Homemade Irish Cream Recipe (2024)

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This quick and easy homemade Irish cream recipe is the one you’ve been looking for! You’ll never have to buy a bottle at the liquor store again when all it takes is 5 minutes and 6 ingredients to make the perfect copycat version of your favorite silky-smooth Irish cream liqueur!

Homemade Irish Cream Recipe (1)

DIYing your own homemade Irish cream recipe is really too hard to pass up.

Six ingredients? That you probably already have on hand?

This recipe is absolutely delicious! I’m always so happy with the results of a copycat recipe, and I promise you will be too once you whip up a batch or three.

This page includes step by step instructions, as well as tips and notes. If you’d like to skip all that, feel free to scroll down to the full, printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Homemade Irish Cream Recipe (2)

What is Irish cream?

Irish cream is a cream-based liqueur that can be enjoyed on its own, or mixed in co*cktails, coffee, or used in desserts. Typically made with Irish whiskey, the drink is lightly sweetened and also contains hints of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla flavors.

It has been made popular mostly in the form of Baileys Irish Cream, a well known store-bought brand. I’m a big fan of all of their flavors, and I use it a lot in baking, so our liquor cabinet is never without a bottle.

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Ingredients

Your homemade Baileys will blow that 2-year shelf life stuff out of the water. Plus, it’s ridiculously quick and easy to make. You don’t even need any special blender or strainer – a bowl and a whisk will do the job as well as any high-powered small kitchen appliance.

  • Sweetened condensed milk – keep a few extra cans of this on hands for whim recipes like this.
  • Irish whiskey – it IS boozy, after all.
  • Heavy cream
  • Instant coffee
  • Chocolate syrup
  • Vanilla extract
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How to make homemade Irish cream

  1. In a blender, combine the all of the ingredients and blend on high speed until combined, about 30 to 60 seconds.
  2. Transfer the mixture to an airtight container or glass bottle. Store in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 2 months. Shake well before using and serve chilled over ice or splashed in your morning coffee.
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The best ways to use homemade Irish cream

So what will you do with your homemade Irish cream? Aside from sipping it as a dessert co*cktail with a little ice or using it in an Irish coffee, of course!?

It adds a nice kick to festive co*cktails like my mint chocolate Guinness float, and jazzes up a creamy espresso martini or Baileys Grasshopper, as well. As far as baking, you can add it to just about anything from cupcakes to lava cake to truffles. It’s the star in this Irish Cream Coffee Mud Pie.

Even more delicious Irish recipes to enjoy!

  • The Best Slow Cooker Irish Guinness Beef Stew
  • Easy Irish Soda Bread with Caraway
  • Small Batch Irish Coffee Cupcakes
  • Dublin Coddle: Classic Irish Stew
Homemade Irish Cream Recipe (6)

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Homemade Irish Cream

This quick and easy homemade Irish cream recipe is the one you’ve been looking for! You’ll never have to buy a bottle at the liquor store again when all it takes is 5 minutes and 6 ingredients to make the perfect copycat version of your favorite silky-smooth Irish cream liqueur!

4.55 from 57 votes

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Course: co*cktail, Ingredient

Cuisine: Irish

Keyword: homemade irish cream

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Chill Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 364kcal

Author: Erica

Ingredients

  • 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cups Irish whiskey
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 ½ teaspoons instant coffee
  • 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  • In a blender, combine the all of the ingredients and blend on high speed until combined, 30-60 seconds.

  • Transfer mixture to an airtight container or glass bottle. Store in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 2 months. Shake well before using and serve chilled over ice or splashed in your morning coffee.

Nutrition

Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 237mg | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Vitamin C: 1.6mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Did You Make This Recipe?Snap a pic, post it, and mention @CrumbyKitchen or tag #crumbykitchen for some Instagram love!

Homemade Irish Cream Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What not to mix with Irish cream? ›

The key thing to remember when experimenting with Molly's Irish Cream drinks recipes is that cream liquors do not mix well with citrus based ingredients.

How long will homemade Baileys last? ›

If stored in an air-tight container, homemade Baileys can last up to 2 months in the fridge. The alcohol helps preserve it, but always sniff the mixture first to make sure it hasn't gone off (trust me, you'll know if the half and half has gone sour).

Should Baileys be refrigerated? ›

Whether or not it has been opened, a bottle of Baileys lasts for two years. It's best to keep the bottle of Baileys away from direct sunlight, per The Rusty Spoon, because temperatures over 77 degrees F can change its consistency. Even though Baileys doesn't need to be refrigerated, it will eventually go bad.

What is the emulsifier in Baileys? ›

Emulsifier: E471, Acidity regulator: E331.

How unhealthy is Baileys Irish Cream? ›

Alcohol is high in calories. It contains around seven calories a gram - almost as many as fat. And the calories in an Irish cream liqueur don't just come from the alcohol – it's high in sugar too. A 50ml glass of Irish cream liqueur contain 153 calories – about the same as a large chocolate biscuit.

What happens when you mix Baileys with co*ke? ›

Cream liqueurs curdle because of their high dairy content. Dairy products (such as milk or cream) curdle in the presence of an acidic liquid. Acids have a very low pH, which lowers the overall pH of the mixture. As the pH drops below 5.5, the casein proteins in the dairy ingredients begin to curdle.

Do you need to refrigerate homemade Irish cream liqueur? ›

While refrigeration is not necessary, cream liqueurs taste great when they are well chilled, and for most of us, the most convenient cool place of storage is our refrigerator. We would also recommend that cream liqueurs should be consumed within six to twelve months of opening.

Why did my homemade Baileys curdle? ›

Certain blenders (particularly the powerful ones) can curdle the mixture slightly as they 'whip' the cream. To avoid this, start your blender on a very low speed and increase slowly to medium-low. Mix until ingredients only just combined.

Does homemade Irish cream need to be refrigerated? ›

Tips and Tricks: How to Store this Recipe – Keep the Irish Cream in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to one week. Avoid curdling – I did some research as to ensure a life free of curdling and it's all about adding the alcohol slowly and being sure to use heavy cream.

Can I drink 10 year old Baileys? ›

As with any food or beverage item, it is generally not recommended to consume Irish Cream liquor past its expiration date, as it may have degraded in quality and potentially pose a health risk.

Should I refrigerate Kahlua after opening? ›

Should Kahlúa be refrigerated? No, but we recommend to store it in a cool dry place once opened. What percentage of alcohol is in Kahlúa Original?

Can I freeze Baileys? ›

Avoid freezing Baileys if you want it to taste good! Check out our guide to learn the best storage method.

What does Baileys not mix with? ›

Baileys can be easily mixed with all manner of beverages to make a simple, creamy drink. The only rule is to avoid citrus or anything with a lot of citric acid, which makes it curdle. That means avoid juices and soda.

What is the best thing to mix with Baileys? ›

Baileys and vodka go so well together, and Baileys and coffee is already a classic mix! It's so simple to make at home. In just three easy steps, you'll have a show-stopping co*cktail that'll treat your friends – or why not add a touch of decadence to your group's movie night?

What milk is used in Baileys? ›

Every year, roughly 200 million litres of fresh Irish milk are required to produce the creamiest of cream used in the production of Baileys. That's enough to make about 3.3 billion Baileys milkshakes, give or take. This milk is mostly supplied from small, family-owned farms.

What can't you mix Baileys with? ›

Baileys can be easily mixed with all manner of beverages to make a simple, creamy drink. The only rule is to avoid citrus or anything with a lot of citric acid, which makes it curdle. That means avoid juices and soda.

Can you mix Baileys with anything? ›

It goes well with hot drinks, like coffee, hot chocolate, and even earl grey tea. You can mix Baileys with cold drinks, working wonders mixed with co*cktails like an espresso martini or a white Russian. In fact, you can mix Baileys with most spirits to make your favourite drink that extra bit yummier!

What does Baileys curdle with? ›

The acidic lime juice causes the cream-based Baileys to curdle. The curdled Baileys does not taste sour, but it does rapidly gain viscosity and stick to the drinker's teeth, reminiscent of cement. For a sweeter taste, two shot glasses, one of lemonade and one of Baileys, can be used.

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