Making homemade Kahlua gives you the flexibility to choose which coffee you would like in your coffee liqueur. Better yet, making homemade Kahlua is easy! You may even have the homemade Kahlua ingredients sitting around your house: coffee, vodka, light brown sugar, and vanilla extract. I can guarantee that you will impress your peeps when you show up to your New Year's Eve party with a bottle of homemade Kahlua rather than a six-pack of Bud Light. The only thing that might be more impressive would be a bottle of homemade Baileys Irish Cream.Homemade Kahlua Recipe
A Google search for Kahlua recipes will reveal that there are several different ways to make homemade Kahlua. Many of the recipes call for instant coffee. I rejected those because I wanted to be able to use good quality freshly ground coffee. Others call for letting the recipe steep for several weeks; I rejected those because I don't have the patience. I ended up using a variation of a recipe that I found on a forum about Orchids. What do orchid growers know about Kahlua? Apparently, a lot. The end result of this Kahlua recipe is blissful. It has a sweet yet strong coffee flavor and it goes down super smooth.
Makes about 1.5 liters
- 6 cups brewed coffee (Use your favorite kind! I used Goshen coffee since I know that Bride and Groom 3.0 and many of my coffee connoisseur friends love it.)
- 1 pound light brown sugar
- 3 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 liter of vodka (If you have access to a pure grain alcohol like Everclear, you may want to use that. I simply used SVEDKA Vodka and it worked just fine.)
- While the coffee is still hot, mix in the brown sugar.
- Let cool.
- Mix in vanilla and vodka.
- Serve over ice, in mixed drinks like a frozen mudslide, or use to make a cupcake (post coming soon).
sounds yummy! my dad makes his own Limoncello (a lemon liqueur) and Amaretto. I'll try the coffee one some time for sure!
ReplyDeletewow! who knew it could be so simple? thanks for posting this. looking forward to your kahlua cupcakes! Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought making Kahlua was this massive project... I will certainly be making a few gallons. Thanks for the recipe(?)... Looking forward to Irish Cream. Its another favorite...
ReplyDeleteOh, can't wait for the Irish Cream recipe!
ReplyDeleteI made it yesterday and it turned out great!
ReplyDeleteCool! Now, I can make a virgin Kahlua! haha
ReplyDeleteWhile I am not a big coffee drinker, I am a sucker for coffee flavored alcoholic beverages.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds good. Do you know how long it will keep and should it be refrigerated?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Jess - It does not need to be kept refrigerated. I think it should last several months at least. But, I haven't had it that long enough to report.
ReplyDeleteYum! I'll make this as soon as I finish with the Kahlua in my liquor cabinet (I'll go work on that in just a minute.)
ReplyDeleteI made homemade Irish cream just before Christmas. I used a recipe my sister gave me, but substituted to make it vegan. I'm going to make it again for New Year's Eve guests. Can't wait to see what you come up with.
Who knew you could make it yourself? Thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDeletesounds good and easy. However I am going to try to reduce the coffee and sugar to make it thicker. And I will brew that coffee harsh strong!
ReplyDeleteWell I did what I said. I actually reduced the coffee/brown sugar for a bit to make it thicker,(about 10 minutes in high simmer) I splurged and ground, in the store, some Starbucks coffee beans (on very fine) and brewed it strong. I used Stollichnaya Vodka, yet another splurge and the result kicks butt over the original. Serious! very bright flavor, cuts right through any mixes an stands on it's own!
ReplyDeleteThis recipe is so easy. You got a finished batch in under 30 minutes! I got em buzzin on facebook about this post. Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteI made the Kaluah and Irish Cream recipes and had them available New Year's Day. All of the guests raved about them. Said they were better than the original blend you can buy in the store. I did use the best ingredients I could afford. I fresh ground the coffee beans the day of and used Stollichnaya vodka and Bushmills Irish whiskey. I brewed the coffee extra strong and reduced the coffee and brown sugar for about 10 minutes. Came out so fantastic.
ReplyDeleteMade this with Golden Grain (an Everclear analog) instead of vodka and only used 375 mL. Still a bit strong on the alcohol flavor, but it is truly delicious.
ReplyDeleteOh yum!!! (Profound, I know, but fitting...)
ReplyDeleteI made it exactly as you've described, down to the vodka brand (coincidentally) with some chocolate truffle flavored coffee, and it was just perfect. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cheap! I think this ended up costing me around $8 for $20-30 worth of Kaluha! and it's GOOOOOOD. It actually gets better over time if you can resist for a month or so.
ReplyDeleteJust made my first batch, only used about 4 cups of coffee - as I had a little less than a half litre of vodka, so also used a little less brown sugar - Had a bottle of Kaluha so I was able to compare, don't know how much more tast testing I can handle this early in the day, lol - Mine came out good, but not as thick and syrupy as the Kaluha, added a fair bit more sugar and that got it closer. Think next time I might try to reduce the coffee/sugar solution down to make it a little thicker as suggested. Sure is drinkable though! Thanks
ReplyDeletei've just finished making my own kahlua!
ReplyDeletei actually didn't even know what kahlua was until some months ago, but since i've been collecting and making anglo-saxon recipes since i was 15 years old, one day i stumbled upon a recipe calling for that ingredient, and i started looking around, to get information about it
i had a look at several recipes, and in the end i chose yours!
it is REALLY delicious! :) now next time i wanna make a recipe calling for kahlua i'll be able to make it! with my own! :)
(the main problem with foreign recipes is that you never are able to follow the recipe exactly, you have to adjust and adapt it on the basis of the ingredients available in your country)
if i manage to take a nice pic of my kahlua, i'll publish a post on it on my blog :)
thanks for the recipe
greetings from Italy
Serena
a tip, to make real coffee liqueur, use vodka instead of water to brew the coffee. you will keep enough of the alcohol to give you a buzz and it'll have the nice coffee flavor. add milk or ice and you have a great mixed drink.
ReplyDeleteI make Baby Guinness with Kahlua poured into a shot glass and then just tilt the glass and gently pour Irish cream in, which should float on top giving the appearance of a small guinness! nice! Jane x
ReplyDeleteCan you explain the brewing of the coffee in a little more detail please! I don't know whether to use espresso cups or cups cups(235ml).
ReplyDeleteStephen - I mean cups as measured in a liquid measuring cup.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't this work better with rum since Kahlua is actually made with rum? Still, I've got to try the recipe before I knock it.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the original Kahlua web site you will see that you are right, Blake. It is made with rum.
DeleteI just finished making a half batch with this mornings leftover coffee and Bacardi rum (3 parts superior, 1 part 151). The result was fantastic! Enough to fill a fith and about a cup leftover for the samplers. Thanks for the quick recipe.
ReplyDeleteFYI Tia Maria is made with RUM... Kahlua is VODKA based.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWould a cheaper vodka work too? Such as Grey Goose or Absolut?
ReplyDeleteAnon - Yes, that would be fine.
ReplyDeleteKahula is RUM based. Says right on the bottle.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so great! I want to make it and give as gifts. Does it need to be refrigerated? I assume so...
ReplyDeleteActually, I just read somewhere else that it doesn't need to be. Do you know? Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteRegarding vodka or rum based...kahlua is vodka based. I don't know what bottle the previous poster is looking at but I'm looking at a bottle right now and it clearly says infused vodka.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the original mfg web site - says made with run.
DeleteHey my name is Steve Campagna, I was wondering if anyone may have tried this recipe with a whiskey base and am curious as to how it turned out. Any speculation would be helpful as well. Thanks!
ReplyDeletehaha, im sure any strong alcohol would make it wonderful, all slightly different, think i will try different ones too, great recipe thanks x
ReplyDeleteKahlua is a RUM based liquor. It says right on the newer bottles, you can easily find that information on their website and places like wikipedia. I am sure the vodka is darned tasty as well!!
ReplyDeleteI used to have a Cook 'Em horns cookbk whose recipe I used years ago. It called for vanilla bns and rock candy! Huh! I am going to try deb's recipe soon. I like the suggestion of using your favorite coffee. Great idea.
ReplyDeletesilly question!? Do u mean tsp or tbs of van? U have T. Not sure what that means. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteT = Tablespoon, t = teaspoon. :)
DeleteCan you use vanilla beans instead of vanilla extract? Or does it not make much of a difference using one over the other? Just got some fresh vanilla beans from JR Mushrooms and can't wait to use them!
ReplyDeletehi,
ReplyDeleteDo you actually mean to use six cups of water measured in a liquid measuring cup,as this is ten cups when placed in the coffee maker? Thanks.
I made some this weekend, I'm not convinced by the amount of water. 1.2 litres of coffee seems like too much?
ReplyDeleteI've made homemade Kahlua before using white sugar. How does this compare to using brown sugar as far as taste and consistency?
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Do you pack the brown sugar?
ReplyDeleteI am looking at a bottle right this moment. It states on the label, "Rum and Coffee Liqueur." I just purchased this bottle last week, so I seriously doubt it is an old bottle.
ReplyDeleteYou always pack brown sugar.
ReplyDeleteJust finished making this.... amazing. I guess I shouldn't just sit here drinking it for the rest of the day though. :)
ReplyDeletep.s..... one pound of brown sugar packed = one pound of brown sugar not packed
I made this yesterday for my husband. He absolutely loved it! He says he likes it better than store bought Kahlua. :) Plus it made my whole apartment smell like chocolate. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteThis is so good!! I have tried a few different recipes. It is much better with brown sugar than white sugar. I would like it a little thicker, but it is awesome just as is!!
ReplyDeleteHow would a person make it thicker?
ReplyDeleteYou'd need to simmer it for a couple hours to get a thick syrup. I've seen other recipes for homemade Kahlua and they call for 2 - 4 hours of simmer time.
DeleteI think simmering it down to thicken is good, just keep and eye on it till it seems thick enough.
ReplyDeleteMy twist on this: of course use a coffee you like and if you are going to cook it down add 1-2 cups more. My first batch had part dark brown sugar and org cane sugar (Costco) and I cooked it down till I liked the thickness, let it cool and then added the vanilla & Vodka. Done! #2 Batch: used a better coffee and only did little more than 6 cups, but it was stronger, only used org coffee and sugar 1lb+ cooked it down but not as long, cooled and then this time I got hold of some Mexican Vanilla...the best! no alcohol in it. Makes the difference if you can get it! I like this batch much better!! Oh and in both I used !00 proof Vodka! Half a bottle each!( uh the big half gal size ;-) Made something similar years ago but with instant coffee and way more sugar but had the Mexican vanilla, it was primo too!! Cheers all! And to all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!
Thanks Cupcake Project!!
I'm making a big batch of this right now for Christmas presents - thanks so much for the recipe! I'm using a local (Crimson Cup) coffee roaster's Celtic Grogg coffee and vodka from a local distillery (Watershed here in Columbus, Ohio.) And I'm trying the suggestion to simmer it for a while to make it more syrupy. It smells incredible!
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile I'm sipping on some store-bought Kahlua (you know, gotta use it up) and the bottle actually says "Kahlua's dark liqueur cradles delicate notes of rum, vanilla, and caramel, wrapped in roasted coffee flavor" which I think is slightly ambiguous - could actually mean that it tastes like rum as well as vanilla and caramel, but is still based on vodka. Regardless, I've seen many recipes for homemade Kahlua that use vodka, I'm guessing because vodka doesn't have a distinct taste of its own the way rum does, so you can be more free to be creative with the other flavors, like your choice of coffee. Either way though, I'm sure it's going to be delicious. Thanks again!
Any ideas for how to package this. I would like to give it as gifts if I could make it look pretty. I know it doesn't need to go in the fridge. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI give as a gift as well. I go to the local beer/wine making supply store and buy the bottles that have a flip top seal. I call them old fashioned root beer bottles. They come in brown or clear glass. Just a buck or 2 a bottle here.
DeleteI forgot add that I tell em you get a refill for all returned bottles. I get all the bottles back every year so I must be doing something right.
DeleteSomeone mentioned using whole vanilla beans. You can but it has to sit in a dark place at least 3 months to seep out the flavor. I just found 3 bottles I made 2 years ago with whole Madagascar beans. MMMM, just perfect for my taste. This recipe is meant for liquid vanilla extract, and the best you can afford in my opinion, not the $4 shillings stuff.
ReplyDeleteBrown sugar is a variation I have not tried.
I will be using hazelnut coffee as a variation with a batch this year. I make about 2 gallons and put in root beer bottles.
I use a lot more vanilla for my taste. Usually half a bottle but my recipe makes 3 1/2 fifths, made with pure grain alcohol (190 proof). Oh yeh, it has a kick and thats the way I like it.
how many cups is 1 pounf of brown sugar
ReplyDeletemaking kahlua is so easy and cheap compared to 35 dollars a half gallon where do they get off charging so so much for some thing so cheap,,,, cant even find the real kahlua in the store it is a mocha vanilla especial and one with rum added,,, what 3/4 rum cheap and 1/4 kahlua probably I will make it myself from now on this is insane to pay so much for so little,,,, they are now rippin us off so yaaa to home made thanks
ReplyDeletejust want to say...kalua with a good alcohol content is absolutly wonderful on vanilla icecream!!!!
ReplyDelete