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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bailey's Irish Cream contains alcohol. Please drink responsibly.