Baileys Irish Cream Recipe
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Use this homemade Irish cream recipe and just a handful of ingredients to make Baileys at a fraction of the cost. It only takes a few minutes to make, and you can drink it right away. It tastes just like real Baileys Irish Cream!
When food and drink come in fancy bottles, we sometimes have it in our heads that it’s complicated to make. This is often not the case, and this recipe for homemade Irish cream is a prime example. Rich and creamy, it can taste BETTER than the original, providing you get top-quality ingredients. Even then you’ll end up saving money making your own than buying it ready-made.
After making homemade Kahlua, I decided to try my hand at Bailey’s. There are dozens of Irish cream recipes online, and all seem to differ slightly from each other. Some include eggs, others call for almond extract, but all of them call for some essential ingredients: condensed milk, cream, whiskey, chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. I’ve found that using just these will give you a delicious and fun drink that is a very close match for Baileys. It also only takes a few minutes to whip up.
Irish Cream Recipe
Making Irish cream is simple and fast and something you could do in the minutes before guests arrive for the holidays. Once you’ve made it, you’ll be loathe to ever buy it in the shop again! Homemade Baileys isn’t the only alcoholic treat that you can whip up at home. Here are even more homemade liqueur recipes that you can make, too:
- Blackberry Gin Recipe
- Rhubarb Gin Recipe
- Traditional Rum Shrub Recipe (sweet and citrusy rum liqueur)
Homemade Baileys Irish Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup double cream (whipping cream)
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (400 ml)
- 12⁄3 cups Irish whiskey (395 ml)
- 2 Tbsp chocolate syrup
- 1 tsp instant coffee granules
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Stir the coffee crystals into a tablespoon of hot water.
- Place all the ingredients into a bowl and whisk until it's thoroughly mixed.
- Funnel the Irish cream into empty bottles and refrigerate.
- You can drink homemade Baileys Irish cream as soon as you make it, but it lasts in the fridge for up to two weeks. It's delicious simply poured over ice, but you can also use it to make creamy cocktails and tasty desserts. Enjoy!
Hi
I’m not familiar with your measure for the whiskey- 12/3? Could you tell me how many millimetres this is?
Thanks
Shirley
Hi Shirley, it’s one and 2/3 cups or 395 ml.
Tasty 😋
I would love to get the Baileys Irish Cream in a soap too…
YUM. It tastes so much better than Bailey’s. It has fresh ingredients, no preservatives, and I used a high-quality whiskey.
Absolutely perfect for this chilly winter night! I put it in some chai tea instead of cocoa and it adds the perfect amount of sugar, cream and warmth in the belly. Thank you so much for the recipe! Will be sharing my treasure with a few lucky friends.
You’re so welcome, Jeannine! Cheers :)
Better than the original! So glad you shared the recipe as I’m a DIY person.
how long will the Kahlua and Irish Cream be good? And should the Irish Cream be kept in the frig
It should last a good 7-10 days in the fridge.
An absolute treat! Easy to make and delicious poured over ice
Tanya,
I haven’t made any for years, but we used to use a very simple recipe that was delicious. I don’t have the quantities, but it was simply whisky, rich cream, chocolate topping (the syrup you buy to pour over ice cream etc.), and a couple of drops of coconut essence. ever got around to checking its keeping qualities, as we always consumed it so fast.
Keep up the good work. Love your site.
Peter
Coconut essence — interesting!
greeting . You could replace the whiskey in this recipe? Because religious Akdety forbids the use of alcohol and then this recipe will not be halal. thank you
This is a toughie…the Irish in ‘Irish Cream’ refers to the whiskey. I’m not sure that you could make a non-alcoholic version that tastes the same.
When I make irish cream I always make a non-alcoholic version for the kids. It’s just as delicious!
Thanks for sharing this fun & easy recipe! Can’t wait to try!
Just wondering how long this will last before expiring? I know this may be a silly question..
I wouldn’t keep it around (refrigerated) for more than a week due to the cream content.
I have the same mixing bowl!!
Haha :)
Oh, that is a handy recipe! They are selling a Baileys started that you can mix with vodka but the recipe you talk about sounds so yummi that it is worth trying! And do you know how much I love hot chocolate with Baileys on a cold winter day? There's hardly anything better!
Interesting that they say to mix it with vodka! Irish whiskey is generally what is used for a base but it seems people make different variations of Baileys using different alcohols.
Hot chocolate with Baileys sounds really nice…I might just have to make myself one this week :)
There is probably Irish whiskey flavoring in the Baileys starter mix (my dad makes scotch – but he cheats and waters down homemade ethanol with scotch flavoring)
Sounds deadly! In a good way :)
Baileys in hot chocolate or in black coffee is excellent
Hi Tanya,
Sorry I haven't 'visited'for while but I'm back 'in the saddle'now. Love the Baileys recipe. I've made a few home wines this past year but I think I'll add this to the list and have a go. Nice one – what will you have a go at next I wonder….
I wonder too :) Thanks for visiting again and I'll be sure to head over in your direction too!
I love baileys and now you really have me fancying one..I don't have all these ingredients in the cupboard but I do have some Baileys so I will settle for that!! I don't think I will be making this though as we aren't whiskey fans and i think we would waste more buying the whiskey to try making it than just buying another bottle of baileys/irish cream!!
But just think…one bottle of whiskey means you can make TWO bottles of Baileys ;)
I never knew that Bailey's had so many ingredients. The result sounds interesting though – and warming.
I have been to friends today who have just cured their first piece of beef – it has turned out very well indeed and was delicious. If you are interested in doing this let me know and I will put you in touch with them.
Curing beef sounds really interesting – please do put me in touch :) I've been meaning to try making Biltong but haven't gotten around to it yet. What type of product did your friends make?
Sounds delicious, I must give it a go. We're currently working through our first ever batch of sloe gin made last autumn – there's nothing like your own home made drinks!
Sloe gin…yum! Thanks for stopping by Tawny and hope you enjoy making this Baileys recipe :)
I think that if you lived here in the mountains of Virginia, you would be a moonshiner! At least until you got deported.
Hahaha!! Just call me Granny Clampett ;)
Bailey's and anything. The best. This sounds good.
I agree!
Thank you! Steve's Mum loves Bailey's and now I have a lovely gift idea for her ;) (I'm quite partial to it myself too)
Like I mentioned to Caro above…I'd tweak the recipe a bit before making it again. Unless you like an Amaretto/Baileys cross then maybe take the almond extract out completely or maybe reduce the amount to about 1/4 tsp.
I hope both you and Steve's mom enjoy! It would be so easy to make an extra bottle when you're already preparing some for a gift ;)
Yeah booze! haha… i like your style sister :)
i've been meaning to make baileys for a while now… maybe this weekend. i love just sipping it over a couple ice cubes. mind you, it tastes a bit like candy and sipping rarely lasts longer than 15 minutes. oops!
LOL! I drink it the same way…but with a bit of milk to dilute it. But for a girly sweet drink I can't believe how much whiskey is in the recipe. I think I'm going to force myself against slurping in the future ;)
yay, I love making booze!! I did a nice gingerbread vodka in december, can't wait to try this one!! ;-)
Now THAT sounds amazing. Gingerbread vodka…yum.
Now you've got my attention! I love Bailey's but it's too indulgent to buy a bottle just for me. Seems a solution is in sight – although I'm not sure about the chocolate syrup? or the almond extract? Does Bailey's taste of almonds, I can't remember … it's obviously been too long!
Haha! Have fun making it :) And I was just thinking last night that the next time I whip up a batch I'll omit all or most of the almond extract. I think the little bit of chocolate is essential, though maybe it could be made with a homemade chocolate syrup?
I have made this before and it is lovely. Have you tried adding brandy instead of whiskey? Gain very good xxx
It was my first time with this recipe today but next time I'll try it with brandy. Thanks for the tip Fran :)
Yum – one of my favourite "special" occasion tipples :) Thanks!
Have fun making it Dani…it's amazing how quick it is to make.
White wine and the very occasional lager is the extent of my alcohol intake, but it must save a fortune making your own like this. It sounds so easy too.
Come on Jo…you know you want to try some ;)