Baileys Vanilla Cake Recipe: The Best Baileys Cake!

Last Updated on December 20, 2022

Today, we’re going to be looking at Bailey’s vanilla cake recipe. Baking with Baileys is the perfect decadent treat. Adding Irish cream extract to any dessert makes it even more luxurious – so an entire cake based around the infamous Baileys is a real taste sensation! We’ll be looking at two delicious recipes today to make for any Baileys lover in your life.

This dessert is great for any occasion. St. Patrick’s Day, a birthday, the holiday season – or just a treat for yourself! Let’s first see what Baileys vanilla cake is.

What Is A Baileys Vanilla Cake?

Bailey’s vanilla cake is exactly as it sounds! A traditional white cake mix with the additional bonus of Baileys Irish cream. Adding Baileys to your cake mix gives it a subtle kick – but then adding espresso buttercream makes it even more delicious. It’s a Baileys lover’s idea of heaven!

Baileys Layer Cake Recipe

First, we’re going to take a look at this incredible Baileys Irish Cream Cake with Espresso Buttercream (yum!) from Icing on the Bake.

Ingredients

The ingredients you’ll need for this cake are:

Cake

• 2 1//4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 3/4 cup of unsalted softened butter
• 1/4 cup of Baileys Irish cream
• 1 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup of buttermilk (room temp)

Buttercream

• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter (room temp)
• 6 cups of confectioners sugar
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup of Baileys Irish cream
• 1 teaspoon of Espresso powder

Chocolate Ganache

• 4oz of baking chocolate
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream

Recipe

Cake

1. Preheat your oven to 350F and grease 2 cake pans (8 or 9-inch pans are perfect)
2. Grab a bowl and mix the following ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt
3. In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk and Baileys. Leave to one side
4. Cream together the sugar and butter with a stand mixer. Mix until fluffy (around 2 minutes)
5. Add the eggs individually. Only add the next once the previous is fully combined. Now add vanilla extract.
6. Turn the mixture to medium and now begin to add the dry ingredients and Baileys mixture alternately. Do not over mix
7. Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake for around 25-30 minutes (a toothpick should come out clean from the center). When cooked, leave the cakes to cool on a cooling rack

Buttercream

1. While the cake is cooking, use your stand mixer to cream the butter for the buttercream (this should take around 2 minutes)
2. Add half of the confectioner’s sugar until evenly mixed
3. Now add the remaining half of the sugar and the Baileys. Mix until combined
4. Now add the espresso powder and vanilla extract. Mix until fluffy (this should take around 3 minutes)

Ganache

1. Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Add heavy cream to the chocolate
2. Be sure to check regularly and stir often, until chocolate is melted
3. Leave the ganache to cool (it will thicken)

Assembly

1. Level your cake layers with a knife
2. Place one cake layer onto a cake stand (or turntable if you have one)
3. Spread a thin layer of ganache
4. Add a layer of buttercream on top
5. Add the next layer of cake on top and repeat the process
6. Add a thin layer of frosting to the outside of your cake and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes
7. Remove cake from the fridge and use the remaining frosting
8. Your cake is ready!

Baileys Pound Cake Recipe

This Bailey’s pound cake is inspired by a recipe from Life, Love, and Sugar. This Bailey’s pound cake is absolutely delicious – let’s take a look at how to make the perfect pound cake. What makes this Bailey’s pound cake so delicious is the fact that it’s drizzled with the most amazing caramel icing. Is there a better pairing than Baileys and caramel? I think not!

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 1/2 cups of unsalted butter (room temp)
• 2 cups of light brown sugar
• 1 cup of sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of Baileys Irish Cream
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Icing

• 2 tablespoons of salted butter
• 1/3 cup of light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons of corn syrup
• 1 1/4 – 2 cups of powdered sugar

Recipe

1. Preheat your oven to 325F. Spray a 10-14 Bundt pan with non-stick baking spray
2. Grab a bowl and cream the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Mix for around 5 minutes until the mixture is fluffy and light
3. Add the eggs individually. Only add the next egg once the previous egg has been completely mixed
4. Turn the mixer to low and add the flour and salt. Mix well
5. Now add the vanilla and Baileys. Combine evenly
6. Add the batter evenly to the pan and bake for around 80 minutes
7. Allow cake to cool and invert cake onto a cooling rack. Brush the top of the cake with Baileys
8. Combine all icing ingredients (except the powdered sugar) in a pan
9. On a low heat, wait until sugar is melted, then bring to the boil
10. Boil for around 3 minutes (stirring intermittently). Pour into a heatproof bowl
11. Add the powdered sugar and whisk well. Then allow thickening. If the icing is too thick, add a touch more water. If the icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar. Do this until you have the required consistency
12. Drizzle icing over the top of your inverted cake
13. Your cake is ready to enjoy!

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you discover how to make the best Baileys cake! A Bailey’s vanilla cake recipe is perfect for any occasion, but be sure to only serve these cakes to adults – they do contain quite a lot of alcohol, particularly the layer cake with espresso buttercream.

Do you have your own Bailey’s vanilla cake recipe? Or have you tried one of the recipes we’ve looked at today? If so, I would love to hear your results. Please feel free to let me know in the comments below. Sharing is caring!

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