Irish Cream

I loooooove homemade gifts.

Whether it's giving or receiving, I love when someone puts a great deal of effort into creating something for another person, even if it's super easy or inexpensive.

Throughout the year, I keep a running list on the Notes app of my iPhone designated specifically for gift ideas.  In my list, I keep the names of my closest friends and family paired with things they have said they want or things I think they would like.  I also keep a list of things I see throughout the year that inspire me or bring out the gifting spirit in me.  When birthdays and Christmas come along, this list makes shopping super easy.

A lot of my gift ideas are homemade ideas that I stumble across, either over the internet or things I see while shopping or out exploring the world.  One of the things I've been researching lately is ways to make flavored alcohols and liqueurs.  Since I know my friends are all different in terms of their favorite mixed drinks, it's an easy way to personalize your gift for someone you know will like the flavors.

I have a lot of Irish friends and family, and a lot of us like a little bit of Irish cream in our coffees on our mornings off.  We also use it to make traditional Irish Car Bomb drinks on St. Patrick's Day.  So, I felt like learning how to make my own Irish cream would be a neat way to honor our traditions.

I gifted some of this Irish cream to some of my closest people over Christmas, and they seemed to genuinely love it.  A couple times, we brewed up some coffee just to try it!  It reinforces my belief that people love and appreciate homemade gifts as much as I do.

It's super easy to make, and a large batch can be divided into several containers.  The hardest part is searching through thrift stores for neat glass bottles to use for a pretty presentation.

I can't wait to make another batch of this for St. Patty's day!












Irish Cream

1 cup heavy cream
1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup Irish whiskey
1/2 tsp espresso powder
2 tbsp Hershey's chocolate syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract


Combine all ingredients in a blender.

Serve with coffee or with any recipe calling for Irish cream.

Refrigerate.