This Creamy Espresso Martini is made with Bailey's Irish cream instead of Kahlua which makes it extra creamy and gives it that classic Bailey's flavor. It's made with freshly brewed espresso and sweetened with maple syrup. It's a great cocktail for fall, winter, or St. Patrick's Day!
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Why This Recipe Works
A fun twist on the classic - We all know the classic is made with Kahlua, a coffee liqueur. This creamy espresso martini is made with Bailey's Irish cream which gives it a different, more creamy, and chocolatey flavor. If you're used to always making it the classic way, I highly recommend trying this one out!
Creamy and luxurious - Bailey's makes this espresso martini extra creamy and gives it that classic Bailey's creamy, velvety, cocoa flavor. It's a liqueur made with whiskey and it turns this espresso martini into the perfect holiday cocktail for fall and winter!
Easy to make - This cocktail looks and tastes fancy but it's really easy to make. The main part is brewing a shot of espresso and then you just throw everything into a shaker and shake until frothy. The drink comes together in less than 5 minutes.
Ingredients
- Espresso - Freshly brewed espresso is the best option here if you have an espresso maker but you can also use cold brew or strong brewed coffee. The foam just might not be as good as it is with a shot of espresso.
- Vodka - Vodka is what's used in any espresso martini. It doesn't have to be top shelf, you can use any vodka you like and have.
- Bailey's - Bailey's is an Irish cream liqueur made with Whiskey and flavored with cream and cocoa. It can be enjoyed on its own or in a cocktail like this creamy espresso martini. The alcohol content is 17%.
- Maple syrup - You can use simple syrup (a mix of sugar and water in a 1:1 ratio) but I like adding a little bit of maple syrup. It adds flavor instead of just sweetness and it's quicker than making a syrup.
Variations and Substitutions
- Decaf - If you don't want to drink caffeine in the evening, you can use decaffeinated espresso. I find decaf espresso often makes thicker foam than regular espresso but it doesn't hold up for as long.
- Non-alcoholic - If you want to make it into a mocktail, either use non-alcoholic vodka or skip it altogether. For the Bailey's, use Irish cream syrup. Monin and Torani are both great options.
- Rum - This cocktail is also great with dark rum or whiskey instead of vodka because Bailey's is also made with whiskey.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Brew a shot of espresso and add it to a cocktail shaker or a large mason jar.
- Add vodka, Bailey's, maple syrup, and vanilla extract (if using).
- Add a handful of ice and shake the cocktail shaker for 5-10 seconds until very frothy and cool to the touch.
- Strain the cocktail into a martini or coupe glass and garnish with 3 coffee beans.
Serving and Storing
This cocktail is best served right away. If you can, it's also ideal to make the espresso fresh when you're ready to make the cocktail. I find it creates a better foam when it's freshly brewed.
Bailey's can last a while after you open it, there should be an expiry date on the bottle. I like storing it in the fridge so that it's always cool and ready to drink but you can store it in a cool dry plate at up to 25 degrees Celsius.
FAQs
Put your muscles to work! Properly aerating the coffee is what gets it extra creamy. Shake the cocktail for about 10 seconds vigorously and strain. If you have a shaker with a built-in strainer, take the top off and use a flat mason jar lid instead. You'll be able to get more of the foam out this way!
Neither is better or worse. Kahlua is a coffee liqueur and adds pure coffee flavor. Bailey's adds creaminess and cocoa flavor. Use both to get a stronger coffee flavor but still keep the cocktail extra creamy.
I recommend using cold brew. It's usually stronger than regular brewed coffee and more similar to an espresso.
More Coffee Cocktails
If you're a fan of any cocktails with espresso, I highly recommend the three linked below! The raspberry one is my personal favorite! It uses homemade raspberry chocolate syrup and it's so good! Check out the Cocktails category for all the latest ones.
Print📖 Recipe
Creamy Espresso Martini
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Creamy Espresso Martini is made with Bailey's Irish cream instead of Kahlua which makes it extra creamy and gives it that classic Bailey's flavor. It's a great cocktail for fall, winter, or St. Patrick's Day!
Ingredients
- 1 shot espresso
- 1 ½ oz vodka
- 1 oz Baileys
- ½ oz maple syrup (or simple syrup)
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- Handful ice
- 3 coffee beans (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Brew a shot of espresso and add it to a cocktail shaker or a large mason jar along with vodka, Baileys, maple syrup, and vanilla extract if using.
- Add a handful of ice and shake the cocktail shaker for 5-10 seconds until very frothy and cool to the touch.
- Strain the cocktail into a martini or coupe glass and garnish with 3 coffee beans.
Notes
Decaf: Use decaffeinated espresso if desired.
Dairy-free: Use almond milk Baileys to make this cocktail vegan.
Non-alcoholic: Replace the vodka and baileys with almond milk or regular milk.
Jess says
Bailey's is so good! We drink it by itself sometimes but it was so delicious with the coffee.