Introduction: Bootleg Bailey's Irish Cream
I first had homemade Baileys almost a year ago at a girlfriends house. My friends used an old recipe they'd had for years. The recipe contained vodka, whiskey, condensed milk, coffee grinds & chocolate syrup. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. I knew there had to be a better alternative with healthier ingredients. I've searched many recipes and to my awe, most people are content with the condensed milk/ ghetto chocolate syrup version. I also found some recipes that included raw eggs. It doesn't make sense to make this version, because it will have a very short shelf life. If stored properly, this recipe will keep up to a month in the refrigerator.
I finally found a recipe that uses fresh ingredients and tastes amazing! I tweaked it a little and it tastes just like the real thing. You won't be able to tell the difference between this version & store bought.
Bootleg Bailey's is great for gift giving. It takes less than 30 minutes to whip up once the cold brew coffee concentrate is made.
Please drink responsibly.
Step 1: Ingredients
Bootleg Baileys Irish Cream:
1 1/2 cups High Quality Irish Whiskey- I used Jameson's.
2 Tbsp Chocolate Extract- If you don't have any, you can make your own with vodka. Click here for a good 'ible on how
1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
1 Pint Fresh Organic Cream
1/4 Cup Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
1 oz Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Chips 60% Cacao
1/3 Cup Organic Sugar
5.5. oz Coffee Beans
3 Cups of water
Step 2: Make the Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
To make the cold brew coffee concentrate, grind the coffee beans. Then add the beans to a medium size container ( I used a pitcher) and add two cups of water. Try to get most of the coffee grinds wet. Let the beans sit for 15 minutes. Next, gently stir the beans and add the last cup of water. Cover the container and place in the refrigerator overnight.
Next day:
Remove the container from the fridge. Place a fine mesh sieve over a large measuring cup and pour the coffee grind mixture into the measuring cup. Next, you want to strain the mixture again. Place a fine mesh sieve over a large bowl and pour the mixture from the measuring cup into the sieve.
Set aside.
Step 3: Melt the Chocolate & Make Cream Mixture
Create a double boiler by placing a metal proof bowl over a pan with simmering water. The temperature should be medium low so the chocolate doesn't burn. Place the remaining sugar & cream in a pot next to your double boiler.Gently stir over medium low heat.
Add the chocolate chips and two tsp of the cream to the double boiler.. Stir gently until the chips melt. Next, add a couple tsp. of the sugar cream mixture to the chocolate chips. Continue to add cream until the chocolate mixture is thin in consistency. Remove from heat.
Continue to stir the sugar/cream mixture until all of the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat.
Step 4: Make the Bailey's Irish Cream
Bootleg Bailey's Irish Cream:
To make the Bailey's, add two tbsp of chocolate extract to the chocolate mixture and stir to combine. Then add the cream & chocolate mixture to a large pitcher. Use an immersion blender (hand blender) to pulse the mixture a couple of times. Next, add the whiskey, cold brew coffee concentrate and one tbsp of vanilla. Pulse a few times to combine mixture and incorporate all the ingredients.
Note: If you prefer your Bailey's a little sweeter, only use 1 tbsp of chocolate extract.
Step 5: Bottle the Bootleg Bailey's
Use a funnel and pour the Bailey's into desired bottles. Refrigerate until ready to use and served chilled or over ice. It should last about a month refrigerated.
Step 6: Drink Responsibly
Bailey's Irish Cream contains alcohol. Please drink responsibly.
18 Comments
Tip 1 year ago
You can either make your own cold brew with the 5.5 oz coffee beans and 3 C water - OR buy a pre-made concentrate - you don't need both :)
1 year ago
I have been making this every year for the last 7-8 years. It is by far the BEST homemade Irish cream I've ever had. I usually make the batch x 3 to give as prezzies to my very grateful friends. I wholeheartedly agree that the instructions are a little vague and I believe the writer meant that you can either use store bought cold brew concentrate OR make your own with the coffee beans and 3 Cups of water. I had to read through this a number of times to come to that. Please do not add water to the mix!
Question 5 years ago on Step 4
How do I decide the cream for the cream that’s added to the chocolate and the cream sugar mixture. How much cream is kept out of the sugar and cream mixture. Also it says add a Lillie cream. Then sugar cream mixture. How much of each.
8 years ago
welp. I put the 3 cups of water in the recipe. I believe that should have been the water for the double boiler. Written instructions would have been helpful. Just going off the pictures leaves room for error. I've never seen a recipe that had you measure the water out for the double boiler. So I'm going to try to save it by simmering it and making a reduction.
Reply 8 years ago
Not intuitively obvious, further below the ingredients is a "Next" button that won't show up unless you scroll down further. The 3 cups of water are for making the coffee concentrate.
I hope you were able to salvage it.
8 years ago on Introduction
Hi all,
I'm about to make this Bailey's.
I have some question, please help me to understand.
Recipe ask for 5.5oz of coffee beans ans 1oz of Chocolate chips.
Is that "oz" mean US liquid oz (volume) or Ounces as mass (weight).
I'm really confused.
8 years ago
Hi, thanks for the recipe, it looks great. We are just making the chocolate essence, and I can't help but notice that your masion jar has something else in it that looks like vanilla beans. Could you let us know what that is? Thanks so much!!
11 years ago on Introduction
I was hosting a party for 60-something guests and discovered that I only had one bottle of Bailey's left and the liqueur-store had just closed!!
THANK GOD for instructables and for authors like you!! Emergency-solutions at it's best!
Best thing is that it didn't take all that long to make and no one could tell the difference :D
Once again, many thanks!!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Your welcome! I'm glad it all worked out!
11 years ago on Introduction
YUM! Thanks for posting this! I've tried a recipe with egg in it. It tasted fine served over ice, but it couldn't be added to coffee (the smell of egg overpowered the coffee). I'll definitely be trying this recipe!
11 years ago on Introduction
I just made the recipe and it is exceptional! Thanks for putting this up. It will be on my list of great desserts in the future.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
So glad you liked it!
11 years ago on Introduction
Looks delicious! I didn't see a quantity listed of coffeebeans. Do you know how many tablespoons or cups to use for that amount of coffee?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Thanks! I measured out 5.5 oz of beans, so about a cup and a half. This recipe makes just over 26oz of Bailey's.
11 years ago on Introduction
This sounds good! I got a really good recipe from my aunt and uncle for home made Irish cream a while back, but lost it, and now they live on a boat and are impossible to get a hold of. I've been thinking about trying some other recipes, perhaps I'll give this one a shot!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I definitely recommend this recipe. It's really, really good and the ingredients are natural.
11 years ago on Introduction
LOL "ghetto chocolate syrup" that's funny. You should write a cookbook and put it on Amazon. You could self publish it in ebook format. I get the impression you have a great sense of humor that would complement it well. You write it and I will buy it. Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing what you will come up with next. Have a great weekend.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I've always wanted to write a cookbook. I wish I had the time. Maybe when my little one starts school. I'm glad you get my humor. ;) Have a great weekend too!