Name: Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 1445 min
Ingredients: 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces); 2 cups light cream (or half and half); 1 cup whiskey; 1 teaspoon instant coffee; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream)

This homemade Baileys is smooth, creamy, and ready in less than 5 minutes.

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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, balances out the sweetness from the condensed milk.
Whiskey is the alcohol in Irish Cream. My first choice is an Irish whiskey like Jameson, but an inexpensive brand works just as well.
Flavor Instant coffee or instant espresso and pure vanilla extract add flavor. Other optional additions include cocoa powder, almond extract, or chocolate syrup.

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. Extracts can vary by brand so add a little at a time to reach the desired flavor!

Storage

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

If you’re gifting this, be sure to include a little note reminding them to pop it in the fridge!

adding Copycat Baileys Recipe irish cream to coffee

Did you love this Irish Cream Recipe? Leave a rating and a comment below!

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

4.98 from 49 votes

Author Holly Nilsson

Copycat Baileys Recipe (Homemade Irish Cream)

Author Holly Nilsson

Servings 12 servings

This copycat Baileys Irish Cream is smooth, creamy, and perfectly sweet with hints of vanilla, coffee, and Irish whiskey. It's great for sipping or mixing into drinks!

Save Rate Print

Servings 12 servings

Prep Time 5

Chill Time 1

Total Time 1 5

Equipment

Large Jar

Ingredients

▢ 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces
▢ 2 cups light cream or half and half
▢ 1 cup whiskey
▢ 1 teaspoon instant coffee
▢ 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.

4.98 from 49 votes

Nutrition Information

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

Course Beverage, Drink, Drinks

Cuisine American, Irish

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jar of Copycat Baileys Recipe with writing

creamy and smooth Copycat Baileys Recipe in a jar with writing

Copycat Baileys Recipe with coffee and writing

Copycat Baileys Recipe in a jar and adding irish creamer to a glass of coffee with writing

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.