Good Morning!

The other day I posted my recipe for homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream and I received all kinds of questions about other things I make for the holidays, either to serve or to give as gifts. I thought today, I would also share another recipe with you for homemade Kahlua. My friends love to drink White Russians, so when they found out I have made my own Kahlua, they wanted to try it and one Christmas I handed out bottles as gifts, they ask me about making it again for them.

I just find some cool bottles, like I used for the Bailey’s with the hinge and rubber stopper, and bottle it up and put it in a gift bag for my friends. I found bottles at World Market, Hobby Lobby and Micheal’s, but I happen to have extra screw-top bottles left over from my Sauvignon Blanc bottling, so I used those this time.

So here is my recipe….

Homemade Kahlua
2 quarts boiling water
7 cups sugar
1 cup Instant Coffee
2 oz. vanilla
1 oz. almond extract
1 quart 190 Proof Grain Alcohol

Bring to boil 2 quarts of water and add sugar, continue to boil until all sugar is completely dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved, keep the mixture boiling and add in the instant coffee and let boil for 1 more minute. After the coffee is blended in remove from the heat and let cool at least 30 minutes, then stir in the vanilla and almond extract and then when completely cooled, add in the 1 quart 190 proof grain alcohol. (some folks prefer vodka to grain alcohol, I find the vodka imparts a taste/flavor that makes the Kahlua have a bitterness, that I do not enjoy, but some folks LOVE, so play with this recipe until you find your booze groove).

This homemade delight does have a good shelf life and does not need refrigeration, so Your friends can enjoy this well into the new year! I hope you are having as much fun this holiday season as I am making gifts for friends and clients! If you have a recipe I should know about, send it to me and I’ll try it!

Much LOVE and wine and Kahlua,

Tammi