If you enjoy Bailey's Irish Cream, your will LOVE it once you make your own. This super super simple Homemade Irish Cream Recipe literally only takes 5 minutes to make and it is WAY better vs store-bought!
Table of Contents
Why you will love this Irish Cream Recipe
- It takes just 5 minutes to make this copycat Bailey's recipe!
- In my opinion (and those that have tried this), its better than store-bought. This super simple recipe for Homemade Bailey's Irish Cream tastes fresh and delicious! It is just a little creamier than store-bought.
- Adding some of this to your coffee, is pure Heaven!
- It makes a fabulous foodie gift or host/hostess gift!
No joke, once you make this recipe, do a few blind taste tests and see which your friends and family like better. Homemade or store-bought.
Did you know? Bailey's Irish Cream is not the only Irish Cream on the market. There are at least 6 additional varieties. Bailey's must either had/have the deepest pockets or the best marketing team 🙂
Commercial Irish Cream only came about in 1974. Who knew!! I feel like its always been here.
Variations Homemade Irish Cream
- If you want more of a chocolate flavor? Add more chocolate syrup.
- Want more of a coffee flavor?? Add more expresso.
- Love whiskey and looking for more of a boozy kick?? Add more Whiskey! It's so simple to adjust this recipe to your taste.
- You can cut down on the amount of sweetened condensed milk and use either pasteurized eggs (if you can find them) or liquid eggs found in containers by the eggs which are pasteurized. I go back and forth with how I make this. That way you can cut out some of the sugar from the sweetened condensed milk.
- Instead of instant espresso you can choose to use instant coffee granules. Just increase the amount to 1 teaspoon.
- I have also heard of some who enjoy mint in their Irish Cream (they add some Crème de Menthe) and some who enjoy cinnamon, neither of those are for me. But, you do you and make this your own!
After I perfected the recipe (to my taste anyway), I gave my husband a large shot glass full to taste. He was like, mmm it's good but not smooth enough. So I tinkered some more.
The next taste, he said it's really good. Then right behind that, I gave him a third glass which was the original Bailey's and he literally puckered his face, shivered and went UGH!
I was like honey...THAT was the original store-bought-Bailey's right from the bottle! He was in disbelief! This coming from a man who likes his Bailey's and ummm...dare I say LOVES his whiskey and his Car Bombs on Saint Patrick's Day.
Ingredients
- Heavy cream
- Instant espresso powder or granules
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Chocolate syrup
- Vanilla
- Good Irish whiskey
Tips
- My biggest tip when it comes to making homemade Baileys is the better the whiskey, the better the end result. I am not saying use a $100 bottle of whiskey, just don't use a $10 bottle. I also feel that since Irish is in the title of this recipe...Why not choose an Irish Whiskey. The one I uses is the oldest brand of Whiskey in Northern Ireland. Established 1776, and its making a comeback. Love that!
- I also like using espresso powder vs espresso granules. Sometimes its in the pasta aisle in the DELLALO section. You could also add in cooled espresso, however that will make the Irish cream a bit thinner.
Also, Irish Cream is not just for Saint Patrick's Day! This homemade delight makes a fabulous gift to give a new neighbor, friend, hostess or anyone you like or want to like YOU just a little bit more, lol! Add it to your coffee, brownies, cakes, frostings and more. I have even made Irish Cream Biscotti before.
If you want to see a video of how to make this, check it out on my TikTok.
If your Irish or just like to make Irish recipes for Saint Patrick's Day (or any day). You have to check out my Sweet Irish Soda Bread. It's been featured by TODAY, a couple of magazines and more. It really is that good!
Saint Patrick's Day Recipes to try
Slainte! XO Colleen
Recipe originally published March, 2015. Updates with images and additional formatting March, 2024.
Homemade Irish Cream Recipe - Better than Bailey's!
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ teaspoon instant espresso powder or granules
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 3-4 TBS chocolate syrup I am a Hershey's girl
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup whiskey
Instructions
- Combine cream and espresso in a bowl and whisk gently until espresso is 95% dissolved.
- add in the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup and vanilla and whisk just until mixed.
- Add in the whiskey, ⅓ a cup at a time, whisking gently until combined.
- Store in an old whiskey bottle, large mason jar or bottle.
- This will keep for at least 3 weeks in your refrigerator (I have had it stay perfect for 6 weeks).
- Always give it a good shake before pouring, mmmm!
Martha @ A Family Feast says
This is totally going on our St. Patrick's Day menu!! YUM!
Marjory says
This is such a fun addition to a St. Patrick's Day feast! I'm definitely in the extra chocolate camp!
BethElderton says
Omgoodness. This is life-altering! Yummmmm!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
I get excited when making something at home is better than store-bought, as well!! It doesn't always happen, but is so fun when it does. Great job!
Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez says
I make my own Irish Cream, too - so easy and so much cheaper! This looks so tasty.
Erin Dee says
This looks awesome! My husband once made me homemade Irish cream as a surprise and it was so good. I'd love to try your recipe with eggs!
Diane Cransac says
OMG! I think I just died and went to heaven...thank you so much for this delicious looking recipe. Believe it or not I am so excited because now I can make this low carb. I LOVE irish cream but have had to forego it. Now I don't have to. YAY!
foody schmoody says
This sounds delicious. I've never heard of those eggs before but you've got me intrigued. Not that I want to be taking egg shooters, but still, very interesting.
Saf says
I’ve seen recipe with eggs and condensed milk . Should it be one or the other ?
Colleen says
When I can find pasteurized eggs I add them, it makes it so creamy. For the past 2 years, I can't find them anywhere near me so I now just use condensed milk.
porkpie says
I'd tried four or five of these "duplicate" Bailey's recipes before, and none of them were bad but none of them really blew my skirt up. But the testimonials in the comments here tempted me, so I gave it a whirl.
I followed the recipe exactly, using Cafe Bustelo powdered espresso, big box store generic chocolate syrup, Nestle's sweetened condensed milk, and, believe it or not, Wild Turkey 101 (which I keep in stock for old-fashioned cough medicine). I was concerned the 'fire' of the Wild Turkey would spoil the taste, but it was the only whiskey I had in the house, and I didn't want to buy something else just for testing this recipe.
I needn't have worried. The other ingredients apparently tamed the 'fire,' and mixed with my morning cuppa joe, it's so close to the taste of the real thing that if you had served it to me and told me it was the genuine article, I wouldn't have been any the wiser.
In fact it's so delicious that the credibility of your blog skyrocketed and now I spend my spare time stealing other recipes from you. Chapeau, Colleen, and thank you!
Colleen says
That's awesome to hear! Glad you enjoyed it and found another use for your Wild Turkey! Hope you find a few other favorites on my site 🙂
Leah says
I ended up here after trying to find recipes for moonshine(this was a link from chocolate moonshine). Im not a liquor person at all, so I’m wondering if I could sub the whiskey for moonshine here? I just need a tasty creamy drink, even if not exactly like Baileys. Thanks!
Colleen says
Hi Leah, sub whiskey for moonshine (you mean the grain/everclear) to make the chocolate moonshine or to make this baileys recipe? Just so I understand.
Tracy says
I made this and throughly enjoyed. My family enjoyed it too but only let them have one glass each ( I wanted the rest for myself). Will make again-maybe I will share next time!
Colleen says
Haha! Cheers to that! Glass you all enjoyed and lucky for you its so easy to make!