This Homemade Irish Cream is a creamy and boozy delight. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or even a cold night.
While I can totally do without Valentine’s day, I absolutely LOVE St. Patrick’s Day (especially Homemade Irish Cream). I love Irish food and adore the color green, though just like Valentine’s Day, I don’t think food should be turned green against its will. Can we just let food live? Another reason I’ve always loved St. Patrick’s Day, in college when I worked at a brewery, it was always my highest grossing day of the year. People love an excuse to drink. People would be so drunk and since I was nice to them, they’d leave me $20 or $30 just for getting them a beer. Obviously it was my favorite day.
If I’m being honest, I don’t always go for cream or milk mixed with my alcohol. I think it goes back to the days when I used to have to bus glassware that had the remnants of stout mixed with irish cream and whiskey. It was curdle-central all up in there and it was not cute, my friends.
Having said all that, I’ve had dreams of making Homemade Irish Cream without a curdle in sight.
What is Irish Cream?
Irish Cream is a cream-y liqueur mixture made up of whiskey, cream, sugar and other flavorings. It can be served on its own or mixed into coffee, making a delicious Irish coffee.
Where is Irish Cream From?
Irish Cream is not a traditional Irish product as it was invented by a creative agency for Dublin, the capital of Ireland. As it was popularized, Irish Cream became a protected geographical indicator product which stated it must be produced in Ireland.
I did some research as to ensure a life free of curdling (what a gross word) and it seems it’s all about adding the alcohol slowly and being sure to use heavy cream. Alcohol is an acid so making irish cream with, say, whole milk will definitely break the milk, resulting in some serious coagulation.
So, this recipe, while super easy, will direct you to add the alcohol at the very end, with the blender going, at a very slow speed. That’s it!
Look at her. She’s so nosey. Are all dogs this nosey? I feel like they are.
Here’s the picture I was attempting to take before Miss Nosey got all up in the picture.
I poured this stuff over ice and then topped it with whipped cream and a zest of chocolate. Official review: I had to force myself to stop. It was 1pm on a Tuesday, after all.
How to make Irish Cream
- Warm the cream. Heat the cream with chocolate syrup, coffee granules and salt until the granules dissolve.
- Blend the rest. Blend the cream mixture with more cream, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract.
- Add the booze. With the blender running, slowly incorporate the whiskey.
- Chill the Irish Cream. Refrigerate until ready to use. Enjoy!
Homemade Irish Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream divided
- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- 1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup Irish whiskey
Garnish:
- Whipped cream
- Small piece of chocolate
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, set over medium low heat, warm 1/4 cup heavy cream with the chocolate syrup, coffee granules and salt. Whisk until the coffee granules and salt have dissolved and the consistency is smooth.
- To a blender, add the coffee and cream mixture, the remaining 3/4 cup heavy cream, can of sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract; pulse until very smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. With the blender running, slowly pour in the whiskey (adding slowly will avoid possible curdling). Transfer to a pitcher and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour. Right before serving, give it a good stir.
- Serve over ice with a scoop of whipped cream and a bit of grated chocolate, if you like!
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
If you make this Irish Cream recipe, let me know on my Instagram.
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i love irish cream. it would be great to make my own. looks wonderful!
How neat! I love the idea of making Irish Cream yourself. Thanks for such a great looking recipe! Perfect for St. Patty’s day 🙂
oooh my god this looks good. I never order the creamy stuff at the bar, but I’ll have sometimes as a fancy treat at home over crushed ice. Want want want
Just in time! Thank for the recipe!
Really lovely post, fantastic pictures!
I love Irish Cream – which reminds me… I must get me some
Lovely photos! Such a cute pup too! I have made my own irish cream and it is so delish! I love how you added coffee and chocolate to yours. I will have to try out your recipe next time around!
I have to host a bachelorette party brunch on Saturday and I am so making this! How long do you think it will last in the fridge? I mean, it won’t LAST long because I’ll drink every drop, but I assume I can throw it together Friday and it should still be good to go on Saturday?
Oh yes, definitely. It’ll last I’d say up to 5 days in the fridge. You may have to give it a quick stir right before serving.
Delicious! What is vanilla extract done?
Oh haha. Those were my personal notes. I typed “done” after I added it. It’s deleted now. Don’t mind me!
Oh hahaha! That’s funny. I really thought I was missing out on some unique ingredient!
I know this must be a stupid question but what do you mean when you you say “done”.
For example, “1 teaspoon vanilla extract done”.
The word curdle just creeps me out, is that weird? Also, I made a vegan version of this last year and it was amazing, over ice cream is perfect yo!
Oh whoa! What was in the vegan version?
Mainly full fat coconut milk and almond milk are subbed in, so good!
How cool is this recipe! I just had Irish cream the first time this year. I know. Never again.
That little nose is too cute! And this looks just incredible… so much easier than I imagined!
St. Patrick’s Day is not celebrated where I’m from (Northern Europe), but this looks too delicious not to make anyway!
This irish cream looks delicious and so effortless too