Irish cream is one of my favorite drinks. However, it can be expensive and heavy on the calories. This recipe is so easy to make at home. It is lighter on both your wallet and your waistline. I played with a recipe I had found some time ago. I made this liqueur a little richer with chocolate for all us chocolate lovers. You can add less depending on your preference. The most expensive ingredients are the Irish whiskey, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream. However, everything else you may already have in your kitchen. To save a few calories, I used fat free sweetened condensed milk and low-fat milk. I replaced half of the condensed milk and half of the cream with low-fat milk. This is for calorie saving and to avoid a consistency that seemed too thick.

Store the Irish cream in an airtight container. I bought a glass bottle with a cork. However, you can reuse bottles you may already have on hand. Wine bottles or liquor bottles are great recycled. Just remember to sterilize them. Homemade Irish cream makes a special gift, especially if packaged in a pretty bottle.

Chocolate Irish Cream Recipe
Makes a little less than 660 ml (slightly less than a wine bottle)

Ingredients:

220 ml bottle of Irish whiskey, which is 1 cup (I used Jameson Irish Whiskey)
2/3 can of fat free sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup low fat milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 tablespoon instant coffee
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
A bottle or an airtight container

Directions:

1. Heat the cream in a large sauce pan over low heat.
2. Add the instant coffee until and whisk until dissolved.
3. Add the chocolate and whisk until smooth and melted.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk.
6. Whisk in the milk.
7. Lastly, whisk in the Irish whiskey until just combined.
8. Use a cylinder and pour the mixture into the bottle.
9. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Shake before serving.

Enjoy and sweeten the soul with chocolate!