Homemade Baileys Irish Cream Recipe

Make a copycat version of the creamy Baileys Irish Cream drink in your own kitchen and in no time! Homemade Baileys is indulgent and delicious. It is a holiday and winter staple and in just a few minutes you can make a batch to share with friends and family.

Every year when the holidays and winter start approaching I express gratitude that I love food so much. There is so much yummy food and drink to enjoy this time of year. Enjoying a glass of Baileys Irish Cream is an indulgence for me and only happens a couple times a year, but when it happens I so thoroughly enjoy that drink.

A few years ago (ok, maybe more than a decade ago) a good friend of ours invited us over to his house for a holiday gathering. He was known for making huge spreads of food that we would all devour. This one year, though, he had set out a pitcher of homemade Baileys so of course I had to give it a try. I could not believe how delicious it was. Even better than the original!

So here is his recipe, tweaked a tiny bit because I can never make a recipe completely as-is. You are going to LOVE this recipe!

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE IRISH CREAM

In a blender, combine the following ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups liquor of choice
• 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• 2 teaspoons coffee granules
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Puree until smooth. Refrigerate until chilled and serve with or without ice. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

RECIPE NOTES

• Use your favorite liquor for this recipe, but here are a few great options: Irish whiskey, brandy, rum (my personal fave), bourbon, scotch or rye. Each one will produce a different flavor, so experiment a bit if you’d like!
• Use ground or instant coffee for this drink. The instant variety is fine to use, but in my opinion ground coffee is much more flavorful. The coffee flavor adds so much depth to the end result, so don’t skip this ingredient.
• This recipe is the PERFECT Christmas gift! Pour it into glass bottles, put a cute little label on it and hand it out to friends and family members this year.
• If you don’t have a blender, use a hand mixer to blend on high speed for 30-60 seconds.
• This is the perfect beverage to enjoy around the holidays, but can also be enjoyed to celebrate St Patrick’s Day!
• Replace a portion (up to 1/2 cup) of the heavy cream with your favorite flavored coffee creamer.

HOW TO STORE IRISH CREAM

Store this creamy beverage in an air-tight container (plastic or glass) in the fridge for up to 1 month. I know, how cool that it will last so long, right? I promise it can’t possibly last that long.

HOW TO SERVE BAILEYS

• Serve chilled straight-up in a glass, with or without ice.
• Pour over vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert drink.
• Pour into a fancy glass and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings for a fancy and delicious dessert drink.
• If you serve this at a party, be sure to serve hot chocolate alongside it as an option for kids.

OTHER DELICIOUS DRINK RECIPES

• The Best Margaritas – This is the best margarita recipe EVER! My husband spent years perfecting this delicious tequila cocktail. You will never need another margarita recipe again!
• 4 Can Margaritas – Pour only FOUR ingredients into a pitcher and a batch of refreshing margaritas is ready for guests! Making drinks could not be easier! All you’ll need is Squirt, tequila, a can of beer and limeade. Easy and delicious!
• Grapefruit Lime Margaritas – Switch up the standard margarita by replacing sweet and sour mix with fresh citrus juice! These Grapefruit Lime Margaritas are refreshing and delicious and perfect for summer!
• Easy Lemon Drop – This Lemon Drop Cocktail is EASY to make and is sure to impress guests. Use honey simple syrup for a less sweet version of the popular adult drink.
• Blueberry Mojitos – A fun little twist on a delicious summery drink! These Blueberry Mojitos are super fresh and yummy.
• The Best Mai Tai – This is the closest you’ll get to replicating the Vegas Mirage hotel’s famous Mai Tai. One of my favorite alcoholic beverages ever!
• Bacon and Pepper Infused Vodka – Bacon makes everything better, even vodka. Add to it a spicy jalapeno for kicks and it’s delicious revelry! If you love food and drinks that makes your mouth burn and my nose run, like me, this is a perfect vodka recipe for you. The spicier, the better! Make this spicy alcohol for a perfect blood mary or a soda.
• Salty Dogs – Vodka and grapefruit juice make a great team! This alcoholic drink is irresistible and a great sipper for sitting on the deck.

IRRESISTIBLE HOLIDAY SNACKS

• Change it up by making candied pecans instead! These are a great snack and also the perfect addition to any leafy salad.
• Salty Toasted Coconut Chips are the perfect anytime snack, but they’ll also go fast on a party table!
• Transform the tart cranberry into a poppable snack by making these sugared cranberries. These come with a warning, though. They’re very hard to stop eating once you start.
• Holiday Snack Mix is one of my favorite snacks to bring to parties in the winter. Every time I do, it gets rave reviews!