Homemade Baileys Irish Cream — 🎉🧡🙌🏻 Homemade Baileys Irish Cream comes together 1 minute, with ingredients you likely already have on hand. Rich, creamy, and the flavor is a dead ringer for store-bought!
Table of Contents
Homemade Baileys comes together in under one minute in the blender. It’s so easy that if you’re a Baileys Irish Cream fan, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do this sooner. Simply combine cream or half-and-half, sweetened condensed milk, Irish whiskey, a pinch of instant coffee, dash of chocolate syrup, vanilla, and blend.
The flavor is spot on and so very creamy. I used half-and-half rather than cream, and can only imagine how rich it would be with cream.
Between the sweetened condensed milk, half-and-half, and vanilla it’s no wonder I’ve always loved the stuff. Dessert in a shot glass.
I don’t think it’s any cheaper to make homemade Irish cream, but it’s also not more expensive than store-bought. With the exception of the Irish whiskey, I always have the rest of the ingredients on hand so it didn’t feel like I bought things just to make homemade Baileys from scratch.
The real satisfaction comes from being able to say, oh yes, I can make Baileys Irish cream.
At parties, there’s always that one person who can mix a great drink, juggle shot glasses, catch peanuts in their mouth, or tie cherry stems into knots with their tongue. Now you’ll be the star of the party with this little Baileys recipe up your sleeve.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this homemade Baileys Irish cream recipe:
- Irish whiskey – I prefer Jameson whiskey
- Sweetened condensed milk – NOT evaporated milk
- Half and half – heavy cream also works (do not use milk)
- Chocolate syrup – regular or sugar-free
- Vanilla extract – I recommend using pure vanilla extract and not the imitation kind
- Instant coffee granules
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Baileys Irish Cream
This homemade Irish cream recipe couldn’t be simpler to make! Just add all the ingredients to a blender and mix until smooth.
Storage Instructions
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).
I also recommend shaking the homemade Baileys before enjoying it, just to mix everything back together.
Recipe FAQs
No, you want to use instant coffee or espresso granules and not regular coffee. Instant coffee granules have a more concentrated flavor and will deliver that coffee taste Baileys is known for without watering down the drink.
I used Jameson whiskey in my homemade Baileys recipe, but any Irish whiskey will do.
Irish Cream is a type of liqueur made with heavy cream, whiskey, sugar, and flavorings.
Homemade Baileys is incredibly sweet and creamy, with undertones of chocolate and vanilla. It’s rich enough to enjoy on its own, but it’s also great stirred into coffee, hot chocolate, and eggnog.
Serve it chilled, over ice, in mixed drinks or in coffee. Make cake, donuts, cupcakes, brownies, or frosting with it. There’s no wrong way to use it.
We love using Baileys in these Death by Chocolate No-Bake Cheesecake Bars and these Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes.
Yes! The homemade Irish Cream needs to be refrigerated. The alcohol acts as a preservative, but there’s still lots of milk and cream in the mixture and you do not want it to go bad! The Baileys recipe will last about 2 months in the fridge.
Drinks Using Baileys Irish Cream
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Homemade Baileys Irish Cream
Ingredients
- 1 ⅔ cups Irish whiskey, I used Jameson
- one 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream, I used half-and-half
- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, I used Hershey’s
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules or instant espresso, make sure it’s instant so it dissolves
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the canister of a blender and blend on high speed until smooth, 30 to 60 seconds.
- Transfer mixture to a glass bottle or airtight container with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months (I have read anywhere between 1 to 2 months; the alcohol helps preserve it, but always use the sniff test and common sense).
- Shake well before using.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Easy Holiday Drinks:
Sparkling Cranberry Orange Christmas Punch — Put some SPARKLE in your holidays with this EASY and FESTIVE punch that everyone loves!! Can be made in strengths ranging from non-alcoholic to knock-you-for-a-punch!!
Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria — Apples, oranges, pomegranate seeds, and cinnamon sticks with sparkling cider are a FUN twist on classic sangria!! So easy! Make it for your next party and everyone will want a refill!!
Manhattan Cocktail — This classic bourbon cocktail is made with vermouth, Angostura bitters, and orange peel for a sophisticated and easy drink everyone should know how to make!
Originally posted March 14, 2013 and reposted March 17, 2021 with updated text.
This would go perfectly with the mousse I just posted…in fact, I’m going to add a link to your recipe :).
Thank you for that, Laura! Pinned your post, too. Those cups of chocolate are gorgeous..I want! :)
I love this idea of making your own! I am not one to drink much of any alcoholic beverage because to me, they are all SOOOOOOOOO strong!!!!! With this, it’s great to be able to modify the amount of alcohol that goes in. :) I guess you can either call me a lightweight or a woos!!!!! :)
Never thought of that, but yes, you can make this one extra creamy/lower alcohol by modifying the ratios. Enjoy!
This is great! I’m one of those people that always has whiskey on hand and never baileys, so this will save me plenty of trips to the store for last minute cocktails :) Such a great idea
Oh that’s awesome that you always have it on hand and can whip this up. LMK if you try it!
Should I be embarrassed to say I made this as soon as I got home? Ha! It tastes amazing! Slightly creamier even. So good!
You’re the first one who’s reported back saying she’s made it – and YAY! Glad you love it and it’s amazing..and I agree, slightly creamier with half&half for me. Can’t even imagine real cream :) Thanks for LMK you tried it! Happy St Paddy’s Day!
I usually just enjoy Bailey’s over ice…and it never occurred to me to make it! Such a simple recipe. My husband likes whiskey and bourbon and said he has been wanting some Bailey’s when I showed him this. He is impressed to see a recipe for it and wants me to make him some this weekend. I’m happy to oblige! We don’t have any St. Patrick’s Day plans. There are some big events going on around town, but it’s still a little too chilly for me!
Please LMK if you try it and if it’s husband-approved :) It takes 32 seconds to make. lol
OH are you serious? Yes, yes you are and I love it.
Wish we could have drinks together! ;)
“Oh yes, I can make Baileys”. Love it! Hello, party savvy hostess. Sorry if this was embedded in the post and I accidentally missed it–do you have any thoughts on how long it might keep?
Discussed in the actual recipe section of the post!
I love Bailey’s and need to drink it (or bake with it) more often. I don’t think I’ve ever bought whiskey before, but this DIY recipe may be the one thing that convinces me to buy some. I am starting to enjoy the DIY thing!
WHAT are you doing to me! Now it’s 7:45 AM and I want some Bailey’s. I am on Spring Break, after all… ;)
I love this! The Irish now hoe to eat and drink!
I’m not a huge Bailey’s fan but that might be from one too many hard nipples one evening. LOL. It’s just a little too rich for me I think. No plans for St. Patty’s day. There are some block parties going on downtown, but I’m not really sure we’ll fight the crowds for cheap green beer ;-)
fight the crowds for cheap green beer <-- oh really, that doesn't sound like fun to you? :)
I love whiskey.
I haven’t heard anyone use the word ‘jigger’ since my grandma died. I don’t think anyone calls shots jiggers outside of the midwest! Thanks for the smile this morning.
WHAT!!! I never even THOUGHT to make Bailey’s at home before Averie! I’m obsessed with this. I always drink Baileys with my coffee around the holidays. Why don’t I do it more often? I never feel like buying a huge bottle of it at the store! Now… for MUCH less, I can make it at home. I’m freaking out and so excited for this. The only person who may love Bailey’s more than I do is my sister. She named her puppy Bailey too. :) Sending this to her this morning! Love the pretty photos too! Wish I could shoot pretty drinks like you!
I’m obsessed too. And like having plates of dough balls chilling in the fridge, or making your own PB in 5 mins, etc is all pretty tempting, it’s quite tempting to want to throw a splash of Baileys in everything…haha! But yes, cheaper overall (once you buy the Irish whiskey – not something I usually keep around, or ever!) but after that, the rest I have everything, always. Hope you and the fam enjoy the recipe! LMK if anyone tries it!
My last bottle of bailey’s was a gift but, especially after seeing this, I will never buy it again because it’s so expensive! Thanks for sharing!!
I was just at the groc store and did a price check on it yesterday and for the ‘normal’ sized bottle, what looks to be about a half gallon, it was $27.99! My groc store was running a sale on it, probably b/c of St Paddy’s Day, but it was still 19.99! In doing the math, it just seems cheaper to make it at home! Even though you still have to buy whiskey, it does seem money ahead to make it!
Mmmmm . . . Bailey’s . . . . yes, please!! My favorite is a splash in some coffee. What a treat!
I’ve always meant to do this. Maybe now is the time! I can drink my calories instead of eat them. But I’d definitely have to have one with a cookie!
All that stands in the way of drinking your calories is about 30 seconds of time. So easy!
There really aren’t enough words to express my love for Bailey’s. I made a drink called “PS I Love You” that used Bailey’s though, and found the name very fitting:
Cause I LOVED it!
Love the name of that drink and that you’re as passionate about your Baileys as I am!