Rich, sweet, and infused with whiskey that has been mellowed by heavy cream, homemade Irish cream is dreamy. It’s much more subtle and sophisticated than its commercial counterpart.

Homemade Irish Cream

Unless you’ve never been in a bar or had an adult beverage in the United States, you’ve definitely heard of and probably enjoyed Bailey’s Irish Cream. From Irish coffees to Mudslides, Irish cream is everywhere.

It’s also used in many cakes, frostings, and other desserts. And if you love Bailey’s, you should definitely be making Irish cream at home.

Why? Well, fresh is always best, for starters. But it’s also so easy to make it seems silly not to. You can also make your own subtle adjustments to the recipe to make it exactly like you want it.

Which brings us to an important point. What is Irish cream anyway?

What is Bailey’s Irish Cream?

Irish cream is a perfectly balanced of cream, Irish whiskey, chocolate, and coffee.

Commercial versions are emulsified with vegetable oil, and are good for up to six months after being opened so long as they’re refrigerated. Homemade foregoes the vegetable oil and uses the blender to add an aerated texture and is good for up to two months in the refrigerator.

Homemade Irish Cream Recipe

To make your very own homemade Irish cream, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• heavy cream
• sweetened condensed milk
• Irish whiskey
• chocolate syrup
• instant coffee granules
• vanilla extract
• almond extract

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3 ingredient hot cocoa mix is a tasty, simple, convenient, and economical way to get your hot chocolate fix. Whip up a batch to keep on hand for after school, cold weather, and cravings!

3 Ingredient Hot Cocoa Mix

We’ve been making 3 ingredient cocoa for about as long as I can remember. Milk + Cocoa + Sugar add up to a terrific cup of hot chocolate.

However, my kids prefer to just grab the packets of cocoa and add hot water when they want cocoa. So, that led me back to this mix that my mom always had on hand when we were growing up. It works the same way – and tastes better by far!

It’s a budget friendly recipe, too. So grab your whisk and 3 simple ingredients and a delightful cup of cocoa is mere moments away!

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

To make this old-fashioned hot cocoa mix, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• powdered milk
• powdered sugar
• unsweetened cocoa powder
• Optional: mini marshmallows, candy canes, whipped cream, and shaved chocolate

It’s important to use unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe. Our family loves special dark or bittersweet cocoa powder for the mix. Use what you like best for baking, and you can’t go too far wrong.

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Just three simple ingredients combine to create a rich and creamy homemade hot cocoa that tastes better than any packaged mix at the store. Milk, unsweetened cocoa powder, and sugar are all you need to make the ultimate comforting cup of rich cocoa.

You can serve the cocoa as is or top it with marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles, or even dunk a candy cane in it for peppermint cocoa. However you choose to serve the cocoa, it also earns a smile.

Homemade Hot Cocoa

Most of us grew up on the little packets of hot cocoa mix sold in stores. Whether we were raised in snowy weather or in the desert, those packets meant it was winter and time for fun!

There’s a lot of comforting nostalgia in those packets, but with just a measuring spoon and about 10 extra seconds, you can wrap your hands around a mug full of homemade cocoa that tastes infinitely better and fresher.

And while that is enough argument in and of itself to make this, there’s a bonus: this homemade easy hot chocolate recipe is much more economical!

I’ve been making hot cocoa (without the packets)

Snowman Soup – Easy Neighbor Christmas Gift [+Video]

Looking for a quick and easy Christmas neighbor gift? This snowman soup recipe comes together in minutes and is a fun and festive way to spread holiday cheer. Just add hot water to this white hot cocoa mix and you have a creamy, comforting warm drink for those cold winter nights!

Plus, check out our step-by-step video tutorial! It’s so easy and only 4 ingredients! Basically just dump everything in a bowl and whisk to combine, then package up the powder mix to share with friends and neighbors with instructions for how to make it. Such a simple and great gift idea!

Now this might be a little morbid, but picture jolly ol’ Frosty or Olaf getting too close to the warm fire or accidentally finding themselves in San Diego in the winter and melting into a puddle of sweet and delicious goodness. Snowman soup!

It tastes like the vanilla steamer from Starbucks with a hint of cinnamon and it is a family favorite! It’s a great alternative to hot chocolate or wassail for a warm holiday beverage.

Ingredients for Snowman Soup

You’re just 4 ingredients away, well 5 I guess if you count water, from the most delicious warm holiday beverage! Here is what you will…

• Powdered Milk
• Instant Vanilla Creamer
• Sugar
• Cinnamon

A single batch of this recipe makes about 24 servings, so you can scale up or down depending on your needs! The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Snowman Soup

There’s not really much to this recipe which is why it’s such a great neighbor gift for the busy holiday season.

Pour all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and whisk until everything is combined. Divide into smaller jars to give to neighbors or store in an airtight container in a dry place for your family.

Combine 1/3 of the cinnamon vanilla hot cocoa mixture with 1 cup of hot water and stir to combine.

The complete instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Watch How to Make Snowman Soup

Dreamy Homemade Hot Chocolate [+Video]

Cozy up with a delicious cup of homemade hot chocolate. This easy recipe will have you sipping on a dreamy, creamy, chocolatey drink in no time. Plus, check out our video tutorial for the perfect cup every time!

Hands down the creamiest dreamy homemade hot chocolate!  No more taking a couple of sips and throwing the rest away, you’ll gulp down every bit of this one! The taste of real chocolate in every gulp!

Oh Cade, you and your hot chocolate obsession are ridiculous. I’ve personally never cared that much for hot drinks, apple cider, hot chocolate, tea, bleh. I like ice water, aren’t I lame? But after moving to Utah and experiencing winter for 9 months of the year I’ve really started to enjoy homemade hot chocolate.

This hot chocolate is made out of love for Cade because he loves hot chocolate. He grew up eating cocoa and toast. He actually dips buttered toast in the hot chocolate. Are you kidding me? It gets soggy, sweetheart! I don’t get it!

We had a chocolate fountain at our wedding (don’t judge it used to be cool) which used a mix of milk or semi sweet chocolate and white chocolate which was just dreamy so I knew I wanted to go with a combination again. And of course whole milk and heavy cream add to the creaminess, but the real secret is the sweetened condensed milk.

Cade is all about that in his drinks and even cereal thanks to his time serving his mission in Brazil (yes even his cereal and Brazilian lemonade and gosh darnit jello, and even his lime pie all call for it thanks to Brazil.)

What is the Difference Between Hot Chocolate and Hot Cocoa?

Hot chocolate is made from melting real chocolate and mixing it with milk, cream and/or water. It is usually more creamy in texture and more rich in flavor.

Hot cocoa is make from the cocoa powder and sugar mixture combined with either hot milk or hot water.

Hot cocoa and hot chocolate are often used interchangeably as the name of a warm chocolate beverage even though they are technically different.

Ingredients for Hot Chocolate

We include all the ingredients you’ll ever need to make creamy, rich hot chocolate with bold chocolate flavor. Here is your grocery list:

• Heavy Cream
• Whole Milk
• Sweetened Condensed Milk
• Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
• White Chocolate Chips
• Milk Chocolate Chips

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.

Watch How to Make Hot Chocolate