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pouring homemade Irish Cream from a small glass bottle into a glass with ice
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Homemade Irish Cream

It's easy to make Homemade Irish Cream in just minutes! This creamy, sweet liqueur is perfect for coffee, cocktails, or desserts. Great for St. Patrick's Day, holiday entertaining, and gifting!
Prep Time10 minutes
Chilling Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 10 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Irish
Keyword: cocoa powder, heavy cream, instant coffee, sweetened condensed milk
Servings: 17 servings (1.5 ounces)
Author: Amanda Biddle

Ingredients

  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup Irish whiskey (I use Jameson), see customization note below regarding quantity
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Ghirardelli or Droste)
  • ½ teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder
  • 1 cup heavy cream, light cream, or half and half (see note)

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients except for the cream or half and half in a blender. Blend at medium speed until fully combined and smooth, about 10 to 20 seconds.
  • Scrape the sides of the blender canister and add the cream or half and half. Blend at the lowest speed for 5 seconds. Don't over-blend or the cream will start to whip.
  • Pour the Irish Cream into a clean, lidded glass bottle or jar and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight if possible) before serving. Depending on the freshness of the cream, it will keep in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks. Shake the container before each use, as natural separation may occur.

Notes

Cream: Using heavy cream will make a rich, luscious Irish cream that's a bit thicker than most commercial bottles. We love it this way. If you prefer a thinner Irish cream, use all half and half, light cream, or 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup half and half.
Storage: Always check for signs of spoilage before serving. If the liqueur develops an unpleasant sour smell, a grainy or clumpy texture, or visible curdling after storing in the refrigerator, discard it. If you're giving Irish Cream as a gift, be sure to let the recipient know that it needs to be stored in the fridge.

To customize the recipe:

  • For a boozier Irish cream: Increase Irish whiskey to 1-1/2 to 1-2/3 cups. Remember that the liqueur will taste stronger when it's first made and will mellow a bit the longer it's in the fridge. 
  • For a stronger chocolate flavor: Increase cocoa powder to 2 to 3 teaspoons, to taste.
  • For a stronger coffee flavor: Increase instant coffee or espresso powder to 1 to 2 teaspoons, to taste.
  • For a hint of almond (Amanda's favorite): Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (depending on the potency of the brand you're using and your personal preference) and decrease vanilla extract accordingly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5ounces | Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 268IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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