Homemade Bourbon Cream

This bourbon cream recipe is downright delicious! It takes your favorite bourbon and transforms it into a rich, silky, irresistibly creamy drink with just the right hint of warm spice. It’s smooth, sweet, and dangerously sip-worthy. Trust me—after one taste, this homemade bourbon cream will become your new go-to dessert cocktail.

The Best Homemade Bourbon Cream Recipe

I love Buffalo Trace bourbon cream made with smooth Kentucky bourbon, so I had to come up with my own DIY bourbon cream recipe! It legit tastes like the one you can buy from the store.

My recipe uses heavy cream blended with smooth bourbon and coffee liqueur, with a touch of vanilla and cinnamon to enhance the flavors. It's so delicious, you'll have to be sure to pace yourself with this one!

You can drink this as a bourbon cream cocktail, add it to coffee, or, my favorite, pour it on top of a root beer float for a decadent, boozy dessert!

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients, along with the bourbon of your choice and coffee liqueur. Check them out:

• 1 ½ cups of your favorite Bourbon (I use Buffalo Trace Bourbon)
• 1 cup heavy cream (substitute heavy cream with coconut cream to make it non-dairy)
• 1 tablespoon coffee liqueur 
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 
• Cinnamon for garnish (optional)

How To Make Bourbon Cream

Step 1: Blend the Ingredients

First, add all the ingredients to a blender or a large bowl. Then, either blend on high for 30 seconds or beat the ingredients together with an electric whisk.

Doing either of these makes for the best creamy texture that's slightly frothed. Trust me, it's so much better than just mixing.

Step 2: Serve

After combining everything, you can pour the cream mixture into an empty liquor bottle or mason jar if you won't be using it immediately. Or, you can pour it into glasses garnished with cinnamon, or add it to anything you want. Cheers!

How To Use Bourbon Cream (Best Ways To Use It)

This Buffalo bourbon cream is incredibly versatile — it’s rich, sweet, and has just enough warm bourbon flavor to elevate almost anything you add it to. Whether you're using it for cocktails, desserts, or cozy holiday drinks, there are countless delicious ways to enjoy it. Here are some of my absolute favorites:

• Stir it into coffee or hot chocolate. A splash of bourbon cream instantly transforms your after-dinner coffee into something decadent and cozy. It’s also unbelievable in hot chocolate — creamy, sweet, and perfect for cold nights.
• Pour it over ice for a simple nightcap. Bourbon cream is smooth enough to drink straight. Serve it over ice with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg for a quick dessert-style drink that tastes like boozy melted ice cream.
• Make a bourbon cream root beer float. One of my favorite ways to use it! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to a glass of root beer, then pour bourbon cream over the top. It’s nostalgic, creamy, and unexpectedly delicious.
• Use it in baking to add richness and flavor. Bourbon cream is amazing in desserts. It adds moisture and a subtle boozy flavor to cakes, frostings, and glazes. I especially love using it in my apple bundt cake and pumpkin cake — it takes both recipes to another level and makes them even better for the holidays.
• Mix it into cocktails for delicious bourbon cream drinks. Use bourbon cream in the same way you would use Irish cream. It pairs well with bourbon, cold brew, coffee, espresso liqueur, amaretto, and chocolate liqueur. My family loves a simple bourbon cream espresso martini or bourbon cream White Russian — they're always a hit.
• Serve it with holiday desserts. Drizzle it over bread pudding, pecan pie, apple pie, or brownies. I suggest adding a teaspoon of maple syrup to make the maple bourbon cream sweeter. It’s like serving your dessert with a built-in boozy whipped cream flavor.

Bourbon Cream FAQS

What is bourbon cream?

Bourbon cream is a rich, sweet liqueur made by combining bourbon with a creamy base (similar to Irish cream, but with classic bourbon flavor). It has notes of caramel, vanilla, warm spice, and oak — basically everything people love about bourbon, but mellowed with a silky, dessert-like creaminess. It’s delicious on its own, mixed into drinks, or used in baking.

Does bourbon cream need to be refrigerated?

Homemade bourbon cream must be refrigerated because it contains fresh dairy. Store it in an airtight bottle or jar and keep it chilled at all times. If store-bought, always follow the label instructions, but most homemade versions should be stored like you would store heavy cream or milk.

How long does homemade bourbon cream last?

Homemade bourbon cream will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator when stored in a sealed container. Shake before each use — separation is normal. If it smells off, becomes chunky, or tastes sour, discard it and make a new batch. (If your recipe uses pasteurized eggs or stabilizers, it may last slightly longer.)

Can I freeze bourbon cream?

Freezing is not recommended because the cream can separate when thawed. The texture becomes grainy, and the alcohol prevents it from freezing uniformly.

What does bourbon cream taste like?

Bourbon cream tastes like a cross between vanilla ice cream and a creamy bourbon cocktail. It’s sweet, rich, and silky, with warm bourbon notes, caramelized sugar, vanilla, and a hint of spice. If you enjoy bourbon or Irish cream, you’ll love bourbon cream.

What can I mix bourbon cream with?

Bourbon cream mixes best with coffee, cold brew, hot chocolate, root beer, cola, amaretto, chocolate liqueur, and bourbon. It's also excellent in holiday cocktails, poured over ice, used in milkshakes, or blended into dessert drinks.

Can I bake with bourbon cream?

Yes! Bourbon cream can be used in cakes, frostings, glazes, truffles, brownies, or bread pudding. It adds moisture, sweetness, and a subtle boozy flavor. Replace milk or heavy cream in baking recipes to give desserts a rich, caramel-bourbon twist.

Can I make dairy-free bourbon cream?

You can. Swap the heavy cream for coconut cream and the milk for full-fat canned coconut milk. Note that the flavor will be slightly coconut-forward but still delicious.

How do I thicken homemade bourbon cream?

If your bourbon cream is too thin, blend in: 1–2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk, or 1–2 tablespoons powdered sugar. Both act as stabilizers and create a velvety, thicker texture.

Why did my bourbon cream separate?

This often happens when the ingredients are mixed too quickly or when using lemon juice or acidic add-ins. Simply shake the bottle well before serving. If it curdles heavily and doesn’t come back together, the cream may have soured — in that case, discard and remake.

Is bourbon cream the same as Irish cream?

They’re similar but not identical. Irish cream is made with Irish whiskey and has a slightly chocolate-coffee flavor, while bourbon cream uses American bourbon and has stronger vanilla, caramel, and oak notes. Bourbon cream is typically sweeter and more dessert-like.

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• Sweet Cream Cold Foam
• Lychee Martini
• Mudslide Martini
• White Tea Shot
• Espresso Martini
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot