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.
Wow, this is great! I ran out of Bailey’s, and now I can make my own! Thank you for this recipe!!! You saved me a trip to the store!!
Ok if you tried it, please LMK your thoughts. Glad I could save you a trip to the store!
That looks like pure perfection Averie! Thanks so much for including a link to me!
My pleasure :)
I LOVE making my own Baileys!! I feel like it comes out stronger, and way more delicious! I make it really similarly too, except, you know me, it’s all trying to be “healthy”–or at least as healthy as Irish cream gets ;)
it comes out stronger, and way more delicious! <-- AMEN to that! And glad to hear you're already on board with DIYing!
My mother—now gone on ahead of us—would have loved making her own Irish cream whisky. She made her own “kahlua.” Her grandsons thought she was the best grandma in the world. My bad—I didn’t get her formula for making kahlua. Wah!
Oh wow, the homemade Kahlua sounds amazing! I bet you can google and find plenty of ideas though; of course nothing is ever like mama’s, totally.
I am not a big drinker (I just don’t like the taste of alcohol!), but I have such a weakness for Bailey’s. It would never occur to me to try to make it myself, but now I’m going to obsess about this recipe until I do. ;)
I can’t believe how amazingly easy this is! I love how you suggested the half and half, instead of using cream. And with the sweetened condensed milk…in complete heaven! Thank you for sharing, Averie!
So easy! And half & half was super rich and creamy; really didn’t need full on cream, and I’d be the first to say it! However, I wouldn’t say no to drinking it if someone wanted to make me some w/ heavy cream :)
I think that sounds fantastic! My mother loooves Baileys. I’m a fan if it replaces dessert, but other than that it is too sweet for me to have in addition to anything! Maybe as a coffee creamer, but not sure my boss would like that ;-)
It’s so good in coffee! :)
I would be worried about using the trade marked name “Bailey’s”. It would be safer just using irish cream.
I have a very similar recipe, Averie, so I know this recipe is a winner. It looks amazing. I’ll take one of those mugs, please :)
Glad to hear you’re already making something similar :)
I’m not a drinker by any means. But there have always been 2 or 3 drinks that I can enjoy if I feel like being an adult, and Baileys is one of them.
It’s amazing how it can be made at home too. So awesome. I may have to try it out one day.
if I feel like being an adult … <--- I love that!
Nothing like a Baileys poured over some vanilla ice cream for me!
My two fave drinks I think are champagne and Baileys. And coffee! And that night of the White Party, I was lucky enough to have 2 of the 3! :)
I can’t believe I’ve never tried this!
Whoa – are you at least part Irish? Folks seem to like my traditional Irish soda bread which is pretty amazing, since I am such a terrible baker that I almost tossed the kneaded dough out – but it worked OK. https://lizthechef.com/2013/03/13/traditional-white-irish-soda-bread/
Not Irish in the least but lived in Chicago for a long time and something about Baileys, mmm, so good! Oh yes, the sugar and the cream!
I absolutely DO have a favorite way to enjoy Baileys, and the recipe is very simple- Baileys and a load of ice. Works every time. Especially great around the holidays, but good any time of year ;)
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Jess
Omg! You cracked another recipe to make at home (PB, choco PB, now Baileys!). LOVE this! Especially the addition of condensed milk :)
It’s so quick & easy and pretty soon I’ll be making my own flour and knitting our clothes. Kidding :)
MMMM!!! My middle name is Bailey. My family is British. I have dual (british & american) citizenship. I work at a British Pub (that’s my st. paddy’s day plans – 2nd busiest day of the year! Insane) so it’s only obvious I would LOVE Bailey’s and I do! My drink of choice ;) Now I have to make it, you make it sound so darn easy!
Well with all those factoids, this is destined to get made by you! If you try it, please LMK!