How to Make Homemade Irish Cream – A Simple, All-Natural Recipe You’ll Love
Learn how to make homemade Irish cream with simple, natural ingredients. It’s creamy, rich, and perfect for adding to coffee, hot cocoa, or gifting during the holidays.
There’s something about a cup of coffee on a crisp winter morning that just feels right. And when you add a splash of Irish cream — that smooth, creamy sweetness that warms you from the inside out — it becomes pure comfort in a mug.
I’ve always loved adding a little Irish cream to my morning coffee during the holidays, or mixing it into hot chocolate while we bundle up and go look at Christmas lights. It’s one of those small rituals that makes the season feel extra cozy.
A few years ago, I started making my own homemade version — and now I’ll never go back. This simple, all-natural Irish cream recipe takes only a few minutes to prepare, tastes even better than store-bought, and makes a wonderful holiday gift if you can bear to share it.
Why Make Your Own Irish Cream?
Making your own Irish cream is about more than saving money or avoiding preservatives — it’s about creating something from scratch with real, wholesome ingredients.
Store-bought versions often have added flavorings, stabilizers, and syrups, but this recipe keeps it simple and natural. You can taste every note: the deep chocolate, the smooth cream, and that little whisper of whiskey warmth that lingers just long enough.
Plus, once you realize how easy it is to make at home, you’ll wonder why you ever bought a bottle in the first place.
Homemade Irish Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half & half for a lighter version)
- 1 cup Irish whiskey (your favorite brand)
- 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup (See my Easy Chocolate Sauce recipe to make your own)
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium bowl or blender, combine the sweetened condensed milk, cream, chocolate syrup, instant coffee, and vanilla extract. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds.
- Slowly add the Irish whiskey, mixing gently until incorporated.
- Pour into clean glass bottles or jars and refrigerate. Shake before serving.
Storage Tip: Keep refrigerated for up to two weeks. Mixture may separate a bit (which is why they put Bailey’s in a dark colored bottle). Just give it a shake before you pour!
How to Enjoy It
Homemade Irish cream is endlessly versatile — and far too delicious to save just for special occasions. Here are a few of my favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Morning Coffee Magic: Add a splash to your coffee on cold winter mornings for a creamy, comforting start to your day.
- Cozy Evenings: Stir it into hot cocoa while you’re driving around looking at Christmas lights or sitting by the fire.
- After-Dinner Treat: Pour it over ice for a smooth, dessert-style sip that feels indulgent but familiar.
It’s that perfect blend of cozy, creamy, and just a little bit festive — the kind of treat that makes any moment feel like a holiday.
Gifting Your Homemade Irish Cream
I have never had someone be disappointed with the gift of Homemade Irish Cream! It’s a unique and elegant gift idea that will leave an impression! If you would like more Homemade gift ideas with full instructions you download my guide “Homemade For the Holidays” here!!
Presentation Ideas:
- Pour into small glass bottles or flip-top jars.
- Add a kraft paper tag with handwritten instructions: “Keep refrigerated. Shake before serving.”
- Tie a piece of twine around the neck with a cinnamon stick or sprig of rosemary for a farmhouse-style finish.
- Pair with a jar of homemade hot cocoa mix or a mug for a cozy, ready-to-enjoy gift set.
It’s the kind of gift that brings warmth in every sense — and maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll be invited to share a cup too.
A Homemade Tradition
Every time I make a batch of homemade Irish cream, I’m reminded of what I love most about the holidays: slowing down, savoring the simple things, and sharing them with people I care about.
Whether you pour it into your morning coffee, take a bottle along for a weekend getaway, or gift it to friends and family, it’s one of those recipes that feels like a little bit of home in every sip.
Homemade Irish Cream – creamy, simple, and made with love, straight from the farmhouse kitchen.
Homemade Irish Cream (Bailey’s)
Ingredients
- 1 can 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup heavy cream or half & half for a lighter version
- 1 cup Irish whiskey your favorite brand
- 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup See my Easy Chocolate Sauce recipe to make your own
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium bowl or blender, combine the sweetened condensed milk, cream, chocolate syrup, instant coffee, and vanilla extract. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds.
- Slowly add the Irish whiskey, mixing gently until incorporated.
- Pour into clean glass bottles or jars and refrigerate. Shake before serving.
- Storage Tip: Keep refrigerated for up to two weeks. Mixture may separate a bit (which is why they put Bailey’s in a dark colored bottle). Just give it a shake before you pour!
