✔ Updated · added measurements, curdling tips + an alcohol-free option
Baileys Irish Cream is a sweet, creamy liqueur made with Irish whiskey, cream, cocoa and vanilla, so I reach for it whenever I want a cocktail that tastes like dessert. Coffee, chocolate, caramel, hazelnut, mint and amaretto all pair beautifully with it.
The most popular Baileys cocktails are the Mudslide, the Baileys White Russian, the Baileys Espresso Martini, the B-52 shot, the Nutty Irishman and Baileys hot chocolate. Baileys mixes best with coffee, coffee liqueur, vodka, chocolate, hazelnut or amaretto, milk and cream. Avoid acidic mixers such as citrus juice, tonic or cola, which can make it curdle.
- Easiest: 2 oz Baileys over ice, or 1 1/2 oz stirred into hot coffee.
- Best after-dinner drink: the Mudslide or a Baileys chocolate martini.
- Alcohol-free: use the homemade alcohol-free Irish cream below.
Below are 25 Baileys cocktails with measurements for one drink, from the Mudslide and Baileys White Russian to the layered B-52, plus what to mix with Baileys, how to stop it curdling and an alcohol-free Irish cream. All of the cocktails on this page contain alcohol and are for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Not drinking? Scroll down for my alcohol-free Irish cream.
What Is Baileys Irish Cream?
Baileys Original Irish Cream is a cream liqueur from Ireland, launched in 1974 and made from Irish whiskey, fresh dairy cream, cocoa and vanilla. It is usually about 17% ABV (34 proof), so it's much milder than whiskey or vodka, but it is still an alcoholic drink. Its sweetness means most Baileys cocktails need no extra sugar.
Other Irish cream liqueurs work in every recipe below. For how long an opened bottle keeps, see does Baileys go bad.
Coffee Baileys Cocktails
Each recipe makes one drink. 1 oz is about 30 ml. Coffee and Baileys are the classic pairing, hot or iced.
1. Baileys Espresso Martini
1 oz vodka, 1 oz Baileys, 1/2 oz coffee liqueur and 1 oz cooled fresh espresso, shaken hard with ice and strained for a creamy foam.
Get the recipe →2. Baileys White Russian
1 1/2 oz vodka and 1 oz coffee liqueur over ice, topped with 1 oz Baileys that swirls into the glass. Stir or sip as layers.
3. Mudslide
1 oz each vodka, coffee liqueur and Baileys with 1 oz cream, shaken and poured over ice. Blend with ice cream for a frozen version.
4. Baileys Coffee
1 1/2 oz Baileys stirred into 6 oz hot coffee in place of milk and sugar, topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa.
5. The Orgasm
1 oz each Baileys, coffee liqueur and amaretto, shaken with ice and strained over fresh ice. Sweet, nutty and very smooth.
6. Screaming Orgasm
1 oz each vodka, Baileys, coffee liqueur and amaretto, plus 1 oz cream if you like, shaken with ice and served on the rocks.
7. B-52 Shot
1/3 oz each coffee liqueur, Baileys and orange liqueur, poured in that order over the back of a spoon so they form three layers.
8. Baileys Iced Coffee
1 1/2 oz Baileys and 4 oz cold brew or chilled strong coffee poured over ice, with a splash of milk if you like. The easiest summer Baileys drink.
9. Baby Guinness Shot
3/4 oz coffee liqueur in a shot glass with 1/4 oz Baileys floated slowly over the back of a spoon, so it looks like a tiny pint of stout.
Chocolate and Dessert Baileys Cocktails
10. Baileys Hot Chocolate
1 1/2 oz Baileys in a mug of rich hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream, marshmallows or chocolate shavings.
Get the recipe →11. Baileys Chocolate Martini
1 1/2 oz Baileys, 1 oz vodka and 1 oz crème de cacao, shaken and strained into a glass swirled with chocolate syrup.
12. Snickertini
1 oz Baileys, 1 oz vodka, 1/2 oz hazelnut liqueur and 1/2 oz crème de cacao, shaken, with a caramel-drizzled glass.
13. Buttery Finger
1 oz each Baileys, butterscotch schnapps and vanilla vodka with 1/2 oz coffee liqueur, shaken and poured over ice. Candy-bar sweet.
14. Baileys Milkshake
2 oz Baileys blended with 2 scoops vanilla ice cream and 1/4 cup milk, topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
15. Mint Martini
1 1/2 oz Baileys, 1 oz white crème de menthe, 1/2 oz vodka and 1 oz half and half, shaken and strained. Like mint chip ice cream.
16. Orange Orgasm
1 oz each Baileys, vanilla vodka and orange liqueur, shaken with ice. A chocolate-orange flavor that works as a cocktail or a shot.
17. Baileys Martini
2 oz Baileys and 1 oz vodka shaken hard with ice and strained into a chilled martini glass, dusted with cocoa. Creamy, simple and stronger than it tastes.
18. Baileys Affogato
A scoop of vanilla ice cream in a small glass, drowned with 1 oz hot espresso and 1 oz Baileys. Half dessert, half drink, ready in 2 minutes.
Simple and Seasonal Baileys Drinks
19. Nutty Irishman
1 oz Baileys and 1 oz hazelnut liqueur over ice, or stirred into hot coffee. A gentle, nutty after-dinner drink.
20. Baileys and Club Soda
2 oz Baileys over ice topped with 3 oz club soda. Plain soda water is low in acid, so it fizzes without curdling.
21. Baileys and Stout
1 oz Baileys gently stirred into a glass of Irish stout for a creamier, slightly sweet pint. Drink it soon after pouring.
22. Jack Knife
1 1/2 oz Baileys and 1 1/2 oz Tennessee whiskey stirred over ice. Strong, smooth and only two ingredients.
23. Caramel Apple
1 1/2 oz Baileys and 1 oz apple brandy stirred over ice in a caramel-rimmed glass, finished with a pinch of cinnamon.
24. Baileys Eggnog
4 oz chilled eggnog with 2 oz Baileys, stirred and topped with grated nutmeg. Use store-bought pasteurized or cooked homemade eggnog.
25. Peppermint Patty
1 1/2 oz Baileys, 1 oz peppermint schnapps and 1/2 oz crème de cacao, shaken and served in a crushed candy cane-rimmed glass.
What to Mix With Baileys
Baileys is easiest to mix with ingredients that are creamy, sweet or bitter rather than sour. My own go-to is equal parts Baileys and Kahlua over ice.
| Mixer | Works? | Try it in |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee, espresso, cold brew | Yes, the classic pairing | Baileys coffee, Espresso Martini |
| Coffee liqueur and vodka | Yes | Mudslide, White Russian |
| Hot chocolate, crème de cacao | Yes | Baileys hot chocolate, chocolate martini |
| Hazelnut liqueur, amaretto | Yes | Nutty Irishman, The Orgasm |
| Milk, cream, ice cream | Yes | Baileys milkshake, Mudslide |
| Club soda | Yes, plain soda only | Baileys and club soda |
| Citrus juice, tonic, cola, lemon-lime soda | No, the acid curdles the cream | Avoid |
How to Keep Baileys From Curdling
- Skip acidic mixers such as lemon, lime, orange juice, tonic and cola. Acid makes the dairy in Baileys separate into clumps. I learned that one with a very lumpy glass of Baileys and orange juice.
- Keep it cold when shaking, and add Baileys last to hot drinks once they are off the boil.
- Drink layered and beer drinks promptly. Baileys mixed with stout will start to curdle within a minute or two.
- Check the bottle. An old or warm-stored bottle is more likely to curdle. Keep opened Irish cream cool and follow the date on the label.
Alcohol-Free Irish Cream (Non-Alcoholic Option)
For guests who don't drink alcohol, or anyone pregnant or driving, make this homemade alcohol-free Irish cream and use it in place of Baileys in the coffee, hot chocolate and milkshake recipes above. Leave out the spirits and liqueurs in those drinks.
Blend or whisk 1 cup heavy cream, one 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk, 1 teaspoon instant coffee dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water, 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract. Regular vanilla extract contains a little alcohol, so use an alcohol-free vanilla flavoring for a fully alcohol-free drink. Refrigerate it in a sealed jar for up to 5 days and shake before using.
For more zero-proof drinks, try our old fashioned mocktail, virgin mai tai or blue lagoon mocktail.
More Drinks and Desserts With Baileys
- 10 drinks with Baileys and Kahlua
- Irish cream breve
- Butterscotch White Russians
- Baileys chocolate mousse and Baileys French toast
- More cocktails: rum cocktails, gin cocktails, tequila cocktails, Cointreau cocktails and the Pink Squirrel
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baileys alcoholic?
Yes. Baileys Original Irish Cream is an alcoholic liqueur made with Irish whiskey and is usually about 17% ABV (34 proof). Every cocktail on this page contains alcohol. For an alcohol-free version, use homemade Irish cream made with cream, condensed milk, coffee, chocolate and alcohol-free vanilla flavoring.
What is the best thing to mix with Baileys?
Coffee is the most popular mixer for Baileys (and my favorite), followed by hot chocolate, coffee liqueur, vodka, hazelnut liqueur, amaretto, milk and ice cream. Plain club soda also works. Avoid citrus juices, tonic and cola, because their acidity makes the cream in Baileys curdle.
What are good after-dinner drinks with Baileys?
My favorite after-dinner Baileys drinks are the Mudslide, the Baileys chocolate martini, the Nutty Irishman, the Baileys Espresso Martini and plain Baileys stirred into coffee. They are sweet and creamy, so I often serve one instead of dessert. Serve them in small portions, since several contain more than one spirit.
Can you mix Baileys and amaretto?
Yes. Baileys and amaretto is a popular combination with a nutty, almond-and-chocolate flavor. Serve 1 oz of each over ice, or add 1 oz coffee liqueur for The Orgasm cocktail, or vodka as well for a Screaming Orgasm. Both are shaken with ice and served on the rocks.
Why does Baileys curdle in some drinks?
Baileys contains dairy cream, which separates when it meets acid. Lemon or lime juice, orange juice, tonic water, cola and some sodas can make it curdle almost instantly, and stout will curdle it within a couple of minutes. Mix it with coffee, chocolate, cream or liqueurs instead.
