Kahlúa Homemade

4.2
(20)

This homemade Kahlúa recipe was created after trying several different recipes. I love to make this around Thanksgiving to drink or give as presents at Christmastime. The longer you wait, the better it is — try and wait 4 weeks.

close up on a glass of homemade kahlúa
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Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
3 hrs
Additional Time:
28 days
Total Time:
28 days 3 hrs 10 mins
Servings:
30
Yield:
3 bottles
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 30 servings

  • 4 cups water

  • 1 cup instant coffee crystals (such as Folgers Classic Roast)

  • 2 cups light brown sugar

  • 2 cups lightly packed dark brown sugar

  • 1 (750 milliliter) bottle 190 proof grain alcohol (such as Everclear)

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and halved

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    all ingredients gathered to make homemade kahlúa

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  2. Combine water and instant coffee in a medium pot; bring to a boil.

    water and instant coffee brought to a boil in a medium pot.

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  3. Stir both brown sugars into coffee and reduce the heat. Simmer, stirring every 15 minutes, for 3 hours. Remove from the heat and cool completely.

    both brown sugars stirred into pot, simmering for 3 hours.

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  4. Pour coffee mixture into a clean, large glass jar. Add grain alcohol, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean. Cover with a tight-fitting lid.

    coffee, grain alcohol, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean poured in a jar and closed with a lid.

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  5. Let sit in a dark place, shaking occasionally, for 4 weeks. Divide into bottles, leaving a piece of vanilla bean in each.

    kahlúa divided into bottles, with a piece of vanilla in each.

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Recipe Tip

The longer it cooks on a low simmer, the thicker it gets like real Kahlúa.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

187 Calories
30g Carbs
0g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 30
Calories 187
% Daily Value *
Sodium 10mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 30g 11%
Total Sugars 29g
Protein 0g 0%
Calcium 27mg 2%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 88mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.