No Irish Car Bombs Please!

March 12, 2009 11:45 AM

What Can I Do With Irish Cream?

A kind neighbor has given me a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream as a thank you for some work around our shared driveway. My Mom loves the stuff, so I'll save some for her, but as a beer, red wine, simple martini (gin, vermouth, olive*, period) and scotch (neat) drinker, I'm at loss as to what to do with it.

Does anyone have semi-serious, non-traditional, non-white russian-ish recipes involving Irish Cream to share?

* I'll tolerate a twist if I'm feeling jaunty, but that's pretty rare...

posted by jalexei to food & drink (34 comments total)

It's pretty darn tasty poured over vanilla ice cream.
posted by Fleebnork at 11:51 AM on March 12

I've used it in chocolate truffles.
posted by craichead at 11:52 AM on March 12

Oooo... mix a shot in with some hot cocoa. A couple of those keeps me sane during the holidays with the family.
posted by honeybee413 at 11:53 AM on March 12 [3 favorites has favorites]

Milk replacement in cereal (seriously. It works especially well with Rice Krispies).
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 11:54 AM on March 12

Seconding mixing it with hot cocoa!
posted by thejanna at 11:54 AM on March 12

Seconding cocoa, but make the hot cocoa with minimal sugar, because Irish cream is SWEET. If you like your coffee light, it works there too.
posted by rikschell at 11:56 AM on March 12

its great in coffee!!!
posted by supermedusa at 11:58 AM on March 12

Bailey's is heavenly mixed with most schnapps. In particular butterscotch, peppermint, and blackberry are divine. I usually do two parts Bailey's and one part Schnapps. It's also excellent straight up over ice or mixed with Amaretto. I also put it in coffee or, as others have said, in hot cocoa.
posted by Kimberly at 11:59 AM on March 12 [1 favorite has favorites]

Think dessert. I like it over ice cream and simple warm cake or bread pudding. Really nice in coffee too, but not suggesting it on the way to work! There are plenty of recipes out there if you google it.
posted by kgn2507 at 12:03 PM on March 12

I knew a guy in college that ran out of milk one day, so he made mac and cheese with Bailey's.

So, um... anything that requires milk, I guess. Try to avoid alocoholism.
posted by backseatpilot at 12:04 PM on March 12

I think bailey's is too sweet and too thick to enjoy. thinning it out with some vodka and freshly grated nutmeg shaken with ice makes it smooth and delicious.
posted by munchingzombie at 12:11 PM on March 12

French Toast!! Pour a little into the beaten eggs before you dip the bread in. You'll never want to eat regular french toast again.
posted by jildelicious at 12:12 PM on March 12 [2 favorites has favorites]

I had a tres-leches-style cake made with it once. I don't have the recipe but I think it was just a standard tres leches but replaced the sweetened-condensed milk with Bailey's. It was very tasty.

It also goes well poured over a warm cake donut. (Don't knock it until you've tried it.) It's okay if the donut is even a bit stale.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:19 PM on March 12

Whip it with fresh cream and put it in:

meringue with chocolate shavings and raspberries
hot drinks
ice cream - oh, melt good vanilla ice cream a little, and swirl in the baileys - freeze again, NOM.
posted by hannahlambda at 12:28 PM on March 12 [2 favorites has favorites]

I personally can't stand the stuff, but here's a search at Webtender. Knock yourself over.
posted by trip and a half at 12:30 PM on March 12

milkshakes/smoothies
posted by scody at 12:44 PM on March 12

Irish Cream Cupcakes!
posted by blithely at 12:48 PM on March 12

On the rocks.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:48 PM on March 12 [3 favorites has favorites]

If it were me, I'd regift. That's a legit option.
posted by CunningLinguist at 12:54 PM on March 12

brownies.
posted by idiotfactory at 12:55 PM on March 12

I think bailey's is too sweet and too thick to enjoy.

I agree, so I thin it with milk.
posted by Jaltcoh at 1:05 PM on March 12

bailey's cheesecake is pretty popular in ireland.

I think it's great mixed with lots of finely crushed ice.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 1:08 PM on March 12

Saturday is pi day. In honor of the occasion, make a chocolate cream pie substituting Bailey's for milk. Use instant pudding so you don't need to cook off the alcohol.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 1:12 PM on March 12

in coffee, instead of cream and sugar. or just straight from the bottle, in bed with your lover.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:54 PM on March 12

Thanks all - some great suggestions - I might try the French Toast on Saturday morning...
posted by jalexei at 2:26 PM on March 12

I love using it in place of milk in shakes.

It really is quite delicious on its own as well.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 2:49 PM on March 12

It's time for cherry shortcake! Bake an almond cake. While it's hot, moisten it with Bailey's. Wrap it up and let it cool down. Pit and halve some fresh cherries -- a mix of sweet and tart is best. Make some whipped cream, adding a splash of Bailey's while you whip. Finally, pile the cherries on a slice of the cake and slather it in whipped cream. Eat it. Repeat until sated. Oh sweet cherry shortcake.
posted by ourobouros at 2:51 PM on March 12

My favorite Bailey's drink is the Nutty Irishman: equal parts Bailey's, Frangelico, and cream (I prefer whole milk) over ice.
posted by chowflap at 2:58 PM on March 12 [1 favorite has favorites]

Over coffee ice cream it's awesome (better still with caramel sauce too!).
posted by in the methow at 3:17 PM on March 12

Car bomb cupcakes - you could make a lot of frosting!
posted by knile at 3:35 PM on March 12

If you substitute it for the milk/water called for on the back of the Bisquick box, it's great in pancakes or waffles.
posted by corey flood at 4:54 PM on March 12

You could just train yourself to enjoy it - think of it as a form of candy, rather than a "drink". Keep the bottle beside your computer, take a wee swig from time to time. Don't swallow, just hold it in your mouth and let it gradually percolate down your throat. Swish it around.

By the end of the first bottle, you'll be trained and will buy a replacement. It has worked for me, anyways.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:20 PM on March 12

Oh gosh, why aren't there more people recommending on the rocks? I love this stuff.

Also, mixed with Chambourd raspberry liqueur in a shot - tastes exactly like a jelly donut.
posted by chronic sublime at 2:23 AM on March 16

Mmm... seconding chowflap with the Nutty Irishman suggestion, if you happen to have Frangelico around (I skip the cream, though). It's great stuff on its own for coffee, if you've never tried it.
posted by DeucesHigh at 4:44 PM on April 8