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.
great
great
How do you keep chocolate from settling? Been making for years and always happens. Shaking doesnโt really help mix back in.
I just shake to re-incorporate and it mixes in fine for me. I don’t know what to suggest other than just shake vigorously.
I want to make this but i have no idea that how to use in coffee. What should be the proportion if usig in one cup of coffee or should it be drink just like that either hot or cold? Sorry for my silly question.
Add a splash like you would add half and half.
Wow this recipe is great, it makes me farewell instant coffee, like it , thanks for sharing!
This looks great. Thanks for sharing. Did I miss the actual amounts for the cream, condensed milk & Irish Whiskey?
Yes I think you must have missed it because the recipe with all the amounts of ingrededients are listed clearly.
This Irish cream recipe is phenomenal. Definitely sometime to indulge in once in a while (not frequently because of the high sugar and fat content). Due to religious reasons, I cannot drink alcohol. The first time I tried the recipe, I used whipping cream and it came out very thick. The second time, I used half whipping cream and half full cream milk (this was an accidental discovery as I had poured half a cup of whipping cream away accidentally and was only left with half a cup). I also used 2 teaspoons of non-alcoholic rum and brandy essence both times and it came out lighter (less heavy which I prefer) but was still very creamy. You can add more essence/extract if you want more of the alcohol flavouring. This is HEAVEN!!
I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
Ah crud…my computer auto filled my last name & I can’t figure out how to edit it off! :(
Averie, can you edit or fix it please?
Now I have a use for the instant coffee we have! I got my guy to switch to real coffee by getting him a one cup coffee maker for Christmas…
I’m stoked to give this a whirl…but I don’t have a blender, ha!