Homemade Baileys Irish Cream
This luscious, copycat Baileys Irish Cream Recipe is simple to whip up and makes an awesome homemade holiday gift. Make sure to package your Homemade Baileys in a pretty bottle with a festive label and ribbon it will be received with big smiles.
Need a new idea for a hostess gift? With only six ingredients, this Homemade Irish Cream takes only minutes to make in the blender and is a fun way to spread holiday cheer!
Why You Must Make
- This Baileys is creamy and delicious!
- It’s super easy to make so makes a wonderful last-minute hostess or holiday gift.
- With minimal ingredients and a few you may already have on hand, there’s no excuse not to try a batch!
Ingredient Notes
- Half and Half or Heavy Cream – I prefer heavy cream (should have at least 36% butterfat); half and half will have slightly fewer calories.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – Eagle Brand is my go-to
- Irish Whiskey – Jameson’s recommended
- Instant Coffee – A store brand works fine
- Chocolate Syrup – Hershey’s brand is a staple at our house
- Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract, never imitation as the results will be subpar.
How to Make
Each Christmas, I put on an apron and bake batch after batch of cookies and stir pans full of hot sugar making caramels, toffee, and fudge. Handcrafted gifts are a must. Plates of goodies are delivered to friends and neighbors, but my book club friends get a little something more. I’ve made limoncello, biscotti, spiced nuts, vanilla extract, and on and on.
So when Heather, a blogger friend, invited a group of bloggers to make a homemade holiday gift, it was just the push I needed. Last December I also made a batch of Kahlua for some special friends. My mind went to another homemade liqueur, this time a Copycat Baileys Irish Cream.
- Pour all ingredients into a blender and mix on high for about 30 seconds.
- Pour into sterilized, sealable containers and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
- Shake before using.
Easy Last-Minute Holiday Gifts
Vanilla Extract takes 6 months to age to perfection, Kahlua takes weeks, and Limoncello days. Homemade Baileys Irish Cream can be ready to serve in minutes. And it lasts up to 2 months when kept in the refrigerator. The hard part is picking the perfect bottles, ribbons, and labels. And maybe washing your blender, not my favorite chore.
Find some fun containers, then add a festive label and a ribbon to make a lovely holiday gift. I’m not crafty at all, but even I can make create holiday packaging for liqueurs with some simple supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a cream liqueur which is a sweetened spirit that’s been hydrogenized with cream making it smooth and velvety. Baileys is flavored with whiskey and cocoa extract.
Baileys ABV (alcohol by volume) is 17%, which is less than spirits like gin, whiskey, etc. This homemade version may not have exactly the same ABV.
Storebought Irish Cream, whether open or unopened, is good for up to 2 years. It does not need to be refrigerated.
Homemade Baileys, despite the alcohol content, has a much shorter shelf life. It should always be kept in the refrigerator and used within a month or up to 2 months if you use a sterilized container.
Homemade Baileys should always be shaken before serving. You can simply sip on it chilled or on ice or use it in cocktails.
Try it in shooters, martinis, Irish coffee, hot cocoa, or milkshakes.
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Homemade Baileys Irish Cream
An easy to make, homemade liqueur that's perfect for gifting!
Ingredients
- 1 cup half and half or heavy cream
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 2/3 cups Irish whiskey (Jameson's recommended)
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee
- 2-3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into a blender and mix on high for about 30 seconds.
- Pour into sealable containers and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
- Shake before using.
Notes
Adapted from a recipe on Chow message boards.
Makes 4 cups.
Use sterilized jars (run through the dishwasher).
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 182Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 54mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 0gSugar: 20gProtein: 3g
77 Comments on “Homemade Baileys Irish Cream”
Using less alcohol, would it change the taste?
Hi, Jackie, I think it will be OK, though the taste will probably not be as authentic. Hope you enjoy!
i use to make homemade baileys for Christmas holidays forgot about that until i saw your recipe
I used Jameson, per your recommendation, and my Irish cream turned out great! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
How long will this keep. I’m guessing with the cream in has to be refrigerated?
Hi, James, Yes, it needs to be refrigerated. It should keep for at least a month and up to 2 months if you make sure to use a sterilized container. Just run your container(s) through the dishwasher on a sanitize cycle if yours has one. Hope that helps!
How do u get the coffee grounds to dissolve? I had to strain this multiple times
Hi, Kathleen,
The recipe calls for Instant Coffee which is a powder that dissolves in liquids. The brand I use is Nescafe, but there are many others. Hope that helps!
Oh Liz – you read my mind! I was reminding my husband today that he hasn’t bought my holiday bottle of Bailey’s this year. Now I can just make my own. What a great excuse to buy a bottle of Irish whiskey, which I know he would rather purchase. 🙂 Love those Irish coffees.
I had no idea it was this easy to make Irish cream! I’m on it! Thanks for the recipe.
Yeah handcrafted gifts are always a great idea, and homemade Baileys will definitely make people excited! 🙂 Loving your cute and festive labels, too!
A gift that’s well received, I’m sure! Sounds nice and easy to make too:@)
What a fun homemade gift idea for the holidays! Love the glass pyramid bottles you chose!
Bailey’s is BY FAR my favorite sipping drink. I especially love the mint Bailey’s but plain a great staple. I can’t believe how simple it is to make this and I always store it in the fridge anyway just because I love it cold! This is a total win!
This is a delicious idea! And what can be bad when Jameson is added??
SO perfect for the holidays! I need to try making this myself!
I have a recipe for a delicious blackening spice that I use on meats and veggies when I use my grill pan. I’d choose the Gourmet Glass Jars – Bulb jars for this rub.