This homemade, DIY version of Bailey's Irish cream is incredibly easy to make - even easier than going to the store! All you need is a blender, 7 ingredients, and about 5 minutes to make this creamy, silky, chocolatey liqueur.
If there's anything I can get on board spiking with a little booze, it's a sweet, silky, chocolate cream I can add to lattés, cocktails, and even desserts. (Your girl loves a boozy chocolate dessert, you know.) In other words, you say homemade Bailey's Irish Cream, and I say "yes, PLEASE". It takes about five seconds to make and it's insanely good. And if that's sounds a little dangerous - well, don't say I didn't warn ya!
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Why you’ll love this recipe
Now you might be sitting here thinking, "Alex, you know they sell this stuff at the store, right?" Well yeah, you could go buy a bottle of Bailey's and call it a day, but I'm here to petition you to DIY it instead. Like caramel iced coffees and chai lattes, the homemade version is nearly always better.
This DIY Bailey's recipe in particular is incredibly easy to make, requires just seven ingredients, and will only take up about five minutes of your time to throw together. There are no eggs required (so no concerns about the safety of drinking raw eggs), and you only need one tool - a blender. Like most things homemade, the flavor is more pure than anything coming out of a pre-packaged bottle, and since you made it, you'll know exactly what ingredients went into it. It also gives you a fun, simple way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! In fact, whipping up a batch of this homemade Irish cream is a yearly St. Patty's Day tradition for me now.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here's the (very short) ingredient list for this recipe, broken down by aisle in case you need to make a quick trip to the grocery store:
(amounts are listed in the recipe card)
- Alcohol: Irish whiskey - You can also substitute vodka.
- Baking ingredients: Dutch-process cocoa powder (or regular cocoa in a pinch), sweetened condensed milk, pure vanilla extract, and pure almond extract.
- Dairy: Heavy whipping cream. Regular whipping cream will also do the trick, but don't use anything lighter than that.
- Coffee: Coffee or espresso beans. You'll need to brew them of course, so if that's not an option you could even buy cold brew and heat it.
It may go without saying, but since this recipe involves very few ingredients, it's best to make sure the ones you do use are of high-quality.
Instructions
Making this DIY version of Irish cream truly could not be simpler. There are three basic steps:
Step one - Combine coffee and cocoa powder: Whisk together your (hot) coffee or espresso and cocoa powder until smooth. This ensures the cocoa powder will fully dissolve into the Irish cream, because we're looking for silky texture. The hot liquid will also bloom the cocoa, bringing out its flavor.
Step two - Blend: Time to grab your blender! Combine the cocoa mixture with, sweetened condensed milk, your liquor of choice, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Blend until smooth.
Step three - Add cream: Finally, pour in the heavy cream and blend the mixture for just a couple seconds on low speed. Stop as soon as the cream is evenly mixed in. Over-blending will cause the cream to whip and make the mixture appear curdled. Don't do it.
Variations
Homemade Bailey's with Vodka: Irish cream is traditionally made with whiskey, but if that's not your thing, substitute it with an equal amount of vodka.
Less chocolatey Irish cream: As one reader pointed out, this DIY version has a little more chocolate flavor than the real thing. You can cut the cocoa powder in half to tone down the chocolate.
Uses
Irish cream is a liqueur, so it naturally makes for a great after-dinner drink. But there are plenty of ways to enjoy it!
- Serve it straight-up (chilled) or on the rocks.
- Add it to coffee or a latte to make an Irish Coffee.
- Blend it into a boozy milkshake.
- Add it to a glaze, frosting, or ganache for your favorite dessert, like I did with these boozy Irish cupcakes.
- Use it in a dessert cocktail (espresso martini anyone?!).
- Bottle it up (swing-top glass bottles are perfect for this) and give it as a gift!
Tips & FAQ
If stored properly in an airtight bottle and kept refrigerated, this homemade version should stay fresh for anywhere from 2-4 weeks. If you start with fresh cream, it will likely last longer.
Any reputable Irish Whiskey will work. Jameson is of course the most familiar of these, but Proper 12 is another good middle-of-the-road option. If you're looking for something of a little higher quality that won't break the bank, you can also try Sexton. Aim for good, not great; you don't need to use a top-shelf whiskey for this recipe!
Yes! All ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free. In the event that you're curious about how distillation makes pure liquor (like whiskey or vodka) gluten-free, you can learn more about that from a resource like Beyond Celiac.
This homemade liqueur can be frozen, although it will thicken noticeably. To use after freezing, just give it a quick shake. If using in a beverage, you can likely use it straight out of the freezer. If you plan to drink it straight or use it in a dessert, I'd suggest letting it sit out for 10-15 minutes first.
Related Recipes
If you're on the hunt for more recipes to help you celebrate St. Patrick's Day (with a glass of homemade Bailey's on the side, of course!) here are a few of my favorites:
- I told you I love a boozy dessert, and I may love a one-bowl dessert even more. These One-bowl Guinness brownies offer the best of both worlds!
- Speaking of easy recipes, not much is easier to make than beer bread. While you've got Guinness on hand, use it to make this easy Guinness beer bread with molasses butter.
- For the alcohol-free among us, these fudgy mint Oreo brownies are a festive option (and so so good).
If you try this DIY Bailey's recipe, please leave a rating and review below! Your feedback allows me to make these posts more helpful for other readers. Plus, it always makes my day to hear a recipe success story!
PrintRecipe Card
Irish Cream {Homemade Bailey's}
This homemade, DIY version of Bailey's Irish cream is incredibly easy to make - even easier than going to the store! All you need is a blender, 7 ingredients, and about 5 minutes to make this creamy, silky, chocolatey liqueur.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: N/A
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 32 ounces (about 1 liter) 1x
- Category: beverages
- Method: blender
- Cuisine: Irish
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (2 ounces) strongly-brewed coffee or espresso, hot
- 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ¼ cups (10 ounces) Irish whiskey OR vodka
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon pure almond extract
- 1 ½ cups (12 ⅜ ounces) heavy cream
Instructions
- Combine coffee and cocoa powder: Combine hot coffee/espresso and cocoa powder in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Blend: Add the cocoa mixture to a blender along with the sweetened condensed milk, whiskey/vodka, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Blend until smooth.
- Add cream: Pour in the heavy cream and blend in on lowest speed just until incorporated; do not over-blend! Transfer mixture to an airtight vessel and store in the refrigerator. Shake before using.
Notes
Storage and shelf life: Keeps well in the refrigerator for about 2-4 weeks.
Substitutions: Regular cocoa powder can be substituted for Dutch-process; regular whipping cream can be substituted for heavy cream.
Keywords: homemade Bailey's, homemade Irish cream, DIY Bailey's, DIY Irish cream, Irish cream liqueur, St. Patrick's Day recipes
This post was originally published in 2014. It has since been updated with new content and photos, as well as some minor recipe adjustments.
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2014-2021
Gail Montero Raines says
I didn't realize this was so doable! Wow! I can see myself enjoying this so much! Love it!
★★★★★
Andrea says
I love this chocolatey version of Irish Cream. It is so versatile and great for desserts.
★★★★★