand.
Will it still turn out good even if I do not use any alcohol? Yes, the best part is that it will still taste very much like the original Baileys. The hints of chocolate and the extracts are what really make the flavor. The whiskey just enhances the flavor and also reduces the calories for those looking for weight loss. Remember that almond extract and vanilla extract still contain a bit of alcohol, so to be completely alcohol free you will need to find extracts made with non-alcoholic liquids like glycerin versus alcohol.
Does it matter what type of sweeteners are used? The sugar free ingredients are customizable and depend on your level of sweetness you want. For example, if you want to use stevia instead of sugar substitutes like low-carb recipes use, start off with 1 teaspoon for every 1/2 cup of sugar substitute for equal sweetness.
Whether you’re indulging in a creamy Irish coffee at the end of the day, drizzling Baileys over dessert, or using your homemade Baileys Irish Cream in a recipe, you do not have to worry about the grams of carbs since it is sugar free! Rich flavors from of Ireland can be enjoyed anytime with your very own homemade Baileys Irish Cream.
The Best Low Carb Copycat Baileys Irish Cream Recipe
Equipment
- small bowl
- Whisk
- Airtight jar or bottle
- Funnel
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup Monk fruit sweetener or granulated erythritol
- 1/2 teaspoon Instant Espresso Powder
- 2 teaspoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1 cup Heavy Cream or Canned Unsweetened Coconut Milk
- 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 50ml bottles Jameson Irish Whiskey small bottles
Instructions
- Mix all of your dry ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk the granulated sweetener you chose with the instant espresso powder and cocoa powder. This helps the lighter ingredients like the cocoa powder to be mixed into the coffee liqueur better.
- Once they are well blended, slowly add in your heavy cream or coconut milk you chose. Whisk well once again until almost all of the little bits are dissolved.
- Pour in the extracts along with the Jameson Whiskey, if you are using it. Whisk well once more then pour into an airtight glass jar or bottle.
- Since it does not contain any preservatives to make it shelf stable, it must be kept in the fridge up to 2 weeks or the expiration of the fresh cream you used. If you chose to go with my original recipe and used the whiskey, it will last a bit longer. If you left the whiskey out, stick with the 2 weeks.
- This recipe makes approximately one 12 fluid ounce jar full. A 1 oz serving, which equals 2 tablespoons is more than enough for a delicious drink with hot coffee, or a spruce to your favorite recipe to make the most delicious desserts.
Notes
Nutrition
Don’t forget to PIN the pinnable recipe card to your Pinterest board or print the printable recipe card.
Full disclosure, we are affiliates with various companies and earn a small commission from these companies when you purchase through my affiliate links. This is at no extra cost to you.
Thank you for supporting my site by leaving a five-star review plus leaving a comment in the comment section with your results. Leaving 5-star ratings help my recipe to be seen by more people which helps others have options too!
This helps my great recipes to be shown to more people for my websites’ success! Come follow me on social media as well as I post new recipes and videos on Instagram and Pinterest all the time!
If you love cast iron as much as I do, then you would absolutely LOVE my 2nd cookbook “Chaffles Cast Iron and The Crock” !!
Check out all the great ways you can use your Low Carb Copycat Baileys
How to Make Cold Foam with Coffee Creamer Plus Recipe
Use it in your cold foam for your Iced Coffee! Add a few tablespoons to your cold foam recipe before frothing for a Baileys twist on a plain cream topping.
4 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe
Substitute a few tablespoons of your Low Carb Copycat Baileys Irish Cream for the cream called for in this recipe. It will still be just as decadent and have a wonderful addition of flavor with the Baileys.
Gluten Free Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Bundt Cake
Get the full effect of the Low Carb Copycat Baileys with this Gluten Free Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Bundt Cake.
Air Fryer Recipes Beef Bread Breakfast Cakes Coconut Flour Cold Drinks Cookies and Bars Crockpot Recipes Dairy Free Desserts DIY Recipes Donuts Drinks Hot & Cold Fall Recipes Holiday Recipes Hot Drinks Ice Cream & Toppings Instant Pot Recipes Keto Condiments Keto Ingredients Kitchen Tips & Tricks Low Carb Side Dishes Main Dish Muffins Pies Pork Poultry & Seafood Pumpkin Puree Recipes Quick Gluten Free Lunches/Snacks Seasonal Recipes Skillet Meals Summer Recipes Uncategorized Waffles and Pancakes Winter Recipes