“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.
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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
- 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
Instead of trying to get instant coffee to dissolve in the cream, make a VERY small VERY strong brew with coffee granules, regular or decaff., and mix it in, also chocolate syrup works just as well as cocoa powder. Apart from that, this is delicious!!!!
Thank you for this recipe. Now I won’t have to go without Irish creme when they discontinue it again.
Can you freeze the liquor? I want to make some to keep a little while longer.
Unfortunately this win’t freeze well, the texture changes and it will separate.
I made this for my summer card group. We start playing at 11, break for lunch at noon, then back to cards at 12:30 and dessert around 2. I broke the Irish Cream out for dessert and lo and behold, we never got back to cards! What a hoot! Your recipe got great reviews. Thank you Sue, you neve disappoint.
Sounds like a fun afternoon 😉
Everyone loves this recipe and people are so impressed with Irish cream from scratch. I also make the sweetened condensed milk — which is super easy!
Wow, your version is the ultimate from-scratch, love it!
Dear Sue, whenever I try one of your recipes you never disappoint me. This one is great and so easy to make! I had to tweak it a bit until it was to my taste but that’s what makes the World turn 🙂 If you are interested, I have a very simple recipe to make alcohol with all types of fruits, the way it was made in France when I lived there. Thank you for all the great recipes you shared and posted, Liliane.
Thanks Liliane ~ I have a post all about making fruit liqueur, and I’d love to see how it compares to your method!
GREAT RECIPE. THANK YOU
Can’t wait to try this version as seems to have the flavours that gives it the punch that has previously missed for me . However I have always been sceptical of its fridge life ( yes,if it lasts that long ) but with fresh cream normal fridge life usually 2-3 weeks not the approx 2 months you suggest after it’s made. Is it the whisky ? It won’t stop me making it as it sounds amazing.
Hey Angela ~ yes, the alcohol does keep the liquer fresh longer, but definitely keep it refrigerated in an air tight container. Enjoy!
Omg, I made this for St Paddy’s day 2021 and wowza! It is delicious and tastes JUST like the store bought stuff. I will defintely be making this again and skip buying in the future. I even put it in the whiskey bottle i used up. Slainte! Stay safe and don’t forget to share heehee
This couldn’t be easier or more delicious! It got a very enthusiastic five stars from all five adults who tried it – and kept coming back for more! I’ll never buy Bailey’s again! Thanks for this amazing copycat recipe!
You’re so welcome 🙂