Name: Homemade Kahlua Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 d 1 h 10 min
Yield: 5
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2-1/2 lb. sugar (5 2/3 cups); 5 cups water; 16 oz light corn syrup; 4 oz. instant espresso coffee (one jar is usually 2 oz); 1/2 cup boiling water; 6 Tablespoons pure bourbon vanilla extract; 12 oz pure grain alcohol (Everclear or 100 proof Vodka); 12 oz Dark Rum; 12 oz Brandy

Jump to Recipe

This delicious homemade Kahlua recipe comes from Food 52 and was submitted by reader Lapadia. Homemade Kahlua is a popular coffee liqueur that you can make yourself at home. This Kahlua recipe involves a few simple ingredients like instant espresso, sugar, vanilla, dark rum, brandy and pure grain alcohol like Everclear. Homemade liqueurs like my homemade Irish Cream make great holiday gifts. To make it easy, use one of my free printable holiday gift tags.

Homemade Kahlua Recipe

A local friend of mine made this homemade liqueur recipe and when I saw her share it on her Instagram, I asked if I could share it with my readers. She has been remodeling an old Camas Washington home and building an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) in the backyard. Plans are to rent the home as an Airbnb eventually giving local and homemade gifts to guests. You can follow her progress where she shares her impeccable style for every detail.

How To Make Coffee Liqueur

This homemade Kahlua recipe coffee liqueur made with dark rum, brandy, and Everclear has a distinct taste of espresso coffee that is also sweet and syrupy. It is great served in coffee, or with half and half. You’ll need the following ingredients:

A full printable recipe with measurements can be found further below.

sugar
water
light corn syrup
instant espresso coffee
boiling water
bourbon vanilla extract
pure grain alcohol (I use Everclear) NOTE: or 100 proof Vodka if you would rather use it
Dark Rum
Brandy

In a medium saucepan, add the sugar, syrup, and water, heat until clear, and take off heat.
Add the instant espresso and boiling water, then set aside to cool until it reaches 70 degrees.
Add the vanilla and stir.
Add the rum, brandy, and grain alcohol (Everclear or vodka) and stir.
Let it sit for 24 hours and then bottle it up.

Homemade Kahlua Recipe

Yield: 5 Fifths

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Additional Time: 1 day

Total Time: 1 day 1 hour 10 minutes

This homemade Kahlua recipe is shared by my friend Jessica Dudley. She was inspired to make this coffee liqueur from a recipe she read on the Food 52 website. The rich taste of espresso, rum, brandy and grain alcohol makes this Kahlua recipe a great holiday gift.

Ingredients

2-1/2 lb. sugar (5 2/3 cups)
5 cups water
16 oz light corn syrup
4 oz. instant espresso coffee (one jar is usually 2 oz)
1/2 cup boiling water
6 Tablespoons pure bourbon vanilla extract
12 oz pure grain alcohol (Everclear or 100 proof Vodka)
12 oz Dark Rum
12 oz Brandy

Instructions

In a large saucepan, combine the of sugar (2 1/2 lbs), the corn syrup (16 oz.) and water (5 cups of water). Heat until the sugar has dissolved. Take off the heat.
Add the instant espresso (4 oz) and the 1/2 cup of boiling water to the syrup, stir, and set aside to cool 70 degrees.
Once cooled, add the vanilla (6 T.) to the mixture and stir.
Add all your alcohols (rum, brandy and grain alcohol). Stir.
Let it sit for 24 Hours and then bottle it up.

Notes

Download the free labels to place on your bottles of Kahlua. Find them in The Printable Vault.

Drink responsibly - Never drink and drive.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 85 Serving Size: 2 oz.
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 86Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 15gProtein: 0g

We do our best to calculate, however, nutrition information may not be accurate.

Printable Bottle Labels for Homemade Kahlua

Brown bottle of homemade kahlua with a white label.

I love the labels that Jessica designed. Such a stylish clean look. Each label has the ingredients listed and you can use the bottom section to write in the date it was made.

How to Print Bottle Label

You’ll need the following to print your labels.

Access to The Printable Vault. Subscribers have access to all the free printables. You can subscribe here and your password will be sent to you. Check your spam folder if you don’t see it in your inbox. If you are already a subscriber, you’re good to go. Just use your password and download the labels. Password reminders are included in all emails from Today’s Creative Life.
Inkjet Printer
Paper Cutter
Glossy Sticker Paper, self-adhesive paper

Load your printer with the glossy self-adhesive paper. All printers are different, but make sure when it prints, it will print onto the glossy side.
Open up the downloaded bottle label file and print it according to your device.
Use a paper trimmer or scissors to cut each label out.
Peel the backing off and apply it to your bottle.

Drink Recipes with Kahlua

The nice thing about Kahlua is that there are many non-fussy ways to use it. Add it to coffee, or just half and half. That’s usually my go-to. The Kahlua website has so many great drinks. Hot, frozen, 3-ingredient cocktail recipes and more. Here are a few of my favorites.

White Russian

Ice Cubes

1 part Kahlúa

1 part Absolut Vodka

1 part Heavy Cream

Flat White Russian

Ice Cubes

1 part Kahlúa

1 part Absolut Vodka

1 part Espresso

2 parts Milk Of Your Choice

Colorado Bulldog

Ice Cubes

1 part Kahlúa

1 part Absolut Vodka

1 part Cream

1 part Cola

Does Kahlua Go Bad?

According to the Kahlua website, they recommend a shelf life of 4 years for their commercially made product. I’m not sure about a Kahlua recipe you make yourself. Store it in a cool dark place.

“Actually, the product will be good for many more years, but the coffee impact fades over time so it won’t give you the full flavor impact. Also, if you were to receive an old bottle of Kahlúa, you have to make sure it has never been opened or tampered with.”