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Homemade Irish Cream Holiday Gifts

Learn home to make homemade Irish cream with this easy and delicious copycat Baileys recipe! It’s perfect for sipping or for bottling and giving as homemade Christmas gifts.

Each year during the holidays, I like to spend time making homemade Christmas gifts for a handful of people on our gifting list. It’s a thing that brings me great joy and people love a good homemade gift.

One year it was homemade after shave for the gentlemen. Another year it was homemade vanilla extract. Most  years I make homemade body scrubs, too. (Like this one or this one!)

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

This year I was inspired by some of my lady friends in our neighborhood to make homemade Irish cream! Poured into a cute bottle and paired with our sweet printable tags, I just love this gift idea!

Homemade Irish cream makes such a good little hostess gift, or gifts for your co-workers or the mail carrier. (We have the best mailman ever and he’s definitely getting a bottle!)

Also, it tastes really delicious so make make enough or yourself, too. (Trust me, this is the copycat Baileys you need in your life – only better!)

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

Homemade Irish Cream Ingredients

  • Half and half – Cream is the foundation of this copycat Baileys recipe. I like to use half and half. In a pinch, you could also use whole milk or even half heavy cream and half milk.
  • Sweetened condensed milk – This homemade Irish cream is rich and creamy, in part because of the addition of the sweetened condensed milk.
  • Whiskey – I like to use a good quality Irish whiskey when making Irish cream. The flavor really comes through so don’t use anything too cheap, but you also don’t need anything top shelf.
  • Chocolate syrup – The chocolate syrup adds a sweetness and more depth of flavor to the Irish cream. Add more or less to suit your palate!
  • Vanilla extract – Don’t skip the vanilla! It adds so much yummy flavor. I like to use a good quality vanilla because you can really taste the difference.

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

How to Make Homemade Irish Cream

Step 1. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Use an immersion blender or the whisk attachment of your stand mixer to mix until well combined.

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

Step 2. Carefully pour Irish cream mixture into glass bottles or mason jars with lids. Be sure your bottles or jars are thoroughly washed before bottling your Irish cream.

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

Step 3. To top off your gifts, print our free printable gift tags on white card stock, then trim, punch a small hole in the top and attach with a bit of pretty ribbon or baker’s twine.

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

How to Store Homemade Irish Cream

Be sure to transfer your copycat Baileys to a glass jar or bottle with a tight fitting lid. It can then be stored in the refrigerator for one to two months.

When giving as a gift, I generally attach the tags and then store the bottles in the fridge. I can then easily grab them and go to bring along as a hostess gift or to catch our mail carrier on his last stop by the house before Christmas.

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

Where to Find Bottles for Homemade Irish Cream

Many stores and online retailers sell food safe bottles and jars. Here are a few ideas of where to look for bottles:

  • Michaels (which is where I found these bottles)
  • Amazon
  • Bed Bath & Beyond
  • Target
  • JoAnn
  • Hobby Lobby
  • Local restaurant supply stores
  • Local kitchen and bath stores
  • Webstaurant Store (a favorite place of mine for food/kitchen supplies)

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

How to Use Irish Cream

  • On the rocks – I personally love Irish cream on the rocks. A handful of ice cubes in a rocks or old fashioned glass with a big pour of homemade Baileys over top is heaven!
  • With coffee – Add Irish cream to coffee instead of your usual creamer! It’s so creamy and a delicious weekend treat.
  • Over ice cream – Add Baileys to your dessert by pouring a bit of Irish cream over vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
  • Mixed – Irish cream is also used in many cocktail and dessert recipes!

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

Friends, we LOVE this Irish cream recipe – it’s just as good, maybe better, than store bough Irish cream. And it’s less expensive to make than to buy – win!

If you give this or any of my holiday ideas a try, share with me on Instagram using the hashtag  #thesweetestholidays! I want to see what you’re baking, making and crafting this holiday season. xo

Homemade Irish Cream Recipe

[Art direction by Cyd Converse | Printables by Erika Firm |Photos by Alice G. Patterson for The Sweetest Occasion.]

Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

Homemade Irish Cream

Yield: 4 cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Learn home to make homemade Irish cream with this easy and delicious copycat Baileys recipe! It's perfect for sipping or for bottling and gifting.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup half and half
  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 - 1/2 cups whiskey
  • 1/4 cup chocolate syrup
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions

    1. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer.

      Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm
    2. Use an immersion blender or the whisk attachment of your stand mixer to mix until well combined.

      Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm
    3. Carefully pour Irish cream mixture into glass bottles or mason jars with lids. (Be sure your bottles or jars are thoroughly washed before bottling your Irish cream.)

      Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm
    4. Refrigerate in an air tight bottle or jar for up to one to two months.

      Homemade Christmas Gifts | Homemade Irish Cream Recipe with Free Printables from @cydconverse and @erikafirm

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Ginger Rota

Monday 7th of December 2020

Your free printable gift tag link does not work!

Cyd Converse

Wednesday 9th of December 2020

Hi Ginger! The post is updated and the link is fixed now. When we moved servers early this year the file must have been lost. It's all set now - thanks!

Renee

Sunday 29th of November 2020

The link to the labels is broken

Samara Ann

Tuesday 24th of October 2017

Ms Cyd Converse, While browsing Pinterest for ideas for my annual pig roast this Sunday (about a month later than we usually have it and we're having it outside to boot? and it's mid-autumn in Rhode Island! So it can be either be quite chilly or sweltering hot out...even going so far as ending up having a torrential downpour or even white-out blizzard conditions on said day, which honestly, neither would surprise me ?) I happened to come across your lovely blog earlier this evening, while looking for a festive sangria recipe/idea, around 5(ish)pm........it's now 9:52pm (!!!!!!!!!!) lol and I haven't left yet!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, L.O.V.E IT!! I'm getting a ton of ideas and some of your entries are sparking ideas for other ideas like a never ending chain reaction, which is awsome?? but sooo not helpful for keeping on track??? So I just wanted to drop you a little gushing, "I LOVE IT!!" note because, well, just because ?? (plus, we all need that feel good, pick-me-up once in a while and the positive feedback that reaffirms that whatever we're doing, we're doing it more than just right, but AWSOME-LY. Therefore Madame Converse, it's SOOOOO worth it. There's hundreds and thousands of blogs out there now-a-days and I'm a Pinterest addict so I've seen ALOT of them lol and I can honestly say I've only commented a 'feel good' comment to the blogger, YOU in this case lol, one other time...years ago at that. So next time your stumped, frustrated, dealing with a not so nice critic, person, or just a big meanie, your ready to pull your hair out or even just stop all together....just remember, people actually, honestly and Truly REALLY REALLLLY REALLLLLLLLLY absolutely LOVE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, ARE DOING and WILL CONTINUE TO DO!!!! And us; the people actually, honestly and truly people, far outweigh the negative ones, by a looooong shot The conclusion madame?? Keep on keeping on. Keep blogging and putting what you do out there because you are freaking AMAZINGLY GREAT at it!! X0

Now. I do have a quick question, or three, about your Homemade Irish Cream recipe. I'm planning to make it for a hot chocolate diy 'Spike-It' bar (yessss, ANOTHER great idea I decided to give a go after browsing your entries ??) for Sunday's cookout/get together/pig roast....How much does it end up making once everything's combined and ready to be enjoyed ?? How far in advance should I/could I/can I make it...... a few days before Sunday, say on Thursday or Friday night, the night before, the day of......?? Annnnnnd, is it one of those mixed drinks like sangria that tastes better after sitting for a few hours or even overnight to let the flavors combine and happily 'mesh' together??

Thank you... ....for you help, your ideas, Your Blog that rejuiced & renewed My Creative Ideas and most of all.....YOUR BLOG!!! Keep at it & keep on blogging Madame!!! Mwahhhh x0x0x Happy Holidays to you and your family!!!

Cyd Converse

Wednesday 25th of October 2017

Samara, you are too too sweet! Thank you for your kindness and your beautiful words. They mean so much to me! Your pig roast also sounds like an amazing party and I'm so glad you're having it outside, even if it's a touch chilly. The Irish cream will be the perfect touch! This recipe yields about 3-1/2 cups of finished Irish cream. You can easily make it a few days or even a week in advance. I hope this helps! I know your friends will love it. Thank you again for being amazing! xoxo

Marie Jameson

Tuesday 25th of July 2017

Definitely want to try this

Cyd Converse

Saturday 29th of July 2017

You will love it, Marie!

Angela Pant

Sunday 8th of January 2017

Looks really yummy and easy to do. And the bottles are so cute :)

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