Irish Cream is a rich and flavorful liqueur made with whiskey, coffee, cream, and just a few other ingredients. This homemade Bailey’s recipe is so easy to make, and it’s great to use in all kinds of drinks, cocktails, and desserts. It’s the perfect thing for homemade Christmas gifts, St. Patrick’s Day, or cozy winter nights.

Four jars of homemade Bailey's Irish cream on a wooden cutting board.

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Why We Love This Irish Cream Recipe

This sweet coffee and cream liqueur is so tasty! You only need a handful of ingredients and just one step to make this DIY Bailey’s recipe.

  • Creamy. This liqueur has a smooth, rich, and velvety texture from the heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk.
  • Flavorful. The combination of whiskey, instant coffee granules, chocolate syrup, and vanilla and almond extracts creates a complex sweet, nutty, and creamy flavor.
  • Indulgent. Adding this homemade Irish cream to your favorite drinks and desserts will take them to the next level!
pouring homemade bailey's into a a glass
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How to Store

Store homemade Irish cream in a tightly-sealed container or jar, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Be sure to give it a good shake before you use it, because the cream will separate as it sits.

What to Make with Homemade Bailey’s

This homemade Baileys Irish cream can be used in so many recipes, especially cocktails, drinks, and desserts. Use it to make Irish coffee, this Irish cream milkshake or a frozen mudslide. Or pour it directly over a bowl of ice cream!

Is Irish cream alcoholic?

Yes, Irish cream is a liqueur and it contains whiskey.

What do I do if it turns into cream?

Because this recipe contains heavy cream, the mixture might just turn into a thick, whipped cream if you over-blend. If this happens, pour it through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth.

How do I combine the ingredients?

You can use a high-powered blender or an immersion blender to mix everything together.

homemade Irish cream drink in a glass with a spoon

More Homemade Liquor Recipes We Love

5-Star Review

“So easy and tastes just like the real thing.” -Kathy R

Recipe Card

Irish Cream Recipe

4.37 from 63 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 10
Author: Becky Hardin
Four jars of homemade Bailey's Irish cream on a wooden cutting board.
This creamy coffee liqueur is so easy to make at home, and it's easy to use in lots of cocktails and drinks.
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Equipment

  • Kitchen Scale (optional)
  • High Powered Blender OR
  • Immersion Blender

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup heavy cream 227 grams
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 397 grams (1 can)
  • 1⅔ cup Irish whiskey 378 grams
  • 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules 4 grams
  • 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup 18 grams, such as Hershey's
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract 2 grams

Instructions 

  • Combine all ingredients in a blender or use an immersion blender for 30 seconds. You don’t want to blend for too long or whipped cream may form :) If you do get a bit of cream on top, just sift though a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
    1 cup heavy cream, 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, 1⅔ cup Irish whiskey, 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules, 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract
    A woman pouring homemade Irish cream into a blender.
  • Bottle in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate.
  • Shake well before using.

Video

Becky’s Tips

Yield: This recipe yields about 36 ounces (1,074mL) of Irish cream. 
  • Can also put in cute mason jars and give as gifts. Be sure to date the jars.
Storage: Store Irish cream in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
Serving: 3.6ouncesCalories: 315kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 58mgPotassium: 183mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 456IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 129mgIron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Irish Cream Step by Step

Blend the Cream: Combine 1 cup of heavy cream, 12 ounces (1 can) of sweetened condensed milk, 1⅔ cups of Irish whiskey, 2 teaspoons of instant coffee granules, 1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon of almond extract in a blender or use an immersion blender for 30 seconds. You don’t want to blend for too long or whipped cream may form. If you do get a bit of cream on top, just sift through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.

A woman pouring homemade Irish cream into a blender.

Bottle the Cream: Bottle in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate. Shake well before using.

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.37 from 63 votes (57 ratings without comment)
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31 Comments
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irishosaru
irishosaru
December 30, 2023 11:42 am

Worked great, and will make again, but note that you cannot use this to make an Irish coffee – you could use it to make a Bailey’s coffee though.5 stars

Bianca
Bianca
December 28, 2023 1:56 pm

Perfect homemade Baileys! I followed the recipe exactly and made it with Jameson. My husband (who is from Ireland) and I did a taste test with this recipe compared to the real Baileys we had. We both actually prefer this one. It’s a little bit lighter, and you can taste the almond extract, which makes it SO good. I made a batch for gifts and it was really fun to give them to our friends. I will be saving this recipe forever!5 stars

Cappy Robinson
Cappy Robinson
October 31, 2023 5:38 pm

I use Seagram’s and double the recipe to make a half gallon. Also, use one half half-and -half and one half heavy cream. Everyone finds it equal to or better than Bailey’s.5 stars

Samantha Marceau
November 1, 2023 9:08 am
Reply to  Cappy Robinson

Thanks so much for sharing, Cappy!

Brian
Brian
January 11, 2023 3:27 pm

How much does this recipe make? 750ml? I will be using mason and 750 ml bottles…3 stars

Samantha Marceau
January 11, 2023 3:48 pm
Reply to  Brian

It makes a bit more than that… probably closer to 1100ml.

Tasha stark
Tasha stark
December 7, 2020 2:29 pm

Hello thankyou so much for sharing your recipe I am going to make it this Christmas for gifts. I am curious have you have used scotch whiskey for this at all, Irish whiskey is so hard to come across where I am.

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
December 8, 2020 11:50 am
Reply to  Tasha stark

Irish Whiskey is best to make sure it has the right taste!

Tasha stark
Tasha stark
December 11, 2020 4:42 am
Reply to  Becky Hardin

Thank you

Kathy R
Kathy R
March 21, 2020 2:20 pm

So easy and tastes just like the real thing.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
March 23, 2020 5:50 pm
Reply to  Kathy R

I’m so happy you loved it!!

Cyndi Wallace
Cyndi Wallace
September 13, 2019 2:15 pm

Can’t wait to try !

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
September 13, 2019 2:49 pm
Reply to  Cyndi Wallace

Enjoy!

Olga
Olga
July 29, 2019 2:41 pm

Can I substitute canned coconut milk for the sweetened condensed milk?

Sue
Sue
March 17, 2019 9:30 am

Must to go in dark glasses bottle !!!

dave
dave
March 21, 2018 7:52 am

cute bottles u got for the photo! May i ask where you got them so i can get myself some, please? Also, thanks for sharing the recipe! will try :)