This Baileys chocolate martini is smooth, creamy, and flooded with chocolate liqueur, Irish cream, and whipped cream vodka to make one heck of a dreamy cocktail!

Two Baileys Chocolate Martinis topped with cocoa powder and chilled melted chocolate swirls

Why this recipe works

Rich and creamy, decadent and dreamy, it’s nothing but smooth sippin’ with this Bailey’s chocolate martini. Oh, and you only need 3 ingredients! Equal parts of Baileys Irish cream, chocolate liqueur, and whipped cream vodka make this cocktail super indulgent. I find it rich like a dessert, with hardly any bite.

Baileys is an excellent base to add chocolate liqueur to. This is one of those recipes people are always asking me to shake up around St. Patrick’s Day and even at Christmas parties. Perfect for those who like it sweet rather than spicy. Plus, you can use that leftover Baileys to make some 4-ingredient Baileys fudge afterwards. Win-win.

Hand holding up a Baileys Chocolate Martini

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredients for Bailey’s Chocolate Martini

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

IRISH CREAM – Baileys is the backbone of this recipe. It has a signature creamy chocolate flavor with notes of vanilla and caramel. It really stands out against other Irish creams. I would highly recommend not substituting it here, afterall, it’s in the name!

CHOCOLATE LIQUEUR – As you can see from the photo above, I used Borgata chocolate liqueur, though you can use whichever brand you like best. Some chocolate liqueurs are darker than others, so appearance may vary. I’ve tried it out with a few different kinds and have noticed that some brands are thinner than others as well, though the flavor is great either way.

VODKA – Whipped cream flavored vodka really adds to the sweetness factor of this cocktail. It pairs really well with the other two liqueurs. You can substitute with vanilla vodka or even chocolate vodka if you want.

GARNISH – I garnished mine with unsweetened cocoa and chilled melted chocolate swirls. To make pretty chocolate garnishings, simply melt chocolate, place it in a bag, snip off the corner, and drizzle it on a parchment lined baking sheet in whatever shapes or designs you like. Let it chill until hardened, and you’re good to go!

How to Make a Bailey’s Chocolate Martini

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add the Baileys, chocolate liqueur, and whipped cream vodka to the cocktail shaker. Give it a good shake.
If you’d like to add chocolate syrup to your glasses, do so before pouring the mixture in. Strain liqueur mixture into a martini glass.
Optionally garnish with a dusting of unsweetened cocoa powder, chocolate shavings, or chilled chocolate swirls.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Can I use regular vodka instead?

Absolutely. Using plain vodka will give this cocktail a little more bite if that’s what you’re looking for! For a sweeter substitute, you can try vanilla or chocolate flavored vodkas as well.

Can I make it ahead of time?

This cocktail is truly best when served right away due to the cream liqueur. You can certainly prep the garnishes in advance, though!

Should you shake or stir Baileys chocolate martini?

Shaking your martini is the best bet. This cocktail doesn’t contain any ice, so agitating it in a cocktail shaker with ice will help chill the liqueurs.

Two Baileys Chocolate Martinis on a black wooden platter

Serving Suggestions

There are so many fun ways to garnish your Baileys chocolate martini. I dusted mine with unsweetened cocoa powder and topped with chilled chocolate swirls that I piped onto parchment paper myself. You can also garnish with chocolate shavings, drizzle the inside of the glass with chocolate syrup, or dip the rim in chocolate syrup followed by chocolate shavings.

This Baileys chocolate martini is a dessert cocktail meaning it’s sweet and rich. It pairs really well with cheesecake or tiramisu. Hope you love it!

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This post originally appeared on this blog on Feb 14, 2017.