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 is so great. What a fabulous idea to make Bailey’s at home. I never would have thought to do that and how easy it is! Score! I think Bailey’s ice cream or cookies or cupcakes or cake would be AWESOME. Since I don’t skulk much around through blog world all that much, I didn’t know it was a thing right now. Super cool though! :-D
I totally remember your Bailey’s peanut butter and frosting. Oh my goodness – YUM!!
I can’t remember if you drink? I finally remember about your corn allergy and other random tidbits but for some reason I thought you may not drink. But if you do, this is a keeper!
No, I do not drink at all, ever. But, my husband does and I like the sound of it all! :-)
Ok glad my memory is not totally failing me!
I could literally taste this Bailey’s as I read your post! I need to make this, all I have are a couple of airline sized bottles!
I think it’d be a great It’s After 5 ‘o Clock Somewhere thing :)
My kind of dessert! I love me some Baileys!
I bet this was a fun one to taste test!!!
Ohh my I love everything about this post! It’s 5:00 somewhere, no?? :)
You know it girl! xoxo
This is so brilliant! I love it, bring on the Homemade Baileys milkshakes :)
Somehow I think you could work this into that ice cream you just posted – or pretty much ANY of your creations. Stout, Baileys, same difference, right? :)
I like the way you think, Averie. Fuggedabout baking one of those million and one recipes and just pour a tall glass of this homemade Bailey’s instead. A good friend of mine made Bailey’s over the holidays and I couldn’t stop drinking it. It’s amazing! I just recently bought a bottle to make Bailey’s chocolate mousse with and I’ve been indulging a bit too much on the leftovers. Ah well! It just means I’ve been an extra happy girl lately ;)
Well glad to hear you’re as big of a fan as I am! Now you never have to buy it again & can DIY!
Dangerous! And there’s no way this would last 1-2 months here anyway ;)
Yeah it really doesn’t make THAT much…maybe half of what an average-sized grocery store bottle of real Baileys is. It’s so good it really has not been lasting long here!
You know I could drink this all year long!
My husband is going to LOVE you for this one!!! The guy loves his baileys, but he will be over the moon when I tell him that I have the recipe for it!!
LMK how it goes over!
You’re so right, I can see recipes with Baileys around as well. And it makes me very happy, because I like it’s sweet taste so much :)
I have not so fond memories of trying to get drunk when I was sixteen on Baileys. It got me more sick then anything. Since then, I have not drunk the stuff but I might have to try it again. Homemade does taste better.
Yeah it’s not exactly that sort of beverage you drink for effect. It’s a drink-for-taste one, for sure :)
Cheers!! Love this. Normally I just sup baileys on ice, but sometimes I like to have it with espresso :)
Mmm, both ways are delish!
Love that this is soo easy to make!
The Chocolate Molasses Chocolate Chip Cake looks amazing, and please pass me those jars of the homemade Chocolate and Cookie Butter Peanut Butter!
I’d be glad to pass you a slice of cake right after I can go bakery-case dessert sampling with you..omg how FUN! :)