Homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur, anyone? This copycat version only takes a few minutes to make, is perfect for gifting, and is easily customized to suit your taste buds. Yes, please! 😋

Pouring a glass of homemade Bailey's Irish cream

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or any other holiday celebration, keeping your spirits high is key. Of course, you have nothing to worry about when you have this creamy liquor on hand. And making this simple, sweet, and sensational drink at home is a breeze.

Let me just say that everyone who has tasted this homemade version prefers it to store-bought Bailey’s Irish Cream. AND you can customize it to suit you and your guests! So, I am going to keep this short and sweet because it’s time to celebrate, my friend! 😉

Content…

Customizing Your DIY Bailey’s Irish Cream
Coffee in Homemade Bailey’s?
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make It
More Delectable Holiday Drinks
Watch How to Make It

An ice cold glass of homemade Irish cream

Customizing Your DIY Bailey’s Irish Cream

I have adapted the flavor to suit my taste buds. By all means do the same. You can spice it up with nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice, or you can jazz it up with almond or mint extract. I’ve included my recommended amounts for these optional ingredients, but you can use more or less as you see fit.

As for the alcohol, I tried Jameson Irish whiskey first, but any brand will do. I’ve even tried it with locally available whiskeys, like Jack Daniels or a Kentucky bourbon. Eventually, I found that I prefer it with rum (not authentic, but delicious).

That said, with so many other flavors added to the mix, any old whiskey will do. So, unless you’re a die-hard whiskey enthusiast, you can go for the cheaper variety without noticing a substantial difference.

Then there’s consumption. You can drink it on its own, over ice, spike your hot coffee or hot chocolate, or any other way you love to use your Irish cream. Do you see how super versatile it is?

Coffee in Homemade Bailey’s?

For me, the instant coffee in this recipe adds a special touch to the overall flavor. However, a lot of home cooks have asked me if they really need to add it. If you don’t have any or don’t like instant coffee, by all means, leave it out. This stuff will still be delish.

If you are worried about caffeine, you can always use decaf instant coffee instead. And if the problem is that you are a real coffee snob (no judgment here!), then yes, add a teaspoon or two of freshly brewed espresso to the mix. But please note that the end product will be just a tad thinner.

Recipe Ingredients

Dairy – You’ll need both heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk for this ultra-creamy drink.
Liquor – Whiskey or rum works well in this boozy cream drink. Go with Jameson whiskey for an authentic Irish flavor.
Instant Coffee – Instant coffee creates a delightfully layered flavor profile in this cream. If you are worried about caffeine, though, you can leave it out.
Chocolate Syrup – Just a hint of rich chocolate flavor is all you need to perfect this drink.
Extracts – Vanilla extract enhances each flavor, and almond extract delivers subtle, nutty notes for an elegant liqueur vibe.
Optional Ingredients – If you want to mix it up a bit, add some or all of the following ingredients: mint extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Pouring a glass of freshly made creamy liqueur

How to Make Homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream

Combine all the ingredients in your blender.
Blend on high speed for about a minute.
Serve the blended cream over ice or pour it into a bottle with a sealable lid.
Store – Keep it refrigerated for up to two months. (PSA: It’s never going to last that long! 😜) Or freeze it for even longer and have it ice cold over ice cream. The alcohol should keep it from freezing solid for a delicious slushy.

More Delectable Holiday Drinks

Happy Holidays!!!!!

By Imma

Watch How to Make It

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This blog post was originally published in December 2016 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video