By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 6
258 cal · 130 min
DIY Irish Cream Recipe
Recipe GLPRce02f0fc931a0a
A rich and creamy homemade Irish cream liqueur with deep chocolate and espresso notes, balanced with warm vanilla and almond. Perfect for sipping on its own, over ice, or mixed into cocktails. This smooth, indulgent drink captures the essence of traditional Irish cream with a homemade touch.
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Ingredients
1¼ cups Irish whiskey
1 tablespoon espresso powder
14 ounces condensed sweetened milk
½ cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon real vanilla extract
1 teaspoon real almond extract
2 tablespoons honey
Directions
In a blender, combine the espresso powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, and a small splash of the Irish whiskey. Blend until the powders are fully dissolved and smooth, creating a concentrated mixture with no lumps.
Add the condensed sweetened milk, heavy cream, honey, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the blender. Blend on medium speed for about 30 seconds until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture is uniform and creamy.
Pour in the remaining Irish whiskey and blend for another 10-15 seconds until fully integrated and the liqueur is smooth and well-mixed.
Transfer the homemade Irish cream to a clean glass bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid. If desired, strain through a fine-mesh sieve for an even silkier texture.
Seal the bottle and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld and the texture to set properly.
Serve chilled over ice, in coffee, or as a component in cocktails. The liqueur will keep refrigerated for several weeks in a sealed container.
Comments
This DIY liqueur is cheap and available everywhere Charlotte shops: all ingredients are standard at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Walmart, or ALDI, with no specialty stops needed. The stated 130 minutes is misleading—actual hands-on work is five minutes of whisking; the rest is passive sitting time, making it a smart pour-ahead for entertaining. At roughly two dollars per drink it's a bargain versus bar-bought Irish cream, and the recipe yields six servings that store for weeks in the fridge. The only catch is that this is a sweet, boozy dessert drink, not a meal component, so it fits a specific occasion rather than weeknight rotation.
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