“Omg, I made this for St. Paddy’s day and wowza! It is delicious and tastes JUST like the store bought stuff.” ~Naomi
homemade Irish cream takes just 6 ingredients and 5 minutes!
Irish Cream has always been a favorite of mine, and this from scratch version tastes even better than the bottled stuff. As much as I love the original, there is something just a little sketchy about the idea of bottled cream. Fresh ingredients take this classic Irish liqueur to a whole new level.
Love Baileys too?
- Guinness Cake with Irish Cream Frosting
- No Churn Bailey’s Ice Cream
- Irish Coffee Cheesecake Bars
- 5 Ways to Empty a Bottle of Baileys
what you’ll need to make Irish cream
When you make it yourself you know exactly what’s going in your liqueur: quality ingredients and nothing else.
- cream ~ this is a rich mixture. You can lighten up by using half and half.
- whiskey ~ Irish of course. I use Jameson Irish Whiskey for a classic flavor, but you can certainly experiment with other brands or even other spirits.
- condensed milk ~ this gives the liqueur its characteristic silky texture.
- vanilla extract ~ brings all the flavors together.
- instant coffee ~ make sure you’re using instant coffee, not ground coffee.
- cocoa powder ~ you can also use a chocolate syrup if you have it on hand.
does this homemade liqueur really taste like Irish Cream?
It’s spot on, I wouldn’t change it in any way, and I highly recommend mixing up a batch for St Patrick’s Day. You can serve it on the rocks, in a White Russian, or in an after dinner coffee. I like it straight up in tiny vintage cordial glasses. If you have any recipes that call for Irish Cream, use this instead.
how to store your homemade Baileys
To ensure the longest possible shelf life, make sure to store your homemade Irish cream in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and give it a good shake before serving to redistribute any settled ingredients. Homemade Irish cream typically lasts for around 2-3 weeks when stored properly.
If you notice any changes in the texture, smell, or taste of the Irish cream, it’s best to discard it to avoid the risk of foodborne illness.
how to serve homemade Irish cream
- on the rocks ~ this rich drink is wonderful ice cold.
- in coffee ~ makes the best Irish coffee you and your friends have ever had!
- over vanilla (or coffee) ice cream ~ create a unique Irish version of affogato.
- mixed in a cocktail ~ there are so many to choose from.
- as a dessert shot ~ tiny glasses of this liqueur make the perfect ending to any meal.
How to Make Irish Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp instant coffee or instant espresso
- 1/2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup Irish whiskey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Put a tablespoon of the cream in a bowl and add the espresso and cocoa powder. Mix these together until both powders are completely dissolved and there are no lumps.
- Add the rest of the cream, while stirring, or gently whisking.
- Add the whiskey, vanilla, and condensed milk and blend everything well. Note: alternatively you can put everything in a blender and blend briefly to combine. Don't blend too long or you can risk whipping the cream.
- Pour the mixture into a bottle with a top, and refrigerate until needed.
- This will keep in the fridge for at least a couple of months, and probably longer, but I’m pretty sure you will polish it off before then 😉
Video
Notes
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- Lighten this up by using half and half instead of heavy cream.
- Add more espresso or more cocoa powder to change the flavor profile to your particular liking.
- For more DIY liqueurs try my ultra-rich pumpkin liqueur, or, my Nutella liqueur.
- For a lighter, fruitier experience, try homemade fruit liqueurs ~ these fresh fruit infused vodkas make great cocktail mixers.
Nutrition
The BEST! We made it tonight for a quiet Saint Patrick’s Day treat. Smooth and delicious…a perfect blend. No more Bailey’s for me.
I agree, the freshness of the real cream really makes the homemade stand out from the commercial stuff. Enjoy!
Homemade Irish Cream is by far the best stuff on the planet! Hands down better than you can get anywhere! This recipe looks gorgeous..
I love Irish Cream, how divine! I’m posting one more recipe tomorrow with Irish Cream so I’ll be sure to link to your homemade version :).
Can’t wait 🙂
Oh my, this sounds good, Sue! I am definitely going to try this because I love the store brand and can just imagine how much more fresh and delicious making your own would taste. I’ll have mine over 1 ice cube 😉
Thanks Susan, the freshness really is appealing!
I love Farmette too, Sue! What a handy recipe to have! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
I have everything for making this except for the heavy cream, and if it wasn’t raining cats and dogs, I’d be in my car right now fetching some. Can’t wait! 🙂
I will always always read your blog, because I am that excited with this recipe. THIS is my all time appertif. I like it in my coffee. I like to use it recipes. OMG!!! If I wasn’t sitting—-and pooped from cleaning—–and rather mature—–I would be jumping up and down. Smiles——
haha, I’m so glad Carol! Actually I just pulled my next recipe post out of the oven…Irish Coffee Cheesecake Bars…made with this Irish cream so stay tuned! I think you will love this, the flavor is so fresh compared to the bottled stuff.
Yum! This will make great gifts for my Irish cream loving friends. Thanks so much
It would be perfect to bring along to a St Paddy’s Day party 🙂
I can’t wait to try and make my own! It’s like an after dinner drink and dessert all in one lovely glass. Love the shamrocks 🙂 Happy weekend my friend!
Wow, shamrocks and all! What a beautiful post and I don’t need St Patrick’s day to put this recipe to use. I’m sure it’s infinitely better than anything you can buy!
It tastes so good, Chris. I had to stop myself from ‘testing’ too much too early in the day 😉