Homemade Baileys Irish Cream
It’s the week of St. Patrick’s Day, and I’m bringing you three straight days of festive recipes perfect for your March 17th celebrations! In years past, I’ve enjoyed using Baileys Irish Cream in recipes such as Car Bomb Cupcakes and Guinness Chocolate Cake with Baileys Irish Cream Cheese Frosting. A few weeks ago, I started thinking about what types of recipes I wanted to make for St. Patrick’s Day and began thinking about the possibility of creating Irish cream liquor at home instead of buying a bottle. I did some Googling and found a ton of recipes that already existed… I narrowed them down to the ones that began with a base of Irish whiskey (versus vodka, which some recipes called for) and went from there. In the end, I couldn’t believe how insanely easy it was to whip up this popular liquor at home with ingredients that I already had on hand. Five minutes is all you need!
Start with Jameson whiskey (or your favorite brand of Irish whiskey), then throw in some cream, sweetened condensed milk, instant coffee, chocolate syrup and vanilla and give it a whir in the blender for a few minutes until blended and creamy. Funnel it into pretty bottles and refrigerate for up to 2 months! You can use it in recipes or give it as a gift for holidays or special occasions.
The drink is smooth, creamy and definitely packs a little bit of a punch!
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Watch How to Make Homemade Baileys Irish Cream:
What’s your favorite recipe using Baileys Irish Cream?
One year ago: Irish Whiskey Soda Bread with Irish Whiskey Butter
Two years ago: Irish Brown Bread and Guinness-Milk Chocolate Ice Cream
Three years ago: St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Cookies
Four years ago: Braised Beef with Mushrooms and Cabernet Sauce
Five years ago: Russian Grandmothers’ Apple Pie-Cake
Six years ago: Mexican Rice
Homemade Baileys Irish Cream
Ingredients
- 1⅔ cups (393.33 ml) Jameson Irish whiskey
- 1 cup (238 ml) half & half or heavy cream
- 14 ounce (396.89 ml) canned sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree on high speed for 30 seconds.
- Transfer mixture to an airtight container or glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Shake well before using.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
What’s the difference in Irish whiskey and Kentucky or Tennessee whiskey? I have some Crown and Jim Beam and wondered if they would work?
Hi Lisa, There are multiple differences among all the different types of whiskey (Irish, Scotch, Canadian, Kentucky Bourbon, Tennessee, etc.) – how they’re distilled, for how long, the type of vessels that are used. If you Google you’ll find all sorts of information. That being said, I’m sure you could make this with another type of whisky; I had Jameson already and using an Irish whiskey just makes it feel more authentic ;-)
I made this Bailey’s recipe this afternoon and it turned out delicious! I couldn’t help but the continued sampling with amazement how tasty this turned out. I used instant expresso powder and some regular whiskey and fudge topping with the end results much finer than the my purchased bottle. Thanks so much for sharing.
LOVE Baileys! And Jameson is my whiskey of choice, so this just screams “make me on Sunday!!!” :)
What a delicious idea!
Thirsty…Tuesday? lol… doesn’t sound quit as rhythmic as ‘Thirsty Thursday’ but totally what your pictures and recipe are making me :) I tried to make a home made Bailey’s, but the recipe called for an almond liquor, which was WAY to strong of a flavor… excited to try this out1 Thanks for modivation to get throug the day :) Happy Tuesday :)
Ok. Another party pooper here. But what if you made this without the alcohol? For us very un-Irish teetotalers who still have a fondness for the sweet stuff? Would it just be cold mocha cocoa?
Hi Charm, I’m not sure what you’d replace the alcohol with, but you could play around with some other ingredients and experiment!
I love this stuff made with Jameson Irish Whiskey!!
This looks fantastic! But can it really be kept in the fridge for 2 months? Brilliant if it can but then again let’s face it, it will never last that long!
I had no idea you could make this at home, love that you use Jameson, the real irish whiskey! Happy St. Patty’s Day Michelle! Also I love those jar-like glasses!
xoxo M
You’re seriously making me drool over my screen this morning! Looks so delectable! And not to mention, extremely easy to whip up! (=
You are the QUEEN of Irish themed recipes! I always go to you for inspiration, and posted a recipe of yours this morning on my blog actually. I can’t wait to try this!
Always wanted to make this! Although, I’m concerned that the instant coffee granules won’t disolve?
Hi Karla, They definitely dissolve! I had no issues.
I don’t buy instant coffee — can I use regular coffee and/or expresso as a substitute? Hate to buy a whole jar of instant coffee if I can sub strong coffee?
Hi Christine, If you have instant espresso powder, you could use that. You don’t want to use the non-instant, as the granules may not dissolve.
Buy a whole jar of instant coffee!! Then you’ll have a good excuse to make a TON of homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream… ;)
You can get a box that contains 7 (I think) individual servings of instant coffee. Here the brand is usually Taster’s Choice and you can get it at the grocery store or drugstore. It can often be found for $1.00.
what do you think about an infusion?
you can heat the cream and make the coffee with it… then you cool it and use it don’t know about how much coffee you must use… just an idea to try.
:)
I don’t drink coffee so I buy the tiny jar of Maxwell house instant coffee. I think they’re 2 oz. and it’s just enough to make a couple recipes that require instant coffee granules.
Is the instant coffee prepared or just the powdered granules?
Not prepared, just the granules.
Using Liquid camp coffee gives a really great flavour and a touch (large) of white wine is also good
FYI, the recent 2 recipes that I printed (including this yummy looking Irish Cream) have printed with weird fonts and letters in all of your pink headings. They are actually unreadable. Does anyone else have this problem?
On another note, do you have a DIY recipe for sweetened condensed milk? I would like to make this recipe non dairy using soy milk et al but don’t know of a good substitute for the sweetened condensed milk.
Thank you so much for letting me know about the printing issues, I will definitely look into that. As for a sweetened condensed milk substitute, I did a quick Google search and there were tons of results for making your own at home. I’m not sure what you have available, so you may want to check out some of the different recipes. Good luck!
Ohhhh, I love this recipe! It is so perfect for St. Patty’s day!!! Thank you so much for sharing.
Are you kidding me? This is incredible! Baileys is so delicious, especially in coffee or hot chocolate. I CANNOT wait to try this!!
Homemade Bailey’s?! Uh oh… :)
Ahhh, such nostalgia. When I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador, I made just about everything from scratch at friends’ requests – English muffins, cinnamon buns, pizza, etc. etc. I had forgotten that we also made our own Baileys!
This looks amazing!
My recipe also has almond extract, eggs & you don’t need expensive whiskey. I make it evey year as Christmas gifts for my neighbors. They love it!!
my recipe has eggs too , and makes it soooo good .
Please send me the recipe I lost mine in a house fire
Wow Amy, way to ruin the party. :(
Homemade “Baileys” always kicks off the holiday season in my home. I make it on a Saturday morning and my husband and I taste test until it’s just right! :) my recipe has a longer ingredient list but I’ve had several over the years and they are all good!
I suppose for MLK Day you’ll feature “lynching” cupcakes? What’s wrong with you?
???????????
Huh?
If you’re going to get on your high horse, at least post on the correct recipe. She’s complaining about “Irish Carbomb Cupcakes”. It’s just a name based on a drink, not a political statement.
So glad to have a translator to help weed out the crazy. I’m Irish, and still didn’t get around to being offended by the name.
Good God–hasn’t that poor dead horse been beaten enough already?
Oh Beth – Where’s a “like” button when ya need one?!? I’ve been stewing about her comment all day. Thank you for taking care of it!!
Holy Smokes… I think I’ll have a drink (of bailey’s) on that note!
No one is forcing you to view BeB…give it a rest already.
WTF?
You could have been a bit more creative with your hateful and rude comment.
Klankakes, Watermelon tea, James Earl Ray’sen bread, Compton cornbread or Chicken in chains would have been much more creative. I am not a racist or a hater by any means but “lynching cupcakes” was just plain idiotic in my humble opinion. :/
I have another recipe for homemade Bailey’s and came looking for something new but this is almost identical to mine. Try adding a teaspoon of almond extract to the mix, trust me.
Sláinte! Óglaigh na hÉireann!
Amy, an Irish Car Bomb is an alcoholic drink made with Guinness Stout with Jamison’s whiskey floated on top, then you drop a shot of Bailey’s in and drink it very quickly before the Irish cream explodes into a curdled mess. I haven’t looked at this recipe yet, but I have been making Irish Car Bomb Cakes and cupcakes for years and they are delicious – a chocolate Guinness Stout cake, with Bailey’s pastry cream filling and Jamison Whiskey frosting.
Hi there, that sounds awesome! I make them as well but a tad different, I put a Whiskey Ganache in the middle of the Guiness Stout cupcake and than top with Baileys whipped frosting :)
Hi Amy, was just reading the comments for this recipe and I was wondering if you were Ireland or are you Irish-American? Just curious, I’ve never heard anybody be upset by that drink name before?
It is incredibly offensive to turn a terrible tragedy into a “lighthearted” drink name. My partner is from the UK, came close to being in a London bus that was bombed during the Troubles (decided not to take the bus that day), and was HORRIFIED when he came to the US and found there was a drink called that. To a person from the UK or Ireland, it is the equivalent to naming a drink “The 9/11”–way beyond the pale.
I have been wanting to try homemade Irish Cream for two years. And (funny coincidence), now that i just stoped brestfeeding, you post this recipe. Thanks!
Omigosh. I adore a glass of Bailey’s on the rocks. And then another glass. so good. This recipe could be dangerous on multiple levels!
This recipe sounds delicious! Can’t wait to make it!
Thanks for the post.
Gina :)
Hi. Silly question, but, I guess this is good as long as the cream doesn’t expire? Usually cream has 1 week before it expires here. Perhaps I could freeze this? Because of the alcohol, it won’t get solid anyways. Thanks!
When I make it I keep it in the freezer. You are correct it doesn’t freeze and it’s just like a WENDY’S FROSTY! Really yum!!
Oh dear God, an alcoholic frosty….
And who doesn’t love an alcoholic frosty?
no one answered the question , how long will it last before it spoils?
Hi Robin, The recipe states how long the Irish cream will last – 2 months.
made this recipe for the last 4 times every week,dont last a week in my fridge ,love it that much,havent been well so hadnt touched my bottle i made 2 weeks ago,thought id have some and to my amazement when i tipped it into the glass it was like cottage cheese,how come it states up to 2 months keeping,
Hi Sue, It definitely should not have curdled after 2 weeks. I wonder if the cream that you used was a little old to begin with?
hi michelle,the cream was definately fresh,when im better i will make some more,see how it goes
I want to INHALE this. Or guzzle it! I have seen this homemade recipe floating around, done on many blogs, and every time I see it, I kick myself for not making it. Pinning! You outdid yourself!
I love this stuff!