Love the Bailey’s but not the sugar? Try my easy recipe for Keto Irish Cream Liqueur. Deliciously creamy and fewer than 1g carbs per serving.
Would you believe me if I told you that this sugar free Irish Cream liqueur is better than Bailey’s? I see you rolling your eyes. But hear me out!
I am not actually a fan of the real thing and never have been. I find it overly sweet and cloying. The same goes for many sugary liqueurs.
But I long ago discovered the joy of making my own liqueur, and my sugar free Kahlua is a fan favorite, especially around the holidays. I’ve also tried my hand at making sugar free Frangelico.
This Keto Irish Cream has actually been on my blog since 2014, when I made some Keto Irish Cream Brownies. I decided to give it a little update and I am so glad I did.
It’s delicious and I even enjoyed sipping it plain. And that’s why I think it’s better than the real deal!
Irish Cream Desserts
I wanted to update this homemade Irish Cream recipe because I keep seeing amazing desserts made with Bailey’s – I was feeling a bit left out, to be honest.
There is my keto brownie recipe, of course. But I’ve also spotted any number of gorgeous cakes, cupcakes, and cheesecakes made with the famous liqueur. I also find myself coming back, time and again, to this beautiful Bailey’s Chocolate Mousse from Lemon Tree Dwelling.
I decided that this year, I just had to take part in the Irish Cream baking fun in time for St Paddy’s Day. So I whipped up a delicious batch of this easy Keto Irish Cream and got to work.
I have some cupcakes coming soon! And I may have to try my hand at that mousse after all…
How to make Keto Irish Cream
Irish Cream liqueur consists of a few basic ingredients:
- Heavy cream
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Chocolate syrup
- Vanilla extract and/or almond extract
- Lots of Irish whiskey
Making the condensed milk
To make a keto friendly version, the first step is to make a sugar free condensed milk substitute.
I found I didn’t need to go the full way of making my keto condensed milk recipe. I could simply simmer the cream and the non-dairy milk to reduce it and get the same overall effect.
Use some allulose or BochaSweet
Swerve is my favorite sweetener by far but it does have its drawbacks and one of them is the fact that it can recrystallize in a liquid application such as this.
Replacing half of the Swerve with some allulose or BochaSweet helps keep it from doing this. It also has the added benefit of making the mixture more syrupy, like real Irish Cream liqueur.
Chocolate syrup vs. cocoa powder
If you happen to have any of my sugar free chocolate syrup handy, you could use that. But it’s yet another step to the process if you have to make it from scratch. You could also use a pre-made keto chocolate syrup such as ChocZero.
But I simply added a tablespoon of cocoa powder. You get the same effect and it simplifies the process if you don’t have any keto chocolate syrup handy!
Irish Whiskey
Go grab yourself a bottle of Jamison or other Irish whiskey because it isn’t Irish Cream without it!
Sweeten to taste
Sweetness in a recipe like this is always a matter of taste, so I’ve left it open ended in this keto Irish Cream recipe. I don’t like mine overly sweet but if you taste it and find it lacking, whisk in more powdered or liquid sweetener.
Storage instructions
Because this keto liqueur is made with fresh cream, it should be stored in the refrigerator at all times.
Don’t feel you have to rush to consume it all. Because it the cream is brought to a boil, and because it contains a significant amount of alcohol, it won’t spoil quickly. It should be fine for up to two weeks.
More delicious keto cocktail recipes
- The Best Sugar Free Margaritas
- Sugar Free French 75
- Vanilla Latte Martinis
- Low Carb Sangria
- Keto Lemon Drop Cocktails
- Keto Strawberry Lemonade Whiskey Smash
Keto Irish Cream Liqueur
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup unsweetened hemp milk (or almond milk)
- ⅓ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- ⅓ cup allulose
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon instant coffee
- ⅔ cup Irish whiskey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (or sub more vanilla extract)
- Additional sweetener to taste (powdered works best)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream, hemp milk, Swerve, allulose, cocoa powder, and instant coffee. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, until reduced by about one quarter.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the whiskey, vanilla extract and almond extract. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking.
- Let cool completely and then transfer to a glass jar or bottle. Refrigerate until chilled.
Kells says
This is lovely! Perfect sweetness for me just as written.
Carolyn says
Glad to hear it! Check in tomorrow, as I have some cupcakes made with it hitting the blog tomorrow morning.
Cici says
I thought your original recipe was pretty spot on for flavor.
Curious about the omission of the star anise & coconut extract from your original recipe.
Also curious as to why double the amount of sweetener?
Angelique says
Oh how I have missed Bailey’s!!! Thank you for the wonderful recipe, Carolyn!!!
QQ says
Um – 1 serving equals = 2 TABLESPOONS?? Who drinks 2 tableespoons of Baileys?? lol That’s not even enough to put into a cup of coffee with whipped cream. lol Honestly though 2 carbs for FOUR TBSPs is a great deal and WAY lower than the real stuff.
Carolyn says
2 tablespoons is the standard recommendation for any liquor. But you are always free to have more.
Joy Miller says
I just made this and holy WOW! So good I’ll be tipsy if I don’t stop drinking it! Marvelous work again Carolyn!
Alicia Dove says
Good day, your recipes keep me planted in this lifestyle of eating…thank you. I am writing to ask what the shelf/refrigerator life for this wonderful concoction? Before I head out for my Irish Whiskey. Is there one you reccomend? Thank you for your time.
Carolyn says
I do believe I wrote that in the “storage instructions” in the tips section?
Stephanie T. says
Can this be made “virgin”?
Carolyn says
Sure, I’d add some water to thin it out in place of the whiskey. You can also possibly find whiskey flavouring. It won’t last as well since it won’t have alcohol to preserve it.
Amory says
So if we have your sugar free condensed milk how do we incorporate that?
Carolyn says
Just use a cup of that in place of the cream and hemp milk, and whisk it or blend it with the remaining ingredients.
Tina Gearhart says
So I’m a little confused by this… I read the whole blog and it says in the first list of basic ingredients that you need heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup… but then when you read the actual recipe, I am not seeing any sweetened condensed milk and it also says to use cocoa powder instead of syrup. I have made your sweetened condensed milk several times so I know what’s in it. I don’t even see the butter or xantham gum in the recipe (I thought maybe you started with that recipe and then added on). Am I reading it wrong?
Carolyn says
You’re not reading that correctly. 🙂 I said I looked up a bunch of homemade Irish Cream and that’s what they took. I modified it for keto.
suzanne davidson says
Is Johnny Walker red ok?
Carolyn says
Well it’s not Irish but it will probably taste about the same!
Pam says
Love to try this.! Can I sub Truvia? Allulose and Bochaswwet do not agree with me.
Carolyn says
You can, I just think you may experience some re-crystallization.
Ellen says
Why 2 sweeteners, swerve & allulose?
Carolyn says
Please read the tips section of the blog post…
MMB says
So excited to try!! Can I use all Allulose instead?? Thanks!!
Carolyn says
Yep, that should be fine.
Michelle K Dobsch says
Thanks for the recipe. I can’t wait to try it as I just finished off my bottle of St. Brendan’s Irish Cream Whiskey. Now I can have a low-carb version. Yay!! Where do you get the cute bottles you use for all your liquors?
Carolyn says
Thrift stores and second hand stores! I actually ordered some at one point but regretted it after seeing tons of them second hand.
Dawna Fennewald says
I love Bailey’s so this is probably yummy. Tire recipes are always so yummy. I love your videos. 17 years ago I lost 92 lbs and felt so good. Then we had a fire in our house Thanksgiving week 10 years ago and I lost my edge. I need it back. Your videos are pointing me in the right directions by making things I will actually eat. Thank you
Carolyn says
I am so sorry about your fire. Come back to low carb, it will make you feel better, I am sure!
Sandra says
I’ve been putting off making keto irish cream but this recipe looks so easy with ingredients I have on hand. I remember star anise as part of your original recipe prior to the update…I have a jarful that is never used–would it add more authenticity to the flavor or completely change it? Can’t wait to make this!
Sandra says
Decided not to stray from your updated recipe–so good! I had a “wee” bottle (50ml) of Jameson so opted for half a batch. The whiskey was almost 1/4cup (not the 1/3 for half the recipe) but was the perfect amount for my taste. I used the BochaSweet option rather than allulose and the all-vanilla extract option as well. Perfection!
Erica says
Can’t wait to make this! I have sugar free Kahlua made up, and even a sugar free butterscotch liqueur (it’s not that wonderful, though, lol). I have everything but the whiskey. When the ice/snow melts, I’ll make a trip to the liquor store.
Sullivan says
To get the alcohol content out of the Irish Whiskey can I boil the whiskey?
Carolyn says
Honestly… I don’t know. But I bet there is whiskey flavoring you could use instead!
Leslie says
Though I haven’t made this yet, I know it will be amazing. I don’t use alcohol any longer so would you have a replacement suggestion?
Thank you. ????
Carolyn says
The best I can suggest is adding some whiskey flavouring like this one: https://www.oooflavors.com/products/bourbon-flavor?_pos=1&_sid=6d7e361b6&_ss=r
Katie Girardot says
What can I use in place of allulose?
Carolyn says
BochaSweet is your next best option.
Tammy says
Would it work without allulose? It upsets my stomach. If so, what sub could you recommend?
Carolyn says
Have you tried BochaSweet?