The holidays are fast approaching. That means parties and get-togethers with family and friends from November through January. Which in turn means finding thoughtful, special gifts for those that hold these occasions. While the usual bottle of wine, box of chocolates, or platter of cookies is always appreciated, a handmade gift warms the hearts of both the receiver and the giver.
Finding the time to be a maker is already difficult with full-time jobs and typical family obligations. When factoring in the additional cleaning, decorating, cooking, and shopping that comes with this hectic season, creating a special gift to show the party host some love sounds overwhelming. But I promise you, it won’t be. With some items you probably have on hand, you can make a batch of homemade Irish cream that will impress any host.
The (585) magazine staff scoured the net to find homemade Irish cream recipes, all of which had the same basic ingredients and instructions—blend the following: half and half or cream, sweetened condensed milk, coffee, chocolate syrup, vanilla, and, of course, a good Irish whiskey. One recipe we tried called for heavy cream, which was a tad thick for our palates. Another had the addition of almond extract, and still another included sweetened cream of coconut.
After trying different iterations, we settled on the following recipe:
Ingredients:
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee
• 1 cup half and half
• 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 3/4 cups Irish whiskey (use a full 2 cups if you
like it really boozy)
• 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• 1 tablespoon canned sweetened cream of coconut
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Tools/other materials:
• Measuring cup, measuring spoons, blender, funnel
Tools/other materials:
1. Measure out half and half.
2. Add instant coffee to half and half and stir until
dissolved.
3. Pour into blender, then add remaining ingredi-
ents.
4. Blend for 30 seconds.
5. Pour into sterilized glass bottle with topper (a
funnel helps immensely).
This batch makes about 32 ounces of homemade Irish cream.
What you need to make this into a host gift:
Tag or sticker with bottle contents, use-by date (two weeks after bottle date), and instructions to
keep refrigerated.
Include packages of your favorite coffee and biscotti to further elevate this gift.
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2025 issue of (585).
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