Homemade Bailey's

I've always enjoyed Bailey's Irish Cream, either over ice or with coffee (it makes coffee drinkable!) Several years ago, my friend Lorrie Oikarinen gave me a UP church cookbook. Among the recipes was a large section dedicated to alcoholic drinks, and Bailey's was among them. I made a batch, and have made hundreds since. I mix up huge amounts for Christmas, both as gifts and for my party. I hand it out in quart jars.

Here is the recipe:

Bailey’s Irish Cream

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup half-and-half
4 eggs
2 T chocolate syrup
2 t instant coffee
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 t almond extract
1 cup vodka (cheap variety)

Place all the ingredients except the vodka in a blender. Blend. Allow to settle a bit, as it is quite frothy at first. Add vodka to taste; I use 1 cup vodka per 3 cups mixture. Keep refrigerated (if you do so, this will last almost indefinitely).

The original recipe called for whiskey, but I prefer the vodka, and think that Bailey's made this way actually tastes better than the "real" stuff.