Easy Homemade Baileys Recipe
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A homemade Baileys recipe that takes minutes to make with just a handful of ingredients. It’s much cheaper than buying a bottle and has all the flavor and sweetness of real Irish cream! Once mixed, you can drink it immediately or store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Homemade Baileys Irish cream is probably the easiest recipe you’ll ever make. All you do is blend the short list of ingredients together and enjoy! It’s very much like making a cocktail, but you can make a lot at a time and then enjoy it over a week or two. Rich and creamy, it can taste even better than the original, provided you use top-quality ingredients, like Jameson whiskey. Even then, you’ll end up saving money by making your own rather than buying it from the supermarket.
There are dozens of Baileys knockoff recipes to try, and they all seem to differ slightly. Some recipes include raw eggs, while others call for almond extract; however, all of them require a few essential ingredients: condensed milk, cream, Irish whiskey, chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. I’ve found that using just these will give you a delicious, fun drink that is a very close match to store-bought Baileys. It also only takes a few minutes to make.
Personalizing this Recipe
When I make Baileys, I tend to make it for myself and for gatherings over the holidays. I mix everything, pour the mixture into a flip-top glass bottle, and pop it in the fridge. Around Christmas time, it’s also a fantastic recipe for making homemade Christmas gifts. If you do that, I’d use small glass bottles and decorate each for that personal touch, but that doesn’t take much time at all.
As far as customizing this recipe, feel free to! You could add caramel or peppermint, use brandy or another liquor instead of whiskey, or substitute espresso for the instant coffee and water. If you use thicker ingredients, it might make sense to blend the recipe rather than hand-mix it, though. Regardless, homemade Baileys is a simple recipe, and there are plenty of substitutions that you can make to create the best version for you. Here are even more homemade liqueur recipes that you can make, too:
- How to Make Kahlua
- Blackberry Gin Recipe
- Rhubarb Gin Recipe
- Traditional Rum Shrub Recipe (sweet and citrusy rum liqueur)
Homemade Baileys Recipe
Equipment
- 1 glass bottle (25 oz / 750 ml) (for storing the finished Irish cream)
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream (double cream, or heavy whipping cream)
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (400 ml)
- 12⁄3 cups Irish whiskey (395 ml / Jameson whisky)
- 2 Tbsp chocolate syrup (or 1 TBSP cocoa powder)
- 1 tsp instant coffee granules (or 2 TBSP espresso or drip coffee)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Stir the coffee crystals into a tablespoon of hot water. Mix well.
- Place all the ingredients into a bowl and whisk until they're thoroughly mixed. Alternatively, mix everything on low speed in a blender.
- Funnel the liquid into empty bottles and refrigerate. It lasts in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- You can drink homemade Baileys Irish cream as soon as you make it, and it's delicious served poured over ice. You can also serve it over ice cream or use it to make creamy cocktails and desserts.
I’ve made Bailey’s often with the same ingredients but I add 2 eggs (or egg beaters) and use coconut extract instead of almond. I always tell people to use full fat everything— don’t skimp! I use a blender! It’s DELICIOUS! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
You are so welcome, Barb. I love the idea of coconut extract!
Can’t wait to try it!
It’s so quick to make, Kim…you’ll love it!
Baileys was wonderful. Kahlua was better using coffee rather than boiling water. Thank you very much
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 ;)