Twelfth Day of Christmas Gift

Hallelujah!
Day 12 has finally arrived.
I wasn’t positive I was going to make it!
But I did!

Yay for me!
And yay for you, 12 gifts from the kitchen.
I hope you’ve made at least one! If not, this may be the one to make…

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:

A bottle of Homemade Irish Cream
A Jar of Vanilla Sea Salt
Tins of Bacon Toffee
Rum Glazed Eggnog Bread
Fennel Cured Salmon
Spicy Guinness Mustard
Two Jars of Mustard
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Homemade Kahlua Liqueur
Lemon-Sugar Hand Scrub
Cranberry Citrus Vodka
and a bottle of Tomato Dust

Most recipes for homemade “Bailey’s” are quicker because they don’t call for any cooking. But, please trust me, this recipe is better and not at all difficult.

Irish Cream Liquor

1 cup strong coffee
1  1/2 cups heavy cream, divided
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or pure extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1  2/3 cups Jamison Irish whiskey

Bring the coffee to a gentle simmer in a medium-size saucepan.

Measure 1/2 cup of the cream into a 1-cup glass measuring cup. Whisk in the cocoa, sugar, honey, vanilla, and almond extracts to combine completely. Add to the saucepan along with the remaining 1 cup of cream.

Whisk well, then simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, whisking frequently.

Keep an eye on the pan, even though it is at a low simmer, it may still boil over if you don’t pay attention. The mixture will thicken slightly.

Remove the saucepan from the heat; whisk in the sweetened condensed milk.

Transfer the mixture to a 4-cup glass measuring cup and set aside to cool for 15 minutes.

Carefully whisk in the whiskey until completely blended.

Set aside and cool to room temperature.

Transfer into bottles for gift giving. Store in the refrigerator.

Be certain to label “Keep Refrigerated” “Serve Over Ice” and “Use by Date.”

Makes about 5 cups
Lasts for 2 months

Now that I’ve completed all 12 days, I think I’ll sit a spell and sip on a glass of Irish Cream, or Kahlua … oh, or maybe a Cranberry Vodka and Tonic. So many yummy choices!