I’ve been on a mission to make (almost) everything from scratch lately. Why not make Christmas gifts from scratch this year also? In the long list of gifts I wanted to make was homemade Kahlua. I think it will make a fun addition to the other homemade goodies in the gift baskets we are making. After some experimenting, I’m confident I’ve nailed the rich, indulgent, buttery coffee flavor of Kahlua with this Crazy Simple Coffee Liqueur Recipe. It’s also really easy to make, as the title hopefully implies 😉

There are a ton of homemade Kahlua recipes out there. Some use rum, others vodka, or Everclear. A lot of recipes opt for instant coffee, while other ones use freshly brewed. I tried a combination of a few of these, and I gotta say, Everclear and instant coffee were the winning pair for my taste. The result of this recipe is this enticing, deep, smooth flavor that really hits the spot.

WHAT ALCOHOL SHOULD I USE TO MAKE CRAZY SIMPLE COFFEE LIQUEUR?

I used the highest proof Everclear that was available to me in the state of California; 120 proof Everclear. I got this 1.75L bottle from Bevmo for about $35. If you don’t have Everclear, you can use rum or vodka also. The higher the proof, the more potent your Kahlua will be.

INGREDIENTS

You’ll only need 5:

Everclear (you can sub rum or vodka of your choosing) – 2 cups
Instant coffee I used Medaglia D’Oro which you can buy from Target or Amazon – 4 tablespoons
Water – 3 cups
Cane sugar – 3 cups
Pure vanilla extract – 1 tablespoon

How to Make Coffee Liqueur Recipe?

Step 1:

Firstly, whisk sugar and water together in a sauce pan and bring mixture to a boil over medium high heat. Continue to whisk frequently to ensure that the sugar is completely dissolved.

Step 2:

Secondly, add the instant coffee once it reaches a boil and stir until mixed thoroughly.

Step 3:

Thirdly, remove the saucepan from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature. This can take a while

Step 4:

Lastly, stir in vanilla extract and alcohol

Congrats, you’ve made Crazy Simple Coffee Liqueur!

Transfer it from the saucepan into a big Mason Jar. You can let it rest anywhere between a half hour and 1 month before drinking it or sharing with others. The longer it sits, the more the flavors meld and develop. I tried mine after a couple of days, and it was absolutely delicious. If you choose to let it sit for days, weeks, or a month, be sure to give the jar a swirl every once in a while.

Tips

This recipe will give you approximately 6 cups worth of Kahlua.
When stored in airtight containers, your coffee liqueur should stay good for 3-4 years. You’ll know it’s time to say goodbye when it starts to smell weird or taste watery.

HOW TO USE YOUR COFFEE LIQUEUR RECIPE

The possibilities are endless… Here are a few:

Drink it straight up over ice
Make a White Russian
Pour it into adorable swing top bottles and give them out as gifts

WORTH NOTING

This recipe will give you approximately 6 cups worth of Kahlua
When stored in airtight containers, your coffee liqueur should stay good for 3-4 years. You’ll know it’s time to say goodbye when it starts to smell weird or taste watery.

Looking for more fun recipes? Try a Dill Gin & Tonic – you won’t regret it!

Coffee Liqueur Recipe

Recipe by SarahCourse: DrinksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

Cups

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

hour

minutes

Calories

100

kcal

Total time

hour

minutes

This homemade Kahlua recipe is rich, sweet, and velvety. Best of all, it's made with only 5 ingredients and super simple to make!

Ingredients

3 cups water
3 cups cane sugar
4 tbsp instant coffee
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups alcohol Everclear, vodka, or rum

Directions

Whisk sugar and water together in a sauce pan and bring mixture to a boil over medium high heat. Continue to whisk frequently to ensure that the sugar is completely dissolved
Add the instant coffee once it reaches a boil and stir until mixed thoroughly
Remove the saucepan from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature. This can take a while
Stir in the alcohol and vanilla extract

Notes

This recipe will give you approximately 6 cups worth of Kahlua.
When stored in airtight containers, your coffee liqueur should stay good for 3-4 years. You’ll know it’s time to say goodbye when it starts to smell weird or taste watery.