How to MakeHomemade Baileys Irish Cream
My homemade Baileys Irish Cream is inexpensive, so tasty, and so easy to make right in your own kitchen that you’ll never want to buy it again. It only takes 10 minutes to mix up a batch.
You can’t go wrong with it as a stand-alone drink, mixed into coffee, or mixed into a cocktail like a mudslide!
This has been one of the most popular recipes on my blog since the day I shared it. Read through the comments to see all the love it has gotten.
Ingredients and Equipment
The real Baileys is a cream liqueur made from cocoa, cream, and Irish whiskey along with a secret blend of flavorings. My copycat version uses coffee in addition to the cocoa flavoring found in the original. Here are a few things to consider as you shop for the ingredients:
- Whiskey – I like to use an Irish whiskey, but you can use any whiskey you have on hand. A lot of my readers wrote in to tell me that they use liquors other than Irish whiskey and liked it even more. Some other spirits to try are:
- a light, blended Scotch like Chivas Regal or Cutty Sark – People say that it ends up tasting the same as when they used Jameson.
- sweeter liquors like brandy – People like the mellow edge it gives the final product.
- Chocolate syrup – Using a good chocolate syrup is important! I use an organic chocolate syrup [paid link] or Hershey’s Simply 5 [paid link].
- Instant coffee – This recipe also calls for instant coffee. To kick up the coffee flavor, choose an instant espresso [paid link].
- Cream – I use heavy cream to make this. Light cream may help you avoid issues with clotting that some people have experienced, but I’ve never had problems.
Tip: I have heard from some of my loyal readers that the 1 2/3 cup (400 ml) of whiskey called for in my recipe is too much. If you prefer a drink that isn’t so strong, then use less; there is no shame in liking the lighter version of something.
You’ll also need a blender. While any blender will do the job, a Vitamix [paid link] is magical and useful for so many other kitchen tasks. I love ours – it can blend anything without even having to catch its breath.
How It’s Made
A discussion forum on Chowhound got me interested in making Baileys for myself. The entire discussion is worth a read as it contains lots of information about the drink.
To make this drink, simply combine all ingredients and put them into your blender.
Blend on low speed for 30 seconds to combine everything.
Tip: Do not blend at high speed – this may introduce foaming and may cause coagulation! Slow and steady is the way to go.
Bottle and refrigerate. Shake just before using!
Expert Tips and FAQs
Variations
- Use another extract, like almond or peppermint, in addition to or replacing the vanilla.
- With all the flavors of chocolate, caramel, and cream already present, adding some mint (either peppermint extract or steeped mint leaves) will add a powerful refreshing note to the drink.
- If you want less sharpness and more umami, try adding a pinch of malted milk powder.
- If you are a fan of cajeta or horchata, throw in a bit of cinnamon to add warmth and spiciness.
FAQs
The original recipe is made with Irish whiskey, so start there if you want to make a version that’s as close as possible to the classic flavor. I’m not convinced that the brand of Irish whiskey you buy has much of an effect on the overall flavor of the drink.
People pay more for fancier whiskeys because they have a lot of delicate, subtle flavors. But after you’ve dumped in as much sugar, chocolate, and cream as this recipe requires, you aren’t going to taste those expensive flavors anyway.
It’s likely that you blended it at too high of a speed, which can cause coagulation. Next time, blend it on low speed until it’s completely mixed.
If your body can’t process the lactose in real cream, or if you want to make this recipe dairy-free, you don’t have to use milk products.
I have heard from many people who successfully use coconut milk, almond milk, or even non-dairy creamer instead of cream to give their homemade Baileys a pleasing, rich texture.
Substitute the sweetened condensed milk with dairy-free condensed milk, too.
This is so yummy that it doesn’t last long at all in my house. If you’re into savoring it, I recommend keeping your bottle in the refrigerator and using it within a couple of months. Freezing it is not recommended as it can lead to the ingredients separating from each other and clogging the bottle.
I have noticed that after a bottle of homemade Baileys mellows in my refrigerator for a week or so, some of the alcohol’s bite disappears. If you feel like your mixture is too strong, let it sit for a while and see if it’s better.
It’s a perfect stand-alone drink, goes well mixed into coffee, and is absolutely essential when you make a mudslide.
Related Recipes
- Frozen and traditional mudslide cocktails
- Baileys cupcakes
- Homemade Kahlua
- Homemade grenadine
- Homemade clotted cream
- Syllabub
Homemade Baileys Irish Cream
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 2/3 cup whiskey I used Jameson Irish Whiskey.
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee You can also use leftover espresso, but keep in mind that you are adding extra water.
- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and set on low speed for 30 seconds. If you blend at too high a speed, you might wind up with coagulation or foaming.
- Bottle in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate. Shake before using.
- Will keep for up to 2 months.
Turned out great
I put the eagle brand milk first in the blender
I used whipping cream a bit less fatty
Eagle brand first then whipping cream gave it a nice blend
I blended for 15 seconds and used a rubber spat hula to push eagle brand to bottom of blender
Finish blending for 15 seconds
Good to go in bottles
Now I patiently wait for my home Baileys to mellow
I made this recipe this morning. It is delicious! I only used 1 cup of Irish whiskey and it was plenty. I can’t wait to have a glass this evening when it’s nice and chilled! I will never buy Bailey’s again!
Made many batches of this for neighbors/friends for Christmas. Found some really cute bottles and added a bow…great gift! I had an old recipe that called for eggs and wanted to update my file. This is outstanding and so much better that store bought.
I make this every year to give as Christmas gifts and it gets rave reviews! One thing I have learned is to avoid having coffee granules floating in the finished mixture, I started putting a few tablespoons of whiskey in the microwave for a few seconds, then I dissolve the coffee granules in the warm whiskey before adding that to the rest of the mix. Problem solved! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
Thanks for the recipe! Sooooo goood! Made it with Jack Daniels – delish! Will be sending these (bottled) to my friends this weekend :)
I made it. I had a chalky after taste. Any idea why. Otherwise it was great.
Please respond.
Thanks
Hmm… I really have no idea. That hasn’t ever happened to me. Sorry!
Can this be vacuum packed to make it last longer?
Hi this recipe is great could u tell me were u bought your vanilla pods from i tried ebay but they was as much as they cost in my grossers shop thank you
Perfect…
After I realized the us > metric conversion is crap.
One cup is not 125ml, it’s about 235.
I have used this recipe for years. I stopped making cookies and make this instead. I make about 10-12 batches of it and give it to people I really like at Christmas time. We call it Holiday Cheer and add it to our coffee each morning during the holidays. So many people ask to be on my Holiday Cheer list each year. I am not kidding. I’ve never had a problem with it being anything other than perfect. FYI- I use to have to really search for bottles but now that home brewing beer has become a big thing, I order the bottles with the ceramic tops from amazon. People seem to always return the bottles to me especially around the holidays hoping for a refill.
Any body know how many ounces this yields?
Is their a special container you can use to keep unrefrigerated like real Baileys?
I want to make a bunch for Christmas gifts and don’t have refrigerator space.
Finally getting ready to make this, but I don’t want to use a blender due to temperature increases that could cause curdling.
I am going to either buy or make a magnetic stirrer to blend without adding heat.
Any thoughts?
Sounds very tasty. Does anyone have an alternative to chocolate syrup?
want recipe to make homemade baileys strawberrys and cream liquor
Can u tell me how to make variations of baileys i.e.: chocolate cherry, pumpkin, etc?
What do you have written on your index cards? Attached to the bottle
Love this recipe! But when you use the instant coffee, are you just using the grinds or are you actually making the 1 tsp of the instant coffee with water and using that? Thank you!
I need clarification – it says it requires time to cool in the refrigerator and takes one hour to make. Am I missing something? Is the mixture supposed to be heated and then cooled? Help. I’d like to make this for the holidays and gift my mom a bottle for Christmas.
I found an old recipe I was given a long time ago. I remember it was delicious at the time. Looking back on it I can’t work out the role of the eggs.
2 eggs, tin of condensed milk, cup of black coffee made with 3 teaspoons of coffee, 300mls of whisky, 300mls of cream (isn’t milk US viewers),1 tspn vanilla essence. Mix, chill, consume.
This recipe was a waste of time and ingredients.
I have made this several times. And goes down very well with my family and friends. It goes down well. Now to try the Kailua
it’s best if you leave out the choc. syrup and the almond extract. Taste more like Baileys.
I’m going to give this a try. If it works out well, you are going yo be my new BFF!!!!!
Mine curdled BAD!!!! How do you prevent this?!?!!!
This is really awesome.★★★★★
I’m from Europe, we don’t measure in cups, can you tell me how many millilitars are in one cup? :)))
Can’t wait to try! Any recommendations for making without a blender? I have an immersion blender but concerned the liquid would fly everywhere, food processor, 20 oz shaker bottle, and kitchen aid stand mixer.
I LOVE baileys. I just made this recipe exactly as laid out except I did not use the almond extract and I stirred it. I ended up with a few curdles which I used a fine sieve to remove. It tastes exactly like Baileys, except the booze is simply overpowering. Next time I will start with 2/3 cup of Jamesons Whiskey as someone suggested and see how it tastes and add 1/4 cup more at a time – if needed at all. If you want to duplicate Baileys, 1 2/3 cup of whiskey is way too much.
All the cream and condensed milk solidified. I do not recommend heavy cream for this recipe
How much does this recipe make please?
I have a bottle of Baileys and it is dated 04 2014, is it still good…it has never been opened?
Yuck! Far too much sugar! Also please use good chocolate not American junk. Better still stick to the real thing!
I really loved it it is my favouraate
Thanks for the Baileys recipe, never again will I buy it when I can blend it at home. On this occasion I tried it with rum as I had no whisky at home and wow what a kick, loving it. I will experiment with different extracts, the almond and vanilla is delicious.
Thx again
Kel
:.)
I made this twice and both times it had lumps. Can anyone advise?
I made my Irish Cream with an immersion blender since that was all I had before Christmas and it turned out great. I am now in my florida house with a vitamin and it is not turning out right at all, it appears the condensed milk is not mixing properly and I have all kinds of lumps floating on top. If I mix it longer it gets warm. Any ideas?
Though I am not a big fan of Irish Creme, my husband loves it. But please don’t leave out the almond extract, and use a good brand. It makes all the difference in an alright taste and the real thing!
Mine has curdled, how do I fix it?Please help, Im making it to bottle as gifts……
My favorite drink.
1/2 crystal head vodka, 1/2 baileys in a divided shot glass, drink, shake your head to mix heaven!
I followed the recipe verbatim, it turned out delicious but I encountered one problem. I have a Blendtec blender and after processing it on high speed for 30 seconds heavy whipping cream curdled or you might say it started forming the whip cream. I poured into bottle and refrigerated it. It does not bother me the buttery top in the glass but I would not serve it to anyone. Any suggestions how to address this issue?
Next time I make this I will process it for 15 sec. max.
Thank you for a delicious recipe.
Hi, just tried the baileys recipe I did it in the exact order listed, after blending it cuddled. Blended it again and it seemed to come out right, then put it in the fridge and when I checked it after a couple of hours it had cuddled again. Any idea where I might have gone wrong? After the second blending(both times in my vitamix) it tasted great. Thanks
I make big batches of this every year for gifts, and it’s always a hit. After some experimentation I have found that cheap scotch works great as a substitute, and I’ll often blend in Whoppers, gourmet toffees or peppermint bark chocolate to customize the flavors a bit more. A wonderful and simple recipe, and easy to play with to make it your own. Thanks so much for this, now it’s back to the kitchen for me.
How much does one recipe make?
I just made 4 batches of this using about half of the alcohol (Jameson), half and half instead of the cream, cinnamon/vanilla extract instead almond/vanilla, Folger’s instant coffee, and Hershey’s chocolate syrup. My neighbors are all receiving some for Christmas with homemade cinnamon rolls. We are keeping a half bat h for ourselves. :) Very excited to try it!!
How much does the recipe yield?
Since it will be a gift how long until you HAVE to refrigerate it?
I have a recipe that is very similar to this, however it calls for coconut extr
There’s no freakin’ way this would last anywhere near 2 months in my fridge . . . Gonna try making it tomorrow!
I’ve done a very similar recipe for a friend’s bday late may and it’s still fresh and delicious in the refrigerator.
Heklo friends, howw is the whole thing, and what you wish for to
ssay concerning this paragraph, in my view its inn fact amazing designed for me.
Don’t be afraid to make adjustments according to your own taste. I followed this recipe exactly the first time I made it, and it was good. I adjusted it the second time and we all thought it was better. First I used 1/2 and 1/2, next, my DH said to use Bushmills instead of Jamesons, he loves Irish coffee and he said Bushmills tastes best in coffee (he’s tried them all), cheaper too. Then I used cocoa powder instead of chocolate syrup to cut the sweetness a little, and last of all I used instant expresso powder instead of run-of-the-mill instant coffee. It was delish!! Thanks for getting me started.
I used 1 2/3 cup of jack daniel’s. The flavor was strong so I recommend to use only 1 cup of this type of wiskey
My oh my! Little bit of whiskey is all I need!
by the time you buy the blender and ingredients for this what they specify…would be cheaper to get it at the liquor store
Don’t use a blender then, use a wire whip.
i have been trying to find coffee flavored baileys and can not find it so how much coffee should i add
RUFUS Scroll to the top, the recipe has all you need to know!
This is a great recipe, but although I absolutely love rich creamy things, I do not recommend using whipping cream. Next time I’ll use a slightly lighter cream so it’s not quite soooooo thick and oily.
A waste of good Irish whiskey. I will toss the whole batch and the recipe,,,, save your money and buy Baileys to start with..
when whiskey and heavy cream meet, the cream curdles and separates.
Rather than try to emulate Bailey’s, make your own to your liking:
Rather than light cream, use the freshest, richest, heaviest cream you can find.
If you like, to reduce the sweetness, cut the sweetened condensed milk in half and make up the difference with more heavy cream.
Rather than instant coffee, brew (or double brew) a cup of strong dark coffee or use expresso.
Rather than chocolate syrup (high fructose corn syrup + chocolate flavoring), get dark 85% Cocoa, melt it down, and mix with the cream. It doesn’t take much (1 TSP instead of 2).
Adjust the proportions in small amounts to get it to your liking.
I’m with you on the real chocolate, although it does seem to re-congeal in the fridge. Have to give ‘er a good shake. Still don’t love the super-thick cream though.
I think the idea behind this recipe is good, easy and fast.
I converted you’re whole recipe to ML which gave me 1102ML I then converted to OZ which gave me roughly
37.3OZ gave or take
I did this in case anyone was wondering like me what size of Jar or Bottle or craft they needed to get….
Cheers Tom.B
Great recipe!!! very close to the real thing at a third the cost. I think Baileys must use a whiskey like Drambuie because it has a bit more bite.
this is amazing! i really love it
Fantastic recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Just wanted to say, in your video one of the questions was can you make a non-alcoholic version of this. You could try this, (WARNING USE A CHEEP WHISKEY BECAUSE GETTING THE TIME RIGHT IS HARD)before you start to combine the ingredients start with the whiskey in a pot, twice the amount required in the recipe put it on the stove and heat, don’t boil just heat.
Alcohol evaporates at room temperature, but with drinking alcohol it is a different temp so it will take time and each whiskey has a different time based on the ingredients and age of the bottle.
With Jamesons I found that 8 minutes was the best time.The issues is not letting it come to a boil because that changes the taste of the whiskey.
Once this is complete set it aside and let it cool at room temperature, until it is at room temp. I did this 9 times and using my Liquor Hydrometer i found that the alcohol content was below 0.04 in all tests. The taste was not exactly the same as the original, but for these purposes it works quite well.
Regards,
Sean
I watched the demo video and she put in less than 1 cup so I realised the recipe meant 1/3 of a cup, not 1 and 1/3 of a cup,just as well it would have been too strong for me. just made some – so happy, it is very good indeed, going to make baileys cheesecake tomorrow-yay
Please let us know the results!
I used BV instead of Jameson. I used coffee flavored vodka about 1/2 cup and plan to use amaretto 1/2 cup also instead of almond extract. Don’t skip the almond flavoring part, it makes all the difference. These changes taste great and up the alcohol content quite a lot. Yeeee Hawwww!!!
As I said above in another reply, the calculated proof is off because you’re counting the whiskey as pure alcohol. It’s only about 40% so according to my own calculations, 1-2/3 cup whiskey means about 2/3 cup alcohol. Folks tend to forget to make an adjustment for the volume of alcohol based on the proof.
It’s because people are counting the whiskey as though it were 100% alcohol, or 200 proof.
People tend to forget you first have to figure out how much of the booze is actually alcohol, then divide the amount of alcohol by the amount of the full volume of liquid to get the percentage/proof.
I wanted to make this and found Jameson is $25/bottle. I can buy an off-brand of Irish cream, like Merry’s, for $12 and 1.75 liters for about $21. The economics aren’t there, let alone the cost of my time.
How can it be 40% alcohol when the whiskey by itself is 40% before dilution in the mix?
How long do you think the Baileys will last for, if refrigerated? I made this as a gift 2 weeks ago but have not yet seen my friend. Plan to see her this weekend. Wondering if it is bad. Looks and smells fine.
How much does this recipe make?
Of course I would share.
I made this for my Dad (I don’t drink) and he was very impressed. He found that the 1 2/3 cup whisky was extremely strong, but thoroughly enjoyed it. I was a bit alarmed at first when it looked “solid” in the pitcher, but then realized it was just the foam that the blender created.
One suggestion: Add a ~1/2 cup whisky to the sweetened condensed milk to start with and blend. I ended up with a few clumps of the milk that didn’t get thoroughly incorporated because it became too thin once the other liquid was added and couldn’t mix in well enough.
I followed the recipe exactly as above, except I used a shot of espresso (30ml or about 2 tablespoons) instead of instant coffee. Also used about 200ml of Jameson which seems strong enough. All up it tastes very good.
Hi, not sure what form your vanilla is – I have extract, that ok? I’m making this for my Granddad…so excited! (Hope there’ll be some leftover for me ;-) )
I made this years ago and occasionally shared the recipe and a bottle with a friend at Christmas. I discovered that a “fifth” of Jamison’s (that a 750 ml. for metric users) makes two batches, and every two batches you gain an attractive green bottle for giving or keeping! Enjoy!
Just made this..it is perfect!! Made it exactly as written..YUM!! Thank you for posting :)
Adjust whiskey as you like .. 1 and 2/3 cups (i.e 13.33 Ounces) is a bit much.
Making this is NOT cheaper than buying premade but you can flavor and increase the “kick” (i.e. amount of alchohol) to your liking
Buy the least expensive Irish whiskey you can, I found a $14 bottle
Adjust amount of Chocolate syrup to your liking
You can use espresso or very strong coffee but only about 2-3 Tablespposn otherwise too much liquid.
I also add a wee bit (I dont measure) of Coffee Liquer
Go easy on almond extract, I only add a drop or two
Definately need eggs — I throw caution to the wind and add raw egss – put them in blender first, then pour whiskey over them in blender – no salmonella yet but “eggbeaters” (pasteurized premixed eggs) work too
Dont use heavy cream if pouring into a used whiskey bottle to store as the cream solids will rise and block the neck of bottle — Maybe you can use heavy cream if using a wide mouth mason jar — I found Light cream works fine though, I even cheat sometimes and use half light cream and half “Half and Half”
I have a few more secret ingredients but won’t share those..they are what make mine special to me. Enjoy!! and don’t drink it all yourself from the blender while making it
It’s totally way cheaper. I have a $32 bottle of Bailey’s I poured it into. Doubling this recipe fits more than the whole thing in the bottle. (There was extra left over. I did decrease the whiskey. It was too strong for me.)
I don’t like raw eggs at all. It made mine slightly foamy and made me slightly nauseated with the bacteria threat. I think raw eggs are dangerous. Baileys still is still the diamond and the homemade recipe is the fake. lol
Wing tip?, Jogger?, Stiletto?
Give HER a bottle next Christmas and surprise her lol
I thought this was going to be fun, not doing math. Math makes my head hurt, too much irish cream makes my head hurt but I still enjoy doing one, can you guess?
what are you guys storing the finished product in?
I used Kilner clip-top bottles that I bought specially, but my old MiL used to use recycled spirit bottles.
wow just made it we cannot belive it merry christmas everyone
For those having curdling issues, chill all the liquids in the fridge for a while before preparing. I used about half the amount of whisky (scotch) and replaced the chocolate syrup with 2 dessert spoons of cocoa powder, which in retrospect was probably too much.
I’m in favour of the almond extract (I’ve made with and without), but will leave it out when I make a fruit version of this liqueur; I just can’t decide upon Strawberries and Cream or Raspberry with white chocolate.
HI, I have canadian whisky and chivas regal but don’t have Irish whiskey, so which one is the best replacement? And can I use cacao instead of chocolate syrup?
Oh, and I definitely use the coconut extract. It really makes a big difference in the taste.
I have been making this for years and use Hershey’s chocolate syrup, not cocoa powder, and I use cheap whiskey and brewed or instant coffee. Always turns out good. NO EGG!!!!!
For those of you that can’t get Iris Whiskey or any type of whisky, you can use white wine instead,Try it really nice
lower case t – teaspoon
upper case T – Tablespoon
Ok I guessed what the C stands for but what is a T (teaspoon or Tablespoon?????).
I also just did the calculations and got around 14% with some estimating so I am really confused as well about people saying it is 40% or WAY STRONGER than Bailey’s. Very interesting!
USed 1.5 cups of the cheapest whiskey and a quarter teaspoon of almond extract along with heavy cream and just using a hand whisk. Poured it in mason jars. Its really good immediately but even better after it has time to rest. Fun little project that takes 10 minutes. Go ahead, be the hero.
I’m on my 2nd batch…love it. I do prefer it without the Almond Extract and since we have scotch in the closet collecting dust, I’ll try that next time.
couldn’t find CHEAP whiskey…..
had to buy the jamesson for $20 because i thought it was 1 2/3 cups and i wanted to make 3 batches….so i needed 6 cups…where i really only needed 3 cups!!! uggghhhhh….getting expensive….
dawn
Hahaaaa Im Old Greg!!!
Bailey’s…creamy beige…
Try using only 2/3c instead and if you can resist it let it chill for a cpl wks mixing occasionally. It will meld all ing. together and be more mellow.
No, t= tsp, Teaspoon
T = tbsp, Tablespoon
and if you read the comments the 1 2/3 whiskey is a matter of taste. Some ppl say they like it strong others say to go 2/3c it was also said if you use 1 2/3 c let it set for awhile and it will meld together smoother.
Right instant grounds will dissolve when blended.
I tried the recipe and it worked out just fine except that I made some modifications. I used the Haig (Scotch instead of Irish Whiskey). I skipped the almond extract too. I am amazed at how well it turned out for a fraction of the cost. I had an old Baileys bottle lying at home and filled it into that. Now I need to wait and watch how long it lasts.
A US cup is 240ml – not far from the metric cup (250ml).
Sorry posting this in the wrong section I think
BUT being from UK took me ages to work out what 1C was for anyone else none the wiser it stands for cup
Just got to work out if its A cup or DD -guess what I am going for?
That looks like the same recipe I’ve used for many years. I usually use brandy instead of whiskey, and I’ve often left out the coffee. It’s always good!
OMG this stuff is good. I just made 2 batches and i love it better than the real stuff.
You mixed it too long, period, if you used the heavy whipping cream. How do I know that? Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, LOL! I learned to blend it for about 10 seconds at a time, usually doesn’t require more than 20. Pour it in a container (I use a mason jar), you can shake it then every so often to keep it mixed.
I would name your blog the dreamland! While Santa knocks at our door just once per year, you blog is open the whole year – wow!
Would you be willing to share your recipe?
LEARN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS!!!
Learn to use Google!!!
You might want to LEARN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF MANNERS!!!
I’m an avid Baileys fan myself and I can’t wait to try this homemade potion… Thanks for posting and I’ll keep you posted.
Cheers,
Lilly :)
Montreal – where a 1L bottle of Baileys is $40 cad :(
What does the “t” and “T” mean? Also has anyone made this without the Irish Whiskey? I love Irish Cream in my coffee at work. Can’t exactly “drink” at work. lol
Ryan: Those are very common (in the US, at least) abbreviations for teaspoon and Tablespoon.
Hi all,
Will try this – in the past we have just grabbed a bottle of butterscotch schnaps and got sanitarium long life soy (comes in a green tetra pak i in Oz) forget ratios thats the fun part.
May be more like a CS Cowboy in reality, but reminded me of days holidaying in Broome and this was the thing we were doing around the time, aaah Broome, need a holiday again ha ha
Enjoy
Cheers
Graeme
Geze, actually no need for the ‘1’ before the 2/3.
To me, Baileys has a subtle caramel flavor in the background. I am going to add some caramel syrup.
Would love to see recipe mentioned by “Anonymous” that was found in the newspaper in Germany in the 80’s.
hey how much could i use if how using powder form chocolate instead of syrup?
Yes brewed coffee 2tsp…was just as good!
I’m new to this blog and don’t “mean to be mean” but isn’t “Bailey’s” a trademark? On a public board, should you post a recipe called “homemade Bailey’s?” Perhaps it would be better to refer to the recipe as “homemade Irish creme liqueur.” Companies spend a lot of effort, time and money in order to Brand their products so people know what to expect. I think that to serve homemade Irish creme and tell guests it’s “homemade Bailey’s” is wrong. That said, add me to the list of those thanking you for posting this!
Just for a laugh I put green food colour drops in and had them guess what it was. great idea for st paddies day
The best way would be to chop up the mint and let it seep in the Irish Whiskey.for a week or two. Until it reaches the desired strength.. Strain the chopped up leaves and then pour the whiskey thru a couple of dampened coffee filters to remove any left over mint..
Ive heard of people using vodka and they said it was good!
I made it first time with 1/2 and 1/2 and second time with vanilla flavored Silk soy milk! It was just as good! But I still used the condensed milk :( being vegetarian I wonder what to use instead of the condensed milk? what did u use?
I was looking for cheaper Baily’s and found this – I’d estimate it at approximately half the price. It’s very good, but it sort of tastes like chocolate milk with whiskey. I think next time I’m going to back off some on the chocolate syrup, and maybe the condensed milk as well. As far as the amount of alcohol, it seems just right to me.
You mixed warm alcohol with cold milk. Chill your alcohol before adding it to cold milk. That’s why in the bar when you order a mixed drink that has milk in it they pour the alcohol over the ice before adding the milk.
Hope this helps.
I’ve been eying this recipe for about 2 weeks now. I finally made it tonight and decided to only use 1/3 of the liquor. I’m glad I made that decision, because obviously the flavors haven’t had time to meld, but! the alcohol taste was so strong it was described as, “A chocolate milkshake with whiskey” by one of my taste-testers. I followed the recipe to a t minus the whiskey amount (and I, too, used Jameson’s as it’s all they sold here for Irish Whiskey that was under $45), but I’m surprised at how much it doesn’t taste like Bailey’s. I’ll try it again in a few days (or tomorrow) and see how it goes. That’s not to say I don’t like it — it’s really delicious! But it’s just not Bailey’s-y to me.
That is so not the original recipe for Bailey’s Irish Cream. It might taste good but that ain’t it. The reason I know is I cut out the original recipe from a newspaper in Germany back in the 80’s. Then I made it. I bought a bottle of Bailey’s and poured the store bought in a glass along with what I made in another glass. I tested them both for color and taste. They were indistinguishable from one another.
Well then, what is it?
do you have that recipe still?
Yes, I’d love that recipe! I thought I saw it online, but can’t seem to locate it.
I followed these directions and it curdled! Quite disappointing. Any ideas why this may have happened?
LOL.. No, I’m sorry! Bailey’s will NOT keep for two months. Not in my house!!
This is so amazing. It tastes exactly like the real thing.
Could there be a non-dairy Baileys? What is the difference between Irish and Scotch whiskey?
I tried it with soy and green coffee. It wasn’t bad for a first try. I also used vanilla extract.
I would love to get ideas. I’m trying to keep my diet dairy free but baileys is far too expensive to buy in Australia and they don’t have 2 litre bottles anywhere.
What is the preservative so it doesn’t have to be kept in the fridge, I mean the spare ones. HeHe!
What is a real good cream soda? I want it!!!
Gonna make this recipe today!
I love homemade drinks like this. Looks great!
Made this today for St, Patty’s day. It was really yummy! My guests loved i!! Thanks!!!
Mine turned into sludge too! Tastes great but too thick. Although I actually set my timer for 30 seconds, I think my blender is too powerful and I “whipped” the cream. Next time I will mix it by hand with a whisk.
That happened to me. Only blend 15-20 sec. or use 1/2 cream and 1/2 half and half.
It just happened to me…on it’s way to whipped cream kinda…super curdley…gonna try it again with a cup of the Jameson and hand blend…tried to doctor what i made…but that is a bit nutz…just starting over…~lil bummed in Cali~
yes you are correct
This is FANTASTIC! I used Toriani White Chocolate instead of the Chocolate. Also, I put some in a glass over ice and put in real good cream soda. Wow, it’s delicious! Thanks for the easy recipe.
I would like to ask the vanilla used is it ground vanilla? vanilla extract/essense?
Thanks.
Shan – most likely it is vanilla extract, which is a liquid.
For those worried about price comparisons (myself included), I’ve found that in a tasting of various Irish Whiskies (Bailey’s, Brendan’s and O’Reilly’s, don’t remember the others), O’Reillys is the consistent favorite among my friends, and is also the cheapest, coming in at somewhere between $9 and $11, depending on where you get it from, and it’s the same 34 proof as Bailey’s.
At roughly the same price as the homemmade mix, it’s the ideal option when you need something quickly or can’t spare the fridge space to keep a homemade Irish Cream cold. Tastes much closer to homemade than Bailey’s does.
what would be a substitute for whiskey if you don’t have any alcohol to add??
Tried this and loved it! Thank you for the recipe.
Absolutely delicious! We love it and it costs so much less than the “real thing”! This is definately one of our favorites!
I love Irish Cream, I’ll have to try this! It looks and sounds easy. Now if anyone has a Chambord recipe, I’d be set!
Made with Jack Daniels and it was ok…Definitely will try again with Irish Whiskey later on! Thanks for the recipe!
Made w/out almond..great.
Made w/bourbon and with almond…great
Used Hershey’s in both.
Any other ideas? May try mint extract next!
Gr8 recipe and if like some say they cannot get whiskey where they live, it can be replaced with Brandy
I am making this tonite!! Thanks!
They put artificial sugars in bailey’s which I am allergic to so i can’t drink bailey’s :( so I am so excited to try this recipe! Thank you!
This turned out great! I used coconut extract instead of almond, its soooo good! Thank you!
This recipe it fab, tastes just like Baileys but only works out at about £10 a litre, so thats much better than price to buy Baileys. So quick and easy to do too! I definetly recommend anyone who loves Baileys to try this at least once.
Don’t know you but I love you for this recipe. This was a total hit. Every1 thought I was secretly going to culunary school. We are totally friends in my head…
Can’t wait to try this out.
It is Important to note the order the ingredients are mixed. Start with the whiskey/scotch, then extracts, Hershey’s, coffee, cream and the condensed milk LAST. This is the best way to get consistent creme without straining the creme. Keep the blender on the whole time you are mixing and add the ingredients slowly.
Has anyone tried equal parts whipping cream and real maple syrup 1/2 part Irish whiskey touch of vanila
Thank you sooooo much for this recipe! Made this and it was a HUGE it… everyone thought I was some sort of culinary genius!! Thanks for making me look good! I’ll never buy Bailey’s again!!
The Bailey’s label says it is 14% alcohol. This recipe is 40 % or three times the Baileys content. I can only taste the whiskey.
Has anyone used the almond extract in theirs? Might make two batches, with and without to see what the difference is. Am going to make the mudslide cupcakes to bring to work on NYE since I’m working the 3-11 pm shift :-)
I’m lactose intolerant and a few sips of Bailey’s doesn’t leave me feeling very well. We used this basic recipe, substituting vanilla soy milk for the milk/cream ingredients. It was DELICIOUS, didn’t give me a tummy ache, and was great without chocolate syrup (didn’t have any on hand). Thank you for the idea!!
My daughter-in-law just gave me a bottle of Homemade Baily’s Irish Cream for Christmas and I just went wild. It tastes soooo goooood. She wont give me the recepie, it’s a secret!!! I wont tell her that I found your site. Merci Beaucoup. Denis, Montréal.
Problem with the original recipe! Says it will keep for two months!? The batch I made was gone in two days!! WTH :P
Yum! I just made this using Jameson’s, fat free half and half & 1/4 t almond extract. It’s delicious right out of the gate, and I’m sure it will also improve with age. Thanks for the recipe!!
Does anyone know if it would be possible to make this vegan? I’ve used coconut milk as a successful replacement for condensed milk and I have coconut milk creamer that I’m thinking would be a possible for the cream. I just wouldn’t want anything to look separated. Any ideas?
I have been making homemade Baileys for 30yrs,never met anyone who hasn`t enjoyed mine. I use 3 eggs, condensed milk, cream, cocoanut essence, coffee and whiskey. This year I used Chivas Regal and its great, best drop ever!
High speed blending gave you whipped cream. Type and fat content of your local products may affect the end product. I’ve used a similar recipe with eggs in it and never had any problems. We bring it to Christmas parties and it’s always a hit.
Thank You! Thank You! Every year my aunt makes homemade Baileys. She walks around all Christmas day shaking a big pitcher of it asking, “who wants Baileys?” Unfortunately, she is in poor health this year and will not be able to celebrate at all. I am so happy that I found your recipe so I can continue her tradition.
can you make the baileys without egg and if so what will be the difference in taste or staorage??
Love it! Love it! Love it! The only thing I will do differently is maybe buy a cheaper whiskey. Jamison’s cost me $24.91 for 750 ML. Well worth the taste though!
Hi made a batch this afternoon using Elmlea double cream trying to save a little on the calories for the girls, and used the cheapest whiskey i could find around £9.50 per bot this recipe is amazing. Thank you so much for posting the recipe, i am going to try the mint choc syrup i bought next. They are asking for trouble charging around £16 a litre for Baileys. It took less than ten minutes to make.
Pete.
This is awesome and so easy I am very, very, sure my family will love his
Thank you Thank you Thank you I have set about trying to make homemade Bailey’s and boy oh boy did I NOT know what I was doing. Can’t wait to make this -Merry Christmas to Hubby and Me. and you all of course:)
It is the convention in recipes (at least in the US) that T = Tablespoon, t = teaspoon.
So, just to be clear before I make some weird kitchen abomination;
The “t” references are for Tablespoon
One and 2/3 cup of Irish whiskey (cheap is ok?)
Thank you!
I think it is only 2/3 cup whiskey. everyone keeps saying it is too strong.
To comment 80 on the curdling… if you used a high speed blender it probably heated up the mixture enough to curdle it. This doesn’t need high speed blending, just mix it with a spoon. Also, heavy cream resists curdling much better than lower fat milk/half and half type. This recipe needs to be refrigerated.
Nevermind. I saw on Chow Hound that Hershey’s can be used.
Does anyone use a less expensive chocolate syrup other than Torani? Amy recommendations? Thanks!
Me again, @ Takeda-san vanilla essence, you can buy real $6 an ounce or imitation. I recommend real, it should be near the baking stuff in most grocery stores.
PS I used a blender and no, nothing curdled. Maybe your cream was a tad old?
This came out really great. I used Scottish Whiskey because that is what I had on hand. Otherwise I followed the recipe to a tee. It came out perfect. It made 750ml. I used real almond extract and real vanilla extract as opposed to imitation so it cost about $5-6 an ounce. It was perfect if not better than Bailey’s. Can’t wait until it is done chilling.
I was so looking forward to making this and finally got all the ingredients together. It was looking and smelling great, then after 15 secs high speed blending it all curdled. I followed the recipe perfectly. Any idea what went wrong??!! Nobody else seems to have had this problem! (Next time I guess I’ll just mix by hand and skip the blending…)
That would tend to indicate less than fresh cream. Also I’ve found that alcohol into cream and cream into alcohol don’t result in the same thing.
We use BRANDY instead (cheap brandy)and chocolate extract. It’s delicious!!!
Mmmm. Im not much of a drinker but I do like bailey’s Irish cream. I’m going to have to try this. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
What kind of vanilla is that? vanilla essence? like powder?
Or vanilla liquid?
In the UK, Baileys costs around £16-£18 for a 1L bottle, but there are plenty of lower cost look-alikes, with only a subtle difference in taste. Irish Knights (my favourite for evening coffee – EVERY evening!) costs £4.60 from Asda, Irish Meadow is £3.99 from Tesco, and most other supermarket chains do similar products. Lidl sells one for around £5.00, Carolans costs around £6.50 from lots of supermarkets (I don’t buy it because there’s so little to choose betwen them all that I go for low cost – especially as I just put it in coffee). Sainsburys does one – in fact, just name your nearest big-name supermarket.
I’m quite interested to try the recipe, but I doubt I can compete on price with many of the supermarket offerings.
Mine congealed bigtime. had to let it warm up to near room temp before it would pour out of the bottle. I used bourbon whisky instead of Irish also, which was less than stellar I must admit. I’m not an Irish cream connoisseur by any stretch, and was just curious if it would work with what I already had on hand. Jameson’s goes for more than $25/750ml over in Laramie, WY. Not a too awful, and the taste may be worth the extra cost. But then, I would think the overall cost of making it would be approaching the cost of real Bailey’s anyway.
Comments, input, educational constructive criticism is very welcomed.
Thank you very much OP for posting the recipe, and for everyone’s comments thus far. It’s a great idea, but my only question is: Can it be left out or does it have to be refridgerated? As I said, mine turned to non-pourable sludge until warmed to near room temp. Still a cool enough to drink, but no straight out of the fridge. Or would the dairy part of the recipe spoil if not kept in the fridge?
Thanks,
Chuck
Collen, I would try heating the mint leaves in the cream to infuse, but not boil, let us know what happens please
You are a saint! My husband will never, ever leave me now. LOL.
Kristin :)
I can’t wait to make this. I see a new addiction to coffee in my future.
Made this the other night, followed the recipe to the note, minus the almond. Awesome is all I can say!! My wife I like this better than Bailey’s! I think 1 2/3 cup whiskey is perfect. Maybe even a touch more!!
Thanks for this!!!
Has anyone tried making homemade MINT Bailey’s Irish Cream? I have tons of FRESH mint and would love to use it to make Mint Bailey’s but not sure how…most recipes call for mint extract, but I want to use the stuff I have growing outside! Thanks!
Omg, just made my ‘Bailey’s’ and this recipe is beyond amazing!! I followed to the tee but left off the almond. It was super quick and easy and absolutely yummy. I will NEVER buy the real thing again! I cut down the alcohol to 1 1/2 cups and it was still a little strong but so delish. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe.
Love it! Thanks! I’m adding this and your grenadine recipe to my collection of homemade-not-store-bought staples! (It will compliment my kahlua and limoncello nicely!)
can we use any other ingredient instead of whisky. what is the alternative to whisky in this recipe?
can u make baileys irish cream without using whisky? is there an alternative to whisky in this recipe. does anyone know?
dont forget you can make your own homemade whiskey too…;)
http://www.ehow.com/how_6575603_homemade-whiskey.html
This is a wonderful recipe. Is there a cocktail site I can go to to find more homemade things to make & drink of course!
I just made this recipe. Followed the directions to the letter, omitting the almond. It. Is. Amazing! Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day and this homemade Bailey’s is going into cupcakes, cocktails and the fridge for future consumption. Thank you so much for posting this recipe!
Anon – I haven’t tried lots of brands, but I don’t think it would matter much. I’d say save the $.
Question: Is one brand of Irish whiskey better than any other for making Homemade Bailey’s? We tried it using Jameson’s and it was wonderful, but if we can do for a bit cheaper and not lose the great taste, that would be even better!!
I have a dairy allergy and usually leave Bailey’s alone. But I had to tell you, I made this with french vanilla coconut milk creamer (So Delicious brand)and plain coconut milk (same brand) …It was amazing! Hooray. Thanks for the recipie.
judy, was their a difference with your egg recipe compared to this recipe?
found your page last night, I have three Ltrs. in my fridge tonight, I know it will not last untill New Years….THANKS.
Real men drink whiskey on its own. Particularly good whiskey like Jamesons.
I am so happy to have found this recipe! I’m going to vegan-ize it and use it for the Irish Car Bombs I’ve missed so much!
Thanks!
The irish don’t drink this. An authentic irish coffee is made with brown sugar and whiskey with heavy cream ~laid~ on top. Bailey’s however, especially homemade is an excellent alternative for after dinner coffee :)
This is DELICIOUS! Sweetened Condensed milk looks disgusting (did Irish use this traditionally? I don’t think so.. but anyway!)… so I used about half of what the recipe called for, and used heavy cream instead of light and WOW it is still SO thick! I love it!! Thank you SO much for this! ;)
OMG… i died and went to heaven … thanx is so inadequate a word for sharing this most amazing recipe… Baileys is almost the only thing i can drink w/o feeling uncomfortable since i gave up alcohol when i was preggers….to be able to whip up a batch whenever i’m having a craving or for a party is simply the most fabulous thing to happen to me recently … god bless ur soul xoxo
made 2 batches of this and it’s fantastic.
btw, i used the almond extract and Michael Collins irish whisky
Eggs may have been added in the copy cat recipe as an emulsifier. Actual Bailey’s label states they use lecithin.
Norway calling again: I got an answer: alcohol disappear at 78 celsius, and my machine only heats the bailies til 45 celsius :-) if you haven’t tried it yet – pease do so! it’s NICE! :-)
Norway calling :-) I L O V E Baileys, and I’m going to try this recipe! But I have one question: have anyone of you tried to put Baileys in your DeLongij coffee machine, with Nespresso coffee, instead of milk? I hope that it’s not only us Nowegians that drinks this in our coffee… It’s like a café latte but with with Baileys. Does the alcohol “disappear” in the heating process? (you know when you cook the taste stays, but the alcohol disappear…) I’m sorry for all the spelling mistakes!
Just made your Baileys….absolutely awesome ! Added vanilla bean and left out the almond. Its a hit in our house, Thanks muchly xx
This is very similar to the recipe I have always used but mine called for eggs not sure what the eggs did for it but will try yours and see if it taste the same. I also make apple pie liquor and kahlua- the kahlua is awesome too.
Also the recipes I do make more than 1 bottle so it is much cheaper I make baileys for about $4.90 a bottle and kahlua for about $2.52 a bottle.
Also for those looking for a price comparison.
This makes about 750ml of irish cream, which runs around $20-25 here.
The cream runs around $1-1.50
The condensed milk runs around $1.60-2
The whiskey runs between $6-15 depending on the quality you buy.
You could maybe add another $.50-1 for the other ingredients.
So you could make $20-25 of ‘Bailey’s’ for $9-20 (A lot less if you decide to half the whiskey as recommended by several posters)
Also for those looking for a price comparison.
This makes about 750ml of irish cream, which runs around $20-25 here.
The cream runs around $1-1.50
The condensed milk runs around $1.60-2
The whiskey runs between $6-15 depending on the quality you buy.
You could maybe add another $.50-1 for the other ingredients.
So you could make $20-25 of ‘Bailey’s’ for $9-20 (A lot less if you decide to half the whiskey as recommended by several posters)
Also for those looking for a price comparison.
This makes about 750ml of irish cream, which runs around $20-25 here.
The cream runs around $1-1.50
The condensed milk runs around $1.60-2
The whiskey runs between $6-15 depending on the quality you buy.
You could maybe add another $.50-1 for the other ingredients.
So you could make $20-25 of ‘Bailey’s’ for $9-20 (A lot less if you decide to half the whiskey as recommended by several posters)
Also for those looking for a price comparison.
This makes about 750ml of irish cream, which runs around $20-25 here.
The cream runs around $1-1.50
The condensed milk runs around $1.60-2
The whiskey runs between $6-15 depending on the quality you buy.
You could maybe add another $.50-1 for the other ingredients.
So you could make $20-25 of ‘Bailey’s’ for $9-20 (A lot less if you decide to half the whiskey as recommended by several posters)
Also for those looking for a price comparison.
This makes about 750ml of irish cream, which runs around $20-25 here.
The cream runs around $1-1.50
The condensed milk runs around $1.60-2
The whiskey runs between $6-15 depending on the quality you buy.
You could maybe add another $.50-1 for the other ingredients.
So you could make $20-25 of ‘Bailey’s’ for $9-20 (A lot less if you decide to half the whiskey as recommended by several posters)
I’m about to make this now! I believe the reason homemade tastes stronger, is because folks are tasting it right away. If you can refrain from drinking for a couple weeks to a month, it allows the flavors to meld and mellow.
I’m about to make this now! I believe the reason homemade tastes stronger, is because folks are tasting it right away. If you can refrain from drinking for a couple weeks to a month, it allows the flavors to meld and mellow.
I’m about to make this now! I believe the reason homemade tastes stronger, is because folks are tasting it right away. If you can refrain from drinking for a couple weeks to a month, it allows the flavors to meld and mellow.
I’m about to make this now! I believe the reason homemade tastes stronger, is because folks are tasting it right away. If you can refrain from drinking for a couple weeks to a month, it allows the flavors to meld and mellow.
I’m about to make this now! I believe the reason homemade tastes stronger, is because folks are tasting it right away. If you can refrain from drinking for a couple weeks to a month, it allows the flavors to meld and mellow.
Wow wow wow, this was amazing! I do agree with a lot of the other commenters that the taste of the alcohol was a little strong, but once it’s mixed with coffee or blended with ice it’s much more subdued. Out of personal preference, I skipped the almond extract and used about a tablespoon of amaretto syrup instead, and boy was it yummy! My friends can’t get enough of it, and neither can I. Thank you for the wonderful recipe! Next to try the homemade Kahlua, and make my own mudslides…
I didn’t even realize this was a possibility! My life forthwith will never be the same!
I first made this without the almond extract (with espresso and cocoa powder mixed into a syrup), and tasted it next to a bottle of real Baileys. It was still missing a interesting tang, so I figured it was the almond extract. I just put in about half a teaspoon.
Whew, half a teaspoon of almond extract really added a kick. It was definitely not Bailey’s anymore. It was still very good, but the taste of almond extract was noticeable to everyone that tasted it. With a whole teaspoon it would have been way too powerful.
I’d recommend reducing the amount of almond extract in the recipe to a quarter teaspoon, or leaving it out entirely.
Anyway, thanks for the recipe. We finished off the whole bottle in a night, almond extract or no!
Tried it with and without vanilla. Gotta say – with vanilla is even MORE DELICIOUS!
nikkonikko: I do watercolours.
Great Stuff.
I would not try real coffee; it might not dissolve completely.
Instead of 2 T Hershey’s syrup, I used 2 T cocoa dissolved in 2 T hot water.
And unless my math is wrong, 1 and 2/3 cup whiskey (~400 ml) actually yields a slightly lower proof than commercial Baileys. It’s 4.125 cups liquid (1 2/3 c whisky + 1 c cream+ 1 1/3 c milk + .125 c hersheys) of which 2/3 c is alcohol (since the whisky is 40%). 2/3 / 4.125 = .16. And commercial is 17%.
Yes, I know it’s 14 oz sweetened condensed milk, but that is packed by weight and its volume is a cup and a third (I checked).
It’s funny though how people perceive the homemade as stronger. Makes you wonder if Baileys does something to mask it!
I did it! With the heavy cream–an awesome local Jersey cream. I also dropped the whiskey to 1 1/3 cup and the almond extract to 1/2 tsp and did melted chocolate for the Hershey’s syrup–half ounce each of 60% and white chocolate. And the new Starbucks stuff for the instant coffee powder. +milk and ice in blender makes an awesome frappe.
This is great! I made it yesterday afternoon and had a number of people taste it – my son declared that it should only be drunk at home so that you can go to bed straight after! And driving after having drunk some would definitely result in failing the breathalyzer!
My husband loves it! I love it! It’s so easy!!
Blogger alai said…
Finally I’ll be able to drink Bailey’s from a shoe. :D
January 3, 2010 7:00 AM
Old Gregg, is that you!!?!?
I can’t thank you enough for this. I love baileys and could drink it all the time. But, i’ve never seen a recipe for making it. I can’t wait to try this out.
delicious :) Thanks
this may be a stupid question, but I am unfamiliar with coffee. When you say a teaspoon of instant coffee, you mean a teaspoon of the instant coffee grounds, right? Not a teaspoon of already made instant coffee?
Dry instant coffee, not liquid.
Just a note about the amount of whiskey required: 1 and 2/3 cups is 13 ounces, in other words a 375 mL bottle.
You could also use whisky, but then it woudn’t be “Irish” cream.
Thx to all for the reply.
Confirming:
T=tablespoon
t=teaspoon
C=cup
easy volume conversions can be done with confidence.
T means Tablespoon
t means teaspoon
C means Cup
…I think…
What mean T, C ? I’m italian, I can convert Oz to liters but I don’t know what C and T mean.
Oh wow I seriously didn’t know you can DIY Irish Cream! I can’t wait to try this one ;)
Amazing. You are my official new hero.
The recipe I use has a little more chocolate than that, and is half whiskey. Also there’s an egg involved.
For some reason cheap whiskey tends to taste better in homemade Bailey’s than the good stuff. We tried it with fairly nice Irish whiskey one time, and didn’t like it nearly as much as the horrible stuff from a plastic bottle. I don’t know why.
There’s a space between the 1 and the 2 of “1 2/3 cup of Irish Whiskey” — it’s 1 and 2/3 cups, or 5/3 cup, not 12/3. jeeze.
I like Jason Sandeman’s idea for making your own chocolate syrup with coffee; I was thinking, too, that you could use a shot of espresso instead of instant coffee (and maybe cut the cream a smidgeon if that additional liquid made it too watery).
This comment has been removed by the author.
I think that this is a lovely showcase of ingenouty. I will try and make some with a homemade chocolate sauce using dark cocao powder, and real ground coffee grounds as a simple syrup.
Finally I’ll be able to drink Bailey’s from a shoe. :D
Has anyone else made this recipe. I agree with Patrick, after making it, the amount of whiskey called for here is a big high. I think I may try it again using only 2/3 of a cup instead of an entire 375ml bottle.
I have also found that anymore than 2/3 or 1/2 cup makes it too boozy.
I believe that 1 2/3 cup of Irish Whiskey is supposed to be 2/3 cup unless you are looking to drastically increase from the 34 proof of Bailey’s.
COST – How much do i save by doing it myself? A small bottle of Baileys costs 20 bucks…anybody price out the ingredients and serving size comparison? Thanks.
what a fantastic recipe. I had a party last night and everyone loved my Bailey’s Irish Cream. Thank you thank you thank you.
I have always made it with good expresso, not instant coffee, and Kalua or another chocolate liquor, not syrup.
Has anyone tried this using real coffee instead of instant? How did it turn out?
Anon – Sorry I didn’t get back to you in time for your party. Did you try it? I think it would work, but it wouldn’t taste quite the same.
Do you know if you can use Jack Daniels? I happen to have JD in the cupboard and this would be amazing to make for my New Year’s party, but I don’t want to have to go to the liquor store on New Year’s Eve! lol
I have Jack Daniels to did you make it I want to make it tomorrow
Brilliant! I juuuuust ran out of Baileys, and I have a cocktail I want to make, and I was going to buy more. I will definitely try this instead!
I love Baileys! It never occurred to me to make it at home. I can’t wait to try it!
I’m moving this bookmark right up next to my Homemade Kahlua bookmark! Awesome!!
Baileys Irish Cream is one of my favorite liqeuers. I never ever dreamed of making it myself. And the ingredients are so basic. Who would’ve thought?!
I’ve never even considered making my own Baileys – what a great post! My husband just bought a bottle of Baileys for the holidays and now I’d like to make your recipe and do a side by side comparison.
I wish you a fantastic 2010!
This is going to save me so much money.
I love you. :o)
It’s actually something you can mke with Christmas leftovers too – who doesn’t have cream in the fridge at the moment?
Forgive me. I’m just trying to make blending your own liquers seem like a good example of seasonal eating! And if you can’t do that at this time of year, when can you?
we love bailey;s irish cream especially the caramal one..great recipe but we dont get whisky here :(
oh yummy. This would make a good present for my dad. Heck, I could give it to him tomorrow and win me over for his next birthday, father’s day and the next Christmas! THanks for sharing this!
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm… i hope mine comes out as good as the sample we had!!!!! i can’t wait to make some!
Its great……cant leave it alone….I modify the reciepe a little….I add an egg and additional 1/2 cup Southern Comfort to the whiskey and malted milk powder 1 Tbs….I suggest that you try a sample of your brew with a little malted powder to see if it is to your taste.before adding it to the total brew. I use an original Bailys bottle for container….I don’t have to worry about freezing cuz it does not last long as it tastes soo sooo good….Don”t spoil it by putting it in coffee…straight is great….if you like the coffee flavor, jack up on the instant. This is the first time I have ever found a use for instant coffee.
SheWolf – I don’t see why that wouldn’t work.
Do you know if you can freeze it and keep it longer? We usually keep our Bailey’s in the freezer, so I would like to do the same. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
The fact that you keep it in the freezer is a common misconception. That everyone from my sister, friends, and anyone who drinks it makes.
What you actually are doing is wrong in fact, the crystals in the cream form at freezing and in a way the damage is done by the time it reaches 32 degrees. It is said that alcohol never freezes, This is true. But, the cream, any water, or anything other than alcohol does freeze and will not stay liquid.
Freezing milk fat, cream, or any dairy product destroys the basic structure, (molecularly) flavor, and quality of anything it goes into. Scientifically speaking, doing so is very bad for the components of the drink. The final outcome, a less than substandard drink that you have in bottle. You wasted the money when you should have brought the drink down to just above freezing, 39 degrees, slowly over a period of hours, either through chilling on ice, in an ice bath or in the fridge for a day.
It follows from this that one can not make ice cream … interesting
Logical people are sooo hard to get along with.
It would appear that way, but then I have frozen whipping cream that I wasn’t ready to use and the consistency was not right when I defrosted it.
Never seen ice cream freeze with alcohol in it
all quality (homemade) ice cream has alcohol in it, it keeps it from freezing solid
I just top vanilla ice cream with it instead or make a milkshake so good!!
There’s no alcohol in ice cream!
There’s no alcohol in ice cream!you put it in afterwards then enjoy it!!
Just wandering if you can use honey Whisky,Jack Daniels Tennessee ?
I make it with Christian Brother’s brandy, so maybe you can use the whiskey you have a taste for also. But, you need to try it with CB. I never use Irish whiskey. Good luck!
Beautiful homemade recipe love it.
I followed the recipe to a “t”…..and it curdled after 30 seconds of blending. What did I do wrong?!? How can I prevent it from curdling again the next time I make it? Other websites mentioned adding the whiskey in slowly – is that what I was supposed to do?
Maybe you blender had traces of salt, lemon or something acidic? That will curdle cream or if the mixture was heated too high or very cold cream was added to warm ingredients too quickly. Hope this helps.
The same thing happened to me twice in a row.the blender was washed in sink first time and dish washer second time. All the ingredients were at room temperature except the cream came out from the refrigerator. Not sure if this is the reason or not, I need to get this right.
It could be that you blended it on high speed/power. Try and use the medium setting on your blender when wizzing it up. Hope it works :)
Add the liquor last after everything else is blended together
This person is obviously happy with cream liqueur from the freezer, so try to be positive, try to be happy for her. Be happy!
You must be fun at parties.
Seems to me the formula will expire when the creams expiration date is up with refrigeration! That is what I would put on the valve. Drink before and then enter the expiration date of the cream.
It is true that “raw” milk that have not been pasteurized and homogenized will be ruined by freezing. But store bought milk that have been threated this way is perfectly fine to freeze and I actually think it tastes a little better after freezing. Raw milk on the other hand tasted horrible if it has been frozen…
it will keep in fridge for up to 2 months and you can sub the instant coffee for 1/4 cup of brewed coffee works well.
Freezing sounds like a plan,I just made 2 26ers, my recipe is close to yours but a little different. I have been making it for years but one differentce I us is home made liqires instead of irish whisky. I had a liter of whipping cream that i needed to use up so i made a big batch of irish cream. I drink mine in coffee.
It does not last long enough to freeze it.
I would not freeze the drink anyway since it is so easy to make. Just make smaller amounts and enjoy for the 2 months