Irish cream is a drink, a flavoring, and a delicious addition to many different desserts. Whether you have made a batch at home or purchased a bottle, here are a few recipes to help you put it to good use!
Irish Cream is an incredibly versatile Irish cream liqueur. This creamy whiskey with a hint of cocoa can be enjoyed all on its own over some ice, added to coffee, cocktails, martinis, or even baked desserts.
Irish cream is warm comfort in a bottle, perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. It is creamy, smooth, and full of rich flavor that is delicious on its own with some ice cubes or a welcome addition to many desserts. It’s even perfect for your favorite dessert drink, especially during the holiday season or for special occasions.
You can purchase a bottle of Irish cream already pre-made and ready to be added to any delicious recipe (Bailey’s brand is by far the most popular), but it is also easy to make it at home. Most Irish cream recipes call for cream, sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, instant coffee, and some good Irish whiskey.
If you recently picked up a bottle of Irish cream and are unsure what to do with the leftovers–don’t let that dreamy goodness go to waste! There are so many recipes that could benefit from a splash of cream and I’ve got the perfect list to help you out.
Recipe Origins
The original Irish cream was created by R.J. Bailey and Company in Ireland in the 1970s. The story goes that a man by the name of David Dand was looking for something new to offer, particularly to an American audience.
It took several attempts to combine whiskey and cream in a way that would not separate when bottled, but a team of experts was able to make it happen with the addition of chocolate, vanilla, and sugar.
Bailey’s Irish Cream was introduced to a restaurant in 1974 and exploded in popularity from there.
Since then, many brands have created their own version of Irish cream, and many chefs have learned how to make their own at home. Irish cream can be made with a handful of ingredients or it can have some more complex flavors like hazelnut, brown sugar, and almond.
No matter how you get your hands on it, it is a delicious ingredient for alcoholic drinks and decadent desserts.
FAQs
Irish cream is a mixture of Irish whiskey and heavy cream. It may also contain hints of dark chocolate, coffee, or instant espresso and vanilla. There are many different recipes to try, each with a slight twist. Ultimately the goal is to create a very rich and creamy whiskey.
Yes, Irish cream does contain alcohol and should not be served to children. While the rich creamy flavor of Irish cream almost hides the taste of the whiskey and makes it incredibly enjoyable to drink, it is important to remember that Irish cream contains about 15 to 20 percent alcohol content. It is very possible to get drunk drinking Irish cream.
Just as the name says, Irish cream does contain cream. It should be stored carefully to keep it from going bad. If you purchase a bottle of Irish cream from the store, you should keep it away from any excessive heat.
Once opened, it is a good idea to keep the bottle of creamy liqueur refrigerated to help the cream last longer, though it may not be completely necessary.
If you make your own homemade Irish cream, I do recommend storing it in the refrigerator.
Irish cream will curdle when combined with anything acidic like citrus, juice so keep this in mind for any experimenting.
Irish cream is generally good for up to two years but it is better to use it within one year of opening. Always check for any sour smells or signs of curdling before using and give it a little shake to mix it up before pouring.
Irish cream usually requires cream, high-quality whiskey, chocolate syrup, and vanilla. It can be combined in a blender and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Favorite Recipes
- This homemade Baileys from As Easy As Apple Pie just calls for a blender to combine ingredients making it a very easy recipe!
- The Cookie Rookie calls for a little bit of almond extract in her Irish cream recipe, which adds a nice nutty flavor to the cream.
- Simple Vegan Blog even has a recipe for Vegan Baileys, which uses coconut milk and agave syrup as the base.
Expert Tips
- If you are making your own Irish Cream at home, blend or whisk carefully so you do not whip the cream. If your cream does become whipped, pour your mixture through a cheesecloth to remove any whipped cream (here’s an article about What to Use Instead of Cheesecloth).
- Keep Irish cream away from anything acidic as it will cause the cream to curdle quickly.
- Most recipes call for cream, but you could use half and half if you wanted to cut down on some fat. Milk is not a good substitute as it is not creamy enough.
Dishes That Call for Irish Cream
Creamy Drinks: Irish cream cocktails, espresso martini, sugar cookie martini, Irish coffee, hot chocolate, White Russian cocktail, chai, punch
Irish Cream Desserts: Irish cream brownies, vanilla ice cream, Baileys cookies, cakes, mousse, truffle, cupcakes, Irish cream cheesecake, pie, cream parfaits, coffee dessert bars, chocolate ganache
Recipes to Make Using Irish Cream
Baileys Irish Cream Ice Cream
This Baileys Irish Cream Ice Cream Recipe couldn’t be easier to make. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, and a fun way to have an adult treat that is simple and easy to make. Grab your blender, and let’s great started.
Creamy Espresso Martini with Baileys
The best creamy espresso martini with Baileys and Kahlua adds Baileys Irish Cream to a classic espresso martini recipe. That makes this easy coffee cocktail rich and creamy and just a bit sweeter than the original.
Easy Bailey’s Hot Chocolate
Celebrate the holidays with this chocolatey, boozy Easy Baileys Hot Chocolate! This rich decadent festive drink is filled with flavor and will have you feeling merry in no time.
Irish Coffee
Just like they serve in the pubs of Ireland, make this classic Irish Coffee any time of year. It can be made with a kick of Jameson Irish whiskey or a dash of Bailey’s Irish Cream. Garnish with beautiful edible gold, shamrock sprinkles, or shaved chocolate for one fancy coffee drink.
Bailey’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
I don’t really feel like Irish cream ever goes out of season, but when we’re coming up on St. Patrick’s Day, it definitely gets more love! As such, it’s perfect timing for these Bailey’s Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Bailey’s Chocolate Cheesecake
Baileys chocolate cheesecake. A mouthwatering cheesecake with a layer of chocolate ganache on top of the biscuit base. Giving even more luxury to an already decadent creamy dessert!
Triple Chocolate Baileys Trifle
This is the ultimate Baileys trifle: a dark chocolate flourless sponge base covered in thick Baileys Original Irish Cream infused milk chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate and Baileys whipped cream
Baileys White Russian Cocktail
This decadent Baileys White Russian Cocktail is the perfect after-dinner drink. Easy to make, creamy, and delicious it’s like having your dessert in a glass!
Boozy Shamrock Shakes
These boozy shamrock shakes are the perfect cocktail to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Inspired by the McDonald’s treat, these green vanilla-mint milkshakes are spiked with crème de menthe and Irish cream liqueur for a grownup version.
Baileys Irish Cream Hot Chocolate Bundt Cake
If you are familiar with rum cake and how popular it is around the holidays, you will love Baileys Irish Cream Hot Chocolate Bundt Cake. This cake is rich, creamy, soft, and perfect for friends and family. The alcohol is cooked out of this cake, leaving behind only the delicious flavors of Baileys Irish Cream. Yum!
Best Baileys Cheesecake (no water bath)
This baileys cheesecake is made with an oreo crust, creamy, boozy cheesecake filling that is full of baileys flavor, topped with baileys chocolate ganache and whipped cream.
Irish Cream Bundt Cake
This Irish cream bundt cake is moist and flavorful. It has the iconic taste of Baileys Irish Cream with its milky sweet notes of vanilla and chocolate and heat from the whiskey. This shortcut recipe is easy-breezy and irresistibly good!
Baileys & Coffee Cupcakes
These soft and fluffy cupcakes are enriched with a lovely coffee taste and spiked with an Irish cream whiskey buttercream. They have all the flavors of an Irish coffee in a cupcake form.
Baileys Irish Cream Cake
A luscious white chocolate cake infused with Baileys Irish Cream for a uniquely sweet and flavorful dessert. Topped with a decadent caramel Baileys glaze, this cake is perfect to serve with coffee, tea, or as an after-dinner dessert.
Vegan Chocolate Fig Cupcakes
If you’re looking for a delicious vegan treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth, look no further than these incredibly moist Vegan Chocolate Fig Cupcakes with Vegan Irish Cream Frosting! The natural sweetness of figs combined with rich chocolate makes for a flavor combination that will tantalize your taste buds.
Frozen Mudslide Cocktail
I scream, you scream, we all scream for (boozy) ice cream! Warm weather means it’s time to bust out the ice cream cocktails! This frozen mudslide cocktail is a chocolate lover’s boozy dream.
Baileys Irish Cream Cake
A deliciously boozy cake, this Baileys Chocolate Poke Cake is filled with a Baileys vanilla pudding and all topped off with a Baileys infused frosting!
Homemade Banana Pudding with Coffee Rum Fudge
This is NOT your Mama’s saccharine sweet “banana pudding” that is actually vanilla pudding layered with Nilla Wafers and some banana slices. This, rather, is a deeply banana flavored, borderline butterscotchy pudding atop a layer of rich coffee rum flavored fudge.
Irish Cream Creme Brulee
Irish Cream Creme Brulee is a creamy, elegant dessert option for Saint Patrick’s Day or any time you’d like to enjoy an Irish cream liquor dessert.
Baileys Chocolate Mud Cake
The ultimate Bailey’s chocolate mud cake! This fudgy cake is soft and moist with two layers of Bailey’s chocolate sponge cake and a Bailey’s chocolate ganache frosting and filling. The perfect easy cake for special occasions from St Patrick’s Day to Birthday parties to Christmas!
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