Irish Cream Liqueur Recipe

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 12/28/22
Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur poured into a glass over ice

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Refrigerate: 24 hrs
Total: 24 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 18 servings
Yield: 4 1/2 cups
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
175 Calories
7g Fat
18g Carbs
3g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 18
Amount per serving
Calories 175
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 25mg 8%
Sodium 43mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 93mg 7%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 129mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Homemade Irish cream is incredibly easy to make. It's a quick project that takes just a few minutes and the recipe requires a few simple ingredients. If you enjoy Baileys, you'll love this even more.

You can drink your Irish cream on its own served over ice. It also makes a great coffee creamer or you can use it for any of your favorite Irish cream cocktails. Many people find that it makes a fabulous gift for the holidays and winter months as well.

There are many recipes available for homemade Irish cream and everyone puts their own spin on it. This recipe includes all of the basics and you should feel free to adjust any ingredient to suit your personal taste. You can even skip the whiskey and create a nonalcoholic Irish cream to enjoy in your coffee anytime you like.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups Irish whiskey

  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

  • 1 cup whipping cream

  • 3 large eggs, optional

  • 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

  • 2 tablespoons instant coffee

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 teaspoon almond extract, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a blender, combine all of the ingredients.

    Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur ingredients in a blender

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Blend on high for 20 to 30 seconds, or until smooth.

    Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur in a blender

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Pour into a bottle using a funnel and seal tightly. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 day before using.

    Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur poured into a glass bottle through a funnel

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs poses a risk for food-borne illness.

Tips

  • Store the Irish cream in the refrigerator when not in use. It should keep for quite a while (possibly up to a month), but be sure to check it for freshness if you have it around for more than a week. Treat it like milk and if it smells sour, toss it!
  • Before serving, give the bottle a good shake as it tends to separate.
  • If you include eggs, it is vital that you store the cream properly and use it rather quickly. The whiskey will act as a preservative, but it will not prevent spoilage if the liqueur is left at room temperature for too long.
  • Any bottle will do for storing your homemade Irish cream, you simply need to ensure that it has a tight seal. The recipe will ​yield around 1 liter (4 1/2 cups, or 18 2-ounce servings). That's a little larger than the average 750 mL liquor bottle.
  • If you're recycling empty liquor bottles, ensure they're thoroughly cleaned and split the liqueur between two bottles.
  • Be sure to label the bottles with the date so you know exactly when you made it.

Recipe Variations

  • Many homemade Irish cream fans prefer it without eggs and that is perfectly fine. Your liqueur may not be as thick and creamy, but it will still be delicious. If you are in any way uncomfortable with drinking eggs or are giving your Irish cream as a gift, it would be best to simply pass over that ingredient.
  • Adjust the flavorings to suit your taste. Chocolate, coffee, and vanilla are common flavoring ingredients for Irish cream. You can add more of any of these, though its best not to go over 3 tablespoons for each in order to create a balanced flavor.
  • The almond extract is an optional ingredient. It adds a little more flavor, though you could also use an alternative such as coconut extract instead.
  • Use this recipe as inspiration for creating other cream liqueurs in any flavor you like. For instance, you can replicate Tequila Rose by using tequila as the base liqueur and switching from chocolate to strawberry syrup—keep the vanilla and almond extracts, but skip the coffee and use up to 4 tablespoons of syrup. Or, keep the chocolate and create a delicious chocolate-strawberry cream liqueur.
  • Brandy and rum make a great base for cream liqueurs as well.

How Strong Is Homemade Irish Cream?

This Irish cream is pleasantly light. Its alcohol content will fall in the 10 percent ABV (20 proof) range if you include all of the ingredients and use 80 proof whiskey. That's a little lighter than the commercial brands, which are typically bottled between 30 and 40 proof.