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Hi Bold Bakers!
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: This Homemade Irish Cream Recipe brings you a true and creamy Irish liqueur in less than 5 minutes with household staple ingredients. You can create the drink with the well-known smooth texture and distinctive sweet, floral, nutty, and boozy flavor profile right at home anytime without using any special equipment. It’s so versatile and excellent in bringing your drinking and eating experience to the next level!
I am proud to say that O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey is a family business. It is founded by my cousin, Michael J Stafford the managing director of Stafford Bonded in my hometown of Wexford, Ireland. Michael carried on the family business created by our grandfather (James Stafford) and also our fathers (George Stafford Snr and Michael Stafford Snr). He has chronicled the history of the Stafford family in Wexford beautifully on the Stafford Bonded website. O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey is inspired by Diarmuid O’Driscoll, Michael’s other grandfather. A pillar in the family, an inspiration, and a great storyteller. You can meet Diarmuid here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was improved and updated on 12/7/2023, to include a step-by-step tutorial video.
Table of Contents
- What is Homemade Irish Cream?
- Tools for Irish Cream Recipe with O’Driscolls Whiskey
- Key Ingredients and Why
- How to Make an Irish Cream Recipe with O’Driscolls Whiskey
- How to Store Homemade Irish Cream with O’Driscolls Whiskey
- Q: What Are the Best Ways to Use Homemade Irish Cream with O’Driscolls Whiskey?
- Q: Can I use other whiskey rather than Irish whiskey?
- FAQs
- Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
- More Irish Whiskey-Infused Recipes
What is Homemade Irish Cream?
- Irish Cream is a widely-favored festive alcoholic liqueur known for its sweet, rich flavor and smooth, creamy texture.
- It is typically made with a base of Irish whiskey, cream, sugar, and various flavorings such as cocoa, mint, coffee, caramel, hazelnut, etc.
- The combination of whiskey and cream brings the alcohol content to around 15% to 20% ABV (alcohol by volume), giving it a distinctive taste that’s both indulgent and easy to drink.
- The well-known Irish cream brand was first introduced in 1974 whose original recipe includes Irish whiskey, cream, cocoa, and vanilla, among other ingredients. It can be pricy and very hard to come by so I’m going to show you how to nail it with ease yet an amazing result!
Tools for Irish Cream Reipe with O’Driscolls Whiskey
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons
- Measuring jug
- Mixing bowls
- Hand whisk or a fork
Key Ingredients and Why
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Heavy cream
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- Heavy cream is fresh cream skimmed from milk with a fat content of 30%-36%.
- The cream used in Irish Cream liqueur gives it its characteristic creamy consistency and pleasant mouthfeel.
- You can also use high-fat table cream or shelf-stable cream.
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Whole milk
- Whole milk with around 3.25% fat by weight provides richer flavor and creamier texture than reduced-fat milk or non-fat milk.
- Compared to cream, whole milk has a relatively thin consistency which makes Irish Cream easy to use and drink.
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Sweetened condensed milk
- Sweetened condensed milk not only adds sweetness and creaminess to Homemade Irish Cream but also acts as a thickening agent to bind ingredients together to ensure a cohesive consistency.
- Make it at home if it’s not easily accessible using my easy Homemade Condensed Milk recipe.
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Pure vanilla extract
- Vanilla extract enhances the flavor of Homemade Irish Cream with a floral aroma.
- Make my recipe of Homemade Vanilla Extract so you always have good quality extract on hand at a fraction of store price!
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Instant espresso powder
- Instant espresso powder infuses an intense coffee flavor into Irish Cream.
- In the meanwhile, the bitter instant espresso powder balances the sweetness from condensed milk.
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O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey
- O’Driscolls Irish whiskey imparts a complex and slightly boozy flavor setting Irish Cream apart from other cream-based liqueurs.
- It’s an exceptional triple-distilled blend of golden grain and malted barley. Aging in bourbon casks for a minimum of 3 years has gorgeously maturated and O’Driscolls Whiskey’s vanilla profile.
- Besides sweetness, O’Driscolls whiskey incorporates a toffee & soft vanilla essence as well as a slight spiciness.
- In the meanwhile, whiskey also:
- acts as a preservative extending the shelf life of Irish Cream;
- creates a stable emulsion by mixing other ingredients cohesively;
- cuts back the sweetness and provides a gentle kick for a well-balanced taste.
- O’Driscolls Irish whiskey imparts a complex and slightly boozy flavor setting Irish Cream apart from other cream-based liqueurs.
How to Make an Irish Cream Recipe with O’Driscolls Whiskey
- Well combine liquid ingredients: cream, whole milk, and condensed milk.
- Fully dissolve espresso powder in vanilla extract then stir into the milk mixture. * (See important tips down below!)
- Assemble: Stir in whiskey until thoroughly combined.
How to Store Homemade Irish Cream with O’Driscolls Whiskey
The best way to store Homemade Irish Cream is to store it in a large lidded jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Q: What Are the Best Ways to Use Homemade Irish Cream with O’Driscolls Whiskey?
A: Its popularity has led to the creation of different flavors and variations.
- You can enjoy Irish Cream on its own with ice, add it to my Best Ever Hot Chocolate recipe or your cocktails, pour it into a black coffee, and top with whipped cream.
- Swirl it into my Ice Cream or Frozen Deserts recipes, frosting recipes for cupcakes, Best Ever Brownies, and more!
- To make an Irish Cream Frappuccino: add ½ cup (4 floz/120 ml) Irish cream and 1 cup (8 floz/240 ml) each of milk and coffee to a blender with 2 cups of ice. Blend until smooth and divide between 2 glasses!
Q: Can I use any alcohol besides Irish whiskey?
A: Yes, you can use other alcohol to make this recipe. However, I strongly recommend you use Irish whiskey for the most authentic Irish flavor.
FAQs
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Can I use less sugar or a sugar substitute?
- Cutting back sugar or condensed milk will affect the taste and consistency of Irish Cream.
- You can use sugar substitute from my Sugar Substitute Chart to make Condensed milk for this recipe.
- Note that allulose is the only sugar-free sugar alternative that’s able to caramelize to make condensed milk.
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Can I make a vegan Irish Cream?
- Yes, you can make Homemade Irish cream dairy-free. Replace milk with plant-based milk of your choice and canned full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream for heavy cream.
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What can I use if I don’t have espresso powder?
- You can use cocoa powder or instant coffee granules in place of espresso powder for a similar richness.
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Can I use a blender?
- Yes, you can use a blender to make Irish Cream. Note to gently “pulse” the mixture to avoid over-mixing and curdling the cream.
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Can I add other flavorings?
- Yes, for every cup of Irish Cream, you can add ½ -1 teaspoon of almond extract or ½ tablespoon of chocolate syrup.
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Can I freeze Homemade Irish Cream for later?
- Freezing is not recommended as it will make it grainy or icy.
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What’s the difference between Homemade Irish Cream and store-bought versions?
- Homemade Irish Cream is customizable, uses fresh ingredients without added chemical preservatives, and is more accessible and cost-effective compared to some store-bought options.
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Is it ok to serve kids Irish Cream?
- Irish Cream contains alcohol so it is not suitable for children or individuals under the legal drinking age.
Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
- This recipe makes a big batch – but you can half or quarter the recipe if you prefer!
- * The espresso power should be FULLY dissolved before mixing into your milk. If the vanilla extract isn’t fully dissolving it, add a bit of the milk mixture into the espresso to help.
- This mixture may separate so give it a good shake before each use.
- You can make a lighter or richer version by using either all milk or all cream in place of a half cup of each.
- Homemade Irish Cream is a great choice for Christmas gifts for families and friends. Check out my Homemade Extract Recipe for the glass bottles that you can use!
More Irish Whiskey-Infused Recipes
IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was improved and updated on 12/7/2023, to include a step-by-step tutorial video.
Try These Recipes!
Watch The Recipe Video!
O’Driscolls Irish Cream Recipe (Coffee Creamer for Irish Coffee)
Craft this easy Homemade Irish Cream recipe to elevate various beverages and desserts with an authentic, delicious and velvety boozy liqueur!
Servings: 32 oz
Craft this easy Homemade Irish Cream recipe to elevate various beverages and desserts with an authentic, delicious and velvety boozy liqueur!
Servings: 32 oz
Ingredients
- ½ cup (4 fl oz/120 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (4 fl oz/120 ml) whole milk
- 1 can (14 oz/395 ml) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 1⅔ cups (14 fl oz/400 ml) O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey
Instructions
- In a 4-cup (32 fl oz/960 ml) glass measuring jug, combine the cream, whole milk and condensed milk.
- In a small bowl, mix the vanilla extract with the espresso powder until dissolved, then stir into the milk mixture.
- Finally, stir in the whiskey until combined.
- Transfer to a large lidded jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Add it to my Best Ever Hot Chocolate recipe or pour it into a black coffee and top with whipped cream. It can also be added to my Irish Cream No Machine Ice Cream.
OMG! This is Delicious, with a capitol D! Only problem my coffee granules have not dissolved so will strain each time I serve as a drink over Christmas day. I will know for next time and I am definitely going to make the ice cream too. Wonderful. Merry Christmas all.
OMG this is delicious and perfect Irish Cream. Thanks for the amazing recipe. We doubled the recipe and might have more than we had anticipated but more to share with friends. I did have to make a substitution. Unfortunately I did not have instant espresso powder so we made a Lavazza Espresso in an Italian Espresso maker and added one fresh cooled down shot of Espresso and it worked out really nice.
Hi Gemma, Well I have two bottles of O’Driscolls on the way. Glad to be an honorary clan member and pirate! My question is: Can you think of a sugar free substitute for sweetened condensed milk? We are both borderline diabetics and don’t want to push it. Is the condensed milk only for the sweetener or also for the consistency. Is there something else that I can use. Like all of your recipes, I’m looking forward to trying this.
Hi Gemma! In “Instructions”, Step 4, the link for the Irish Cream No Machine Ice Cream actually takes us to the recipe for Irish Coffee & Cream Popsicles. I tried it several times, to ensure it wasn’t a one-of, but, it wasn’t, unfortunately. A firm believer in the recycle & reuse philosophy, I have a cache of empty flavored coffee creamer bottles, which I can now fill with the GOOD stuff! Not as pretty as your glass bottle, but as it’s for my personal consumption (my friends can make their own. It’s mine. All MINE! 😬)… And…I went to YouTube… Read more »
Is there an Irish whiskey that’s gluten free? I’d love to make this but I have celiac. Thanks so much!
Hi Gemma I would love to know where you sourced the glassware please. Thank you