With this Homemade Kahlua recipe, you can learn how to make your own coffee liqueur with vodka, sugar, vanilla beans, and freshly brewed coffee! Once you see how easy is to learn how to make Kahlua, you’ll never buy it again!
Homemade Kahlua you say? Yep! Seriously! While this one has to sit on your shelf for 30 days, the wait is so worth it! Make a few bottles ahead of time for your liquor shelf as well as holiday and birthday gifts.
The holidays are coming, so I’ve stocked up for use at our parties and for gifting to friends and family. Nothing says “love” like homemade liquor, right? Right.
Homemade Kahlua Recipe
- 1 1/2 C of instant coffee
- 3 C of boiling water
- 6 C of sugar
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1/5th of vodka
How to Make Kahlua With Vodka
Before I started I polled Facebook to find out the best instant coffee and was told either the Starbucks or this Nestle stuff I used. I went with the one I could get at the store.
First, boil your water and add the instant coffee. Be careful though! The second I added my coffee it boiled over, so I suggest removing it from the heat for a minute before adding the coffee.
Add the sugar and vanilla bean.
This will make your blend super sticky and thick!
Note about Vanilla Bean: You can get these vanilla beans in the spice aisle at places like Target. They look like dried twigs. You can also buy them here on Amazon.
Once you have all your ingredients in your pot, have them stirred and dissolved, remove from heat and let cool down completely.
Add your 1/5th of Vodka, which is 750mL.
Note about the Vodka: I am sure you have noticed that I didn’t list the content of alcohol in your Vodka. That’s because the recipe didn’t really say.
I personally used 100 proof. I’m probably making the most expensive and high alcoholic content of Kahlua known to man… c’est la vie.
Pour your Kahlua into a fancy vase that you can seal by using a funnel. Drop your vanilla beans into the bottle for maximum flavor, and let it set for 30 days.
Once your 30 days are up, open up the bottle and use it as a liquor or dessert sauce.
A Kahlua and cream = equal parts Kahlua & vodka topped off with half & half.
Have you ever made your own Kahlua? If not, this is a must-try. Yes, it takes awhile to see if it was a success, but take it from me… it will be.
Printable Homemade Kahlua Recipe
Homemade Kahlua Recipe
Here's how to make Kahlua at home with instant coffee, vodka, sugar, and vanilla beans!
- 1 1/2 C of instant coffee
- 3 C of boiling water
- 6 C of sugar
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1/5 th of vodka
Boil your water and add the instant coffee.
Add the sugar and vanilla bean.
Remove from heat and let cool down completely. Add the 1/5th of vodka
Pour the fresh Kahlua into a glass jar or jug, seal, and let sit for 30 days.
*tips on MomDot and a special way we serve Kahlua!
Check out these hilarious coffee mugs to hide your Kahlua in! Yeah, I’m all in.
Hi Trisha! I can’t wait for you to share how it taste!! I think it;s a great idea to make and give it as a gift (in small bottles of course! I am sure you’ll want to keep some for you…)
Please let us know!
My husband and I used to make homemade Kahlua when we were starving college students and had to watch every penny. We don’t drink it much anymore, but your recipes gives me an idea to try to make a “healthy” (OK, healthier) version with stevia. Hmmmmmmm……
This sounds really delicious! I bet it is way better than what you buy in the store, just like what you get in Mexico is way better than what you get in the U.S. I don’t know if it is because of preservatives or something else, but it is sooooo good in Mexico, I always buy extra when we go there – just like I do my vanilla extract. =)
Come to think of it, I haven’t been there in ages – I really need to go. It’s probably cheaper to make my own Kaluha… HaHa!
Can’t wait to hear how it tastes in January…. =)
ill let you know when i know lorie!
I am lazy, so I will just stick to the regular bottled version…that is, once I run out of the Jamaican run creme I am hoarding in the fridge!
very interesting. I can’t wait to hear how that tastes and if it’s better than the bottled version. All I know is I probably would of wound up doing lemon drop shots while I maked that Lol
This actually sounds fairly easy. I suppose you could just go buy some Kahlua, but making it yourself is so much better!
Yep, a fifth of vodka is a lot of vodka for sure!
I guess I am more curious than anything else on comparing it to the store bought vs home making it..but yes, def easier (and probably cheaper) to just buy.
Found your link on Pinterest thanks for posting a recipe, I’ve made this before &
Then lost my recipe. It is just as easy to buy a bottle of kahlua, but then you wouldn’t have had fun making it, or the anticipation of waiting the 30 days. I think the homemade has a better taste. Hope you like yours when it’s done!
It comes out WAY better if you can let it ferment at least 6 months. Coming from a pastry chef……….
wow, 6 months! Hmm..i wonder if i could wait that long to test!
Well played!
OMG YUM!!! I will try this!
Kahlua is my favorite, I love white russians so when it is done you should try one of those! I will definitely try this when I am no longer prego.
Lmao! Why not just buy a bottle of kahlua? I think this cost more and the wait must be agonizing! I live kahlua. I used to buy the kahlua coolers all the time… I actually might pick some up tomorrow after reading this! Yum! White Russians, B-52s and Mudslides are yum.
I’ve definitely never made (kudos to you) but I also don’t think I’ve even ever had the store bought version. For the most part, I’m an alcohol virgin.
i am surprised cat..its a liquor, not really what would be considered like “alcohol” and its used in a ton of dessert recipes. You should look it up! I bet you would enjoy in dessert.
Sounds fun! I think its spelled Kahlua though…I didn’t know what you were talking about until I read the recipe!
hahahahaha. You are right. Thats what I get for doing this post in between sleep/feed times. It took me FOUR TIMES coming back to write this post period..i was just proud I got it done. I corrected..
No worries. I know how it is. My boy is 4 months old too & between him & my 2 year old & the constant sickies I’m always exhausted! My poor blog is being seriously neglected! Good thing I only blog for me & my family to enjoy!