Shake up your Happy Hour with my simple and delicious Baileys Irish Cream Espresso Martini recipe! Just 5 easy-to-find ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time stand between you and this creamy, caffeinated cocktail.
As a lover of coffee, cocktails, AND desserts, I'm 100% here for a good espresso martini. But when it comes to this cocktail in particular, it seems like you never quite know what you're going to get. Some have real espresso while others just have coffee liqueur (an immediate no in my book), and some are creamy while others have a bolder, java-forward flavor.
As you might have already guessed, I like a creamy 'tini, so that's what we're making here today!
Why You'll Love This Baileys Espresso Martini Recipe
- Creamy Dreamy - If you're the kind of person who likes a little milk in your iced coffee, I can pretty much guarantee that you'll also appreciate a little (Irish) cream in your espresso martini. It makes for a slightly sweeter cocktail with a softer flavor - much better for dessert IMO.
- Quick and Easy - A Baileys martini is typically considered a dessert cocktail, and I don't know about you, but the last thing I want to do after making dinner is spend even more time in the kitchen. Luckily, you can whip up this drink in 5 minutes or less. It's (almost) as easy as scooping yourself a bowl of ice cream.
- Versatile - I KNOW, I just said this is a dessert cocktail, and it is! But it's also perfect for happy hour, or even brunch. It has coffee in it, after all!
Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions
As promised, this creamy espresso martini recipe requires just a handful of ingredients:
- Espresso - Freshly brewed espresso is best (I make mine with a Mr. Coffee One-Touch), but a good cold brew concentrate or strongly-brewed coffee can also work well in a pinch. Feel free to use decaf beans if you're making this later in the day.
- Vodka - The clean, neutral flavor of vodka adds a boozy bite to this drink, while still letting the coffee flavors shine through. I prefer the traditional option of plain vodka, but you can experiment with a flavored vodka (like vanilla) if you'd like. Just keep in mind that the quality of the alcohol you choose will always make a difference! When it comes to vodka, I usually opt for Belvedere or Grey Goose.
- Coffee Liqueur - Kahlua is the most well-known, but you're welcome to branch out. Many people (myself included) prefer Mr. Black, but my current favorite is actually Luxardo Espresso Liqueur. If you're feeling crafty, you can also make a homemade version!
- Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur - This is another easy-to-find liqueur in almost any grocery store, but I have to hype my homemade Baileys too! For a vegan version, you can use Bailey's Almande.
- Simple Syrup - For a touch of extra sweetness! Again, plain simple syrup will be the most neutrally-flavored addition, but I can only imagine how good brown sugar syrup would be here! You can also skip this if you prefer a slightly less sweet cocktaill.
How to Make an Espresso Martini with Baileys Irish Cream
- Dry Shake. Combine espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, Baileys, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for about 60 seconds.
- Shake With Ice. Add ice and shake for another 30 seconds. The liquid should be frothy.
- Step 3: Garnish and Serve. Strain the mixture into a martini glass, garnish with a few coffee beans if desired, and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Don't skip the dry shake. "Dry shaking" is when you shake ingredients without adding ice. This process might seem silly, but dry shaking serves several purposes including emulsifying the ingredients, cooling the espresso down without diluting it, and helping with aeration. It's also key for achieving a nice frothy finish - which is why I use this technique for my amaretto sours too!
- Shake with gusto! After adding the ice to the shaker, don't let up. You should shake vigorously for another 30-45 seconds to further improve the mouthfeel-the tiny shards of ice that break off will give your cocktail a lighter, creamier overall texture.
- Use high-quality ingredients. It goes without saying, but the tastier your ingredients are when they're solo, the tastier they'll be as a team. And in my experience, higher quality alcohol always goes down easier!
- Serve with a flair. If you really want to feel like you're sipping your drink at an upscale cocktail lounge, treat yourself to a nice set of martini glasses, and don't forget the garnish!
What Can I Serve With This Creamy Espresso Martini
For brunch, try serving this with a batch of coffee scones, chocolate financiers, or my Irish cream coffee cake.
At happy hour, a charcuterie board is always a good choice. You can even throw in some chocolate-covered espresso beans or a few squares of dark chocolate!
And as for dessert, you really don't need to pair this with anything, but my chocolate fudge cake, nutella tart, or chocolate espresso cupcake recipes would all be over-the-top good.
FAQs
The traditional version of this cocktail doesn't have Bailey's-it's usually made with just espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup. That said, many bars and restaurants will make an espresso martini recipe with Baileys, so it's really not a hard and fast rule. It just makes for more of a creamy espresso martini, rather than a bold and bittersweet one.
In a recipe that just calls for Kahlua (or coffee liqueur), you can substitute Baileys, but your cocktail will be lighter, creamier, and a little less coffee-forward. I recommend using a combo, so you get the best of both worlds!
The trick is to double shake-first dry shake the ingredients without ice, and then shake again with ice.
More Cocktail Recipes
If you love a cocktail with a bit of a sweeter edge (one that can double as dessert!), try one of these favorites:
Recipe Card
Baileys Irish Cream Espresso Martini
Ingredients
- 2 ounces espresso freshly-brewed
- 1 ounce vodka
- ¾ ounce coffee liqueur e.g. Kahlua
- ¾ ounce Baileys or other Irish cream liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ice
- coffee beans for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, Baileys, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for about 60 seconds.2 ounces espresso |1 ounce vodka |¾ ounce coffee liqueur |¾ ounce Baileys or other Irish cream liqueur |½ ounce simple syrup
- Add ice and shake for another 30 seconds. The liquid should be frothy.
- Strain mixture into a martini glass, garnish with a few espresso beans if desired, and serve.
Notes
Ingredient Notes:
- In a pinch, espresso can be substituted with strongly-brewed coffee or a good cold brew concentrate.
- For the best flavor, use a good quality vodka! I like Grey Goose or Belvedere.
- For a dairy-free and vegan variation, use Baileys Almande or a similar dairy-free Irish cream liqueur.
- You're welcome to make your own coffee liqueur and/or Baileys for this recipe. It will only make the flavor better!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate per serving, calculated using standard ingredients. Actual values may vary based on brands used, measurement methods, and more.
Did you make this recipe?I'd love to hear from you - leave a rating and review!Have you made this recipe?
If so, I'd love to hear your feedback; you can leave a rating and review in the comments section below! It's also so helpful if you help spread the word by sharing this post on your favorite social media channel. If you happen to snap a photo of what you've baked, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me (@brighteyedbaker) so I can give you a shoutout!
Kristy Fisher
Made this several times now and it's delicious. We have a lot of flavored Baileys in our pantry so we've been experimenting different flavor combos with different Nespresso pods. Great drink!
Alexandra Azary
Great idea trying it with different types of Baileys! So glad you're enjoying the recipe. :)
Janie Larson
If I have no kahlua should I double on baileys and forget simple syrup?
Alexandra Azary
So sorry for the late reply! I would probably add an extra ounce of espresso and double the simple syrup, since Kahlua is a coffee liqueur!