Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream) (2024)

This homemade Baileys recipe is the perfect addition to your morning coffee, delicious served over ice cream for dessert and perfect over ice for sipping.

Did you know it takes less than 5 minutes to make this Copycat Baileys Irish Cream at home (and the flavor is amazing)!

Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream) (1)

A bottle of DIY Irish Cream makes for easy and delicious Christmas gifts (although you’ll want to make a double batch to save some for yourself too)!

Start by pouring the Irish Cream into mason jars or glass bottles. Seal tightly and tie with a ribbon. Be sure you let the person know that they have to keep it in the fridge (and not under the tree).

Ingredients for Homemade Baileys

You need only 5 ingredients to make this homemade Baileys Irish cream.

Sweetened Condensed Milk thickens and sweetens the mixture.

Light Cream makes this creamy of course and helps balance out the sweetness of the condensed milk. You can use coconut milk or even heavy cream if it’s all you have (add a bit of milk to thin it out if needed).

Whiskey is the alcohol in this recipe. Of course, Irish whiskey (like Jameson) is ideal but really, there is no need for a fancy whiskey. An inexpensive brand works just as well (in a pinch you could even use vodka).

Flavor Instant coffee (or instant espresso) and pure vanilla extract add flavor. Some recipes add a touch of cocoa powder, almond extract, or chocolate syrup. We think this recipe is perfect as is.

To Make Irish Cream without Alcohol

Irish cream contains alcohol but this copycat Baileys recipe can be made without alcohol. Skip the whiskey and add a teaspoon or so of rum extract or whiskey extract. Brands can vary so add a little bit at a time until you reach the desired flavor!

Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream) (2)

How To Make Baileys

Irish cream is super easy to make, place all of the ingredients in a large bowl (per the recipe below) or pitcher and whisk to combine. Voila, homemade Baileys!

Storage

As long as your cream is fresh, homemade Baileys will last about 2 weeks in the fridge.

If giving this as a gift, leave a note to ensure your recipients refrigerate it.

Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream) (3)

Recipes to Spike with Irish Cream

Homemade Baileys can be served over ice or added to cocktails or coffee. Poke some holes and drizzle a little over cakes or cupcakes.

  • Homemade Hot Chocolate
  • Baileys Brownies (with Bailey’s frosting)
  • Copycat Shamrock Shake
  • Pumpkin Spice Latte
  • Irish Coffee
  • Affogato (ice cream & espresso)
  • Homemade Eggnog

Did you love this Irish Cream Recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!

Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream) (4)

5 from 42 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream)

Baileys Irish Cream is creamy & flavorful with a bit of a kick. The best part is, this copycat recipe is ready in under 5 minutes!

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Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream) (6)

Servings 12 servings

Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream) (7)

Author Holly Nilsson

Ingredients

  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces
  • 2 cups light cream or half and half
  • 1 cup whiskey
  • 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in jar with a tight-fitting lid.

  • Shake to mix well. Chill at least 24 hours before serving.

  • Store in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

Notes

This Irish cream can be made without alcohol. Skip the whiskey and add a teaspoon or so of rum or whiskey extract. While the flavor is slightly different, it's delicious!

This will keep in the fridge as long as the expiry date on your cream.

Serve over ice, in cocktails, or in coffee.

5 from 42 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 215 | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 145mg | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 291IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream) (8) Course Beverage, Drink, Drinks

Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream) (9) Cuisine American, Irish

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

This easy recipe is inspired by versions in the McNab Family Cookbook, a little self-published cookbook. The book contains 3 homemade Irish Cream liqueur recipes in my little book with different ingredients (raw eggs, chocolate syrup, and rum). I combined the parts I liked best to create this delicious recipe.

Categories:

Beverages, Christmas, Recipes, St. Patricks Day

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Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream) (2024)

FAQs

What are the main ingredients in Baileys Irish Cream? ›

Original Irish Cream blends Irish whiskey and spirits with Irish dairy cream and a touch of rich chocolate and vanilla flavours. Pour over ice cream, mix into coffee, or enjoy it with ice for an originally delish Baileys moment.

How long will homemade Baileys keep? ›

Now, you'll notice that this homemade drink contains dairy. This means that once you've made it, proper storage is key or you won't get to keep enjoying the drink for long. As a general rule of thumb, you can store your freshly made Irish cream for up to two months in the refrigerator.

Can I drink 10 year old Baileys? ›

If it has never been opened it is probably still safe to drink, if you can get it out of the bottle, but will be fairly unpleasant. Can you drink 10-year-old Baileys? If it looks okay and it tastes okay it should be safe to drink.

What whisky is used in Bailey's Irish Cream Liqueur? ›

Gluckman told Irish Central that, after getting the call from the IDV, he and Seymour-Davies went to the nearest grocery store and purchased Jameson Irish Whiskey, Cadbury's Powdered Drinking Chocolate, and cream. They mixed it up in a cleaned-out Schweppes bottle, and the rudimentary recipe for Baileys was born.

What is the main alcohol in Baileys? ›

One of life's most pleasurable indulgences, Baileys Original Irish Cream is the sweetest meeting of fine Irish whiskey and spirits, Irish dairy cream, rich chocolate and vanilla flavours.

How long can you keep Baileys once opened? ›

Baileys™ has a best before date on the left hand side of the back label (two years from date of manufacture). Other manufacturers, such as Carolan's™ may have different recommendations. They suggest a shelf-life of six months after opening, and recommend storage in the refrigerator once the product is opened.

What happens if you don't refrigerate Baileys after opening? ›

Even though Baileys doesn't need to be refrigerated, it will eventually go bad. To tell if it's no longer good to drink, Simply Called Food advises analyzing its smell and texture for changes. Does it smell differently or has its consistency changed? If so, it's best not to drink it.

Does homemade Baileys Irish Cream need to be refrigerated? ›

Yes! The homemade Irish Cream needs to be refrigerated. The alcohol acts as a preservative, but there's still lots of milk and cream in the mixture and you do not want it to go bad! The Baileys recipe will last about 2 months in the fridge.

How to tell if Bailey's Irish cream is bad? ›

Checking for signs of spoilage is also essential when considering the safety of an opened bottle of Baileys. If the liqueur has any sort of "off" smell, or if there are any signs of curdling or separation, these are an indication that the product may be past its prime and isn't ideal for consumption.

What are the side effects of Baileys Irish Cream? ›

Liqueurs often have significant added sugar, which leads to empty calories, weight gain, dental issues, a risk of type 2 diabetes, and mental health effects from sugar highs and crashes. Consuming liqueurs regularly can also contribute to cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer, and metabolic syndromes.

What is the warning on Baileys? ›

The handy tradesmen said: "This sort of beverage should never be disposed of in this way. Cream liqueurs have a large fat content, and as such falls into the category of FOG (Fats, Oils, and Greases). "FOG should never go down the sink, as it sticks to pipes and can cause blockages.

Can you freeze Baileys? ›

Two glasses of Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur with coffee beans. Avoid freezing Baileys if you want it to taste good! Check out our guide to learn the best storage method. Can You Freeze Tzatziki sauce?

Why are Baileys so expensive? ›

Baileys is made from the very best of premium quality dairy cream, triple-distilled whiskey, and fine spirits. It takes about 220 million liters of fresh cream from 38,000 top-bred Irish dairy cows (Baileys Ladies) for the creation of baileys annually.

What is the best thing to mix with Baileys? ›

It goes well with hot drinks, like coffee, hot chocolate, and even earl grey tea. You can mix Baileys with cold drinks, working wonders mixed with cocktails like an espresso martini or a white Russian. In fact, you can mix Baileys with most spirits to make your favourite drink that extra bit yummier!

What milk is in Baileys? ›

Every year, roughly 200 million litres of fresh Irish milk are required to produce the creamiest of cream used in the production of Baileys. That's enough to make about 3.3 billion Baileys milkshakes, give or take. This milk is mostly supplied from small, family-owned farms.

How much caffeine is in Bailey's Irish cream? ›

Nutritional Information
per serve (50ml)
Protein (g)0.9
Salt (g)<0.1
Alcohol (g)5
Caffeine (mg)TRACE
6 more rows

How much alcohol is in a shot of Baileys Irish Cream? ›

Bailey's Irish Cream is bottled in the US at 17% ABV, if we assume that a beer is 5% ABV, that means that the Bailey's contains 3.4 times the alcohol as beer. If your beer is 16 oz by volume it would contain 0.8oz of pure ethanol. A 1.5 oz shot of Bailey's would contain 0.255oz of pure ethanol.

Can you drink Baileys straight? ›

Irish cream liqueur is wonderfully versatile. It's so rich and full of flavour, so one of the best ways to drink it is straight or over ice, and just savour the taste of the liqueur. It's also great as an ingredient in shooters, cocktails and warm drinks like coffee and hot chocolate. Here are a few of our favourites!

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