Homemade Kahlua has a simple and perfect balance of sweetness that is shared with coffee and rum. Doesn't it sound good already?
Homemade Kahlua Coffee Liqueur takes a little effort, but the rewards are huge. You combine four ingredients and let it age for two to three weeks.
The result? A perfect coffee-flavored liqueur, excellent for sipping or mixing in many recipes that call for celebration.
It makes a wonderful sipping cocktail.
The holidays are coming up and if you get this Homemade Kahlua recipe going on time you could pour it into beautiful small bottles and give it as gifts.
You could even tell them that it has to stay bottled another week or so for the aging to complete.
Table of Contents
What Is Kahlua?
Kahlua is a famous coffee-flavored liqueur made from freshly brewed dark
roast coffee, sugar, vanilla beans, and rum or vodka. It's smooth, creamy,
and delicious and goes great with coffee or vegan ice cream. Kahlua can
be served chilled or on the rocks and is often used in cocktails such as
white Russians or mudslides.
Homemade Kahlua brings back warm memories for me. Not that I got to drink it but I got to share the time with my mom while she made it.
Well, don't get me wrong. I did get a sip and even at 16, I knew Kahlua was a special drink.
I have mom's original recipe that is written on scratch paper - it is a bit dirty and I cherish it.
That recipe is now this recipe for everyone to have. Believe me, it's been tried and tested many, many times.
For about 50 years. It's that good and a real family tradition.
What liquor can I use to make Kahlua?
- Rum is the tradition, and you can use dark rum or white rum. I like dark rum as I think it gives it more warmth.
- Sometimes vodka is used, and that makes a nice Kahlua, too. It is easier on some people and doesn't smell as strong. It makes a good cocktail.
- There's a liquor called Everclear. It's powerful stuff and often used in creating liqueurs.
- Brandy has also been used but that one needs to age about a month.
Do you have to use a vanilla bean to make homemade Kahlua
- You don't have to but it gives an aged quality but you only have to use an inch of the whole bean.
- They are usually 5" to 6" long, so you can make a lot of Kahlua with one bean. That's at least 2 gallons!
- So the vanilla bean doesn't sound so expensive when you look at it that way.
- You can use a super good organic vanilla extract instead. The plus of this is that you can have instant gratification.
- The Kahlua will still improve with time though but the vanilla bean recipe really makes it great.
Ingredients
- Strong and hot fresh brewed coffee - gives depth to the sweetened rum.
- Organic sugar - is the perfect addition to sweeten the alcohol.
- Rum - is my favorite for Kahlua. Some people use Vodka.
- Vanilla bean - This is necessary, but vanilla extract may be used. See the notes above if you use vanilla extract.
How to Make Homemade Kahlua
- Measure sugar. Place organic cane sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk in coffee. Add hot, freshly brewed, strong coffee to the bowl with the sugar. Whisk or stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, then allow the mixture to cool.
- Add remaining ingredients and steep. Stir in rum and sliced vanilla bean. (If you are using vanilla extract instead, you’ll add this in the next step). Transfer the mixture to a jar or other lidded container, or simply use plastic wrap to cover the bowl. Seal tightly and allow the mixture to sit for 2 to 3 weeks in a cool, dry place.
- Finish and enjoy! Strain the kahlua mixture to remove the vanilla beans and pieces. (If you opted to use vanilla extract instead of the vanilla bean, now is the time to stir it in! It won't have quite the depth of flavor but it is good.) Transfer your homemade kahlua into a bottle that is easy to pour from and store. Pour over ice to enjoy!
How Long Does Kahlua Last?
Kahlua has a shelf life of about two years. The alcohol content acts as a
preservative, so the liqueur will last for a while. Once opened;
however, Kahlua will start to lose flavor after 6 months. Look at it if you're unsure if your Kahlua has gone bad. If it has changed color, is starting to look cloudy, or has an unpleasant odor, then it's probably time to toss it.
📋 Recipe
Homemade Kahlua Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups sugar - organic
- 2 ½ cups strong and hot fresh brewed coffee
- 2 ¼ cups rum
- 1 inch vanilla bean - cut in half lengthwise for aged quality or 1 tablespoon of a good quality vanilla extract for instant gratification
Instructions
- Place organic cane sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- Add hot, freshly brewed, strong coffee to the bowl with the sugar. Whisk or stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, then allow the mixture to cool.
- Stir in rum and sliced vanilla bean. (If you are using vanilla extract instead, you’ll add this in the next step). Transfer the mixture to a jar or other lidded container, or simply use plastic wrap to cover the bowl. Seal tightly and allow the mixture to sit for 2 to 3 weeks in a cool, dry place.
- Strain the kahlua mixture to remove the vanilla beans and pieces. (If you opted to use vanilla extract instead of the vanilla bean, now is the time to stir it in! It won't have quite the depth of flavor but it is good.) Transfer your homemade kahlua into a bottle that is easy to pour from and store. Pour over ice to enjoy!
Janet
I prefer using vodka over rum. If I want a white Russian I just add a little rum.
Debbie
What type of rum do you use? Dark or light?
Ginny McMeans
I use dark rum Debbie.
LA
Looking forward to making a batch as gifts this year. I'm putting together my shopping list and wanted to ask, did it matter if you use Grade A or Grade B Vanilla Beans in this? Thanks!
Darlene
Can I use vanilla bean paste instead of the bean!
Ginny McMeans
You should be ok with either.
Sarah P.
It says strong coffee, but how do I know if it's strong enough or too strong without wasting a batch? Measurements for coffee grounds to water to brew would be helpful. Thanks!
Philip C Krasnicki
I use four ingredients: arabica coffee, rum , sugar and water. Starbucks or Black RifleI freshly ground French Roast(2 Tbs/cup of brewed coffee), Bacardi Black and Zulco Morena Pure Cane Sugar are my choices. I caramelize the sugar, which provides subtle flavor undertones of vanilla and caramel. When the coffee cools, add the rum and stir. Ready to enjoy immediately.
Shabby
Why isn’t the vanilla extract increased with larger batches? Only the vanilla bean is.
Sara
When you cover the mixture to let sit for 2-3 weeks, does it need to be a tight seal?
Ginny McMeans
If you are increasing the recipe and decided to go with vanilla extract then you would want to increase it as well.
Lisa
This is delicious! I have made several different versions of Kahlua and this one is by far the best!
JD
made this twice. everyone love's it.
I make two gallons at a time. great Christmas gifts.
Leigh
Do you use dark or a light rum….or does it matter???
Teresa
Wow!! Smooth and delicious just on ice. I made it with Bacardi Gold and a vanilla bean.
Ginny McMeans
"Rum is the tradition and you can use dark rum or white rum. I like dark rum as I think it gives it more warmth." - This section of the article also gives additional liquor info if you have any interest.
Melissa Dodson
I made this recipe for Christmas gifts, from the taste I took before I bottled it........love the depth of flavor. I used light rum and vanilla bean!
John S
Have you tried brown sugar? I have not but it seems like it would enhance the flavor profile in many ways. All good I expect.
SC
Made it this afternoon - enough to fill 2 wine bottles! It tastes delicious, if a bit sweet. In the future, I would up the coffee content or intensity, and reduce the sugar by at least a cup and half. The alcohol to liquid content was perfect - not too much of a burn, but enough that it feels like you are sipping something alcoholic. Good recipe!
Cindy
If using for gifts in a week, is that enough time to sit with the vanilla bean? And then bottle for gifts?
Can I put the vanilla bean (1/2) into each bottle I give as a gift and put on the label to wait for two weeks? Or is that tacky and potentially gross? Haha
Renee
Made this with Captain Morgan 100 proof, raw cane sugar and vanilla bean. Turned out amazing. Great Christmas gifts.
Ginny McMeans
To each his own but it wouldn't bother me if someone gave it to me as a gift with this note. It would just make me think homemade. I would maybe put a reminder to remove the vanilla bean after that time.
Ginny McMeans
I have not.. If you try it, let us know how it turns out.
Jeff Scanlan
I made it with cold press coffee. Recipe is delish and easy.
Tom
I never knew Kahlua had a shelf life never lasted long enough to go bad! 🙂 I've made it using Instant coffee and Brandy just easier no waiting for the coffee to brew mix it put it in the bottle and let it age!
Deanna Jenkins
I made this yesterday and bottled it. I had my SIL TASTE TEST it right then. He is a beverage rep and pronounced it very good. Now I am going to let it sit for3 weeks before pronouncing it ready. Then I think it will have a 5 star rating. I plan to show at our County Fair in August.let you know.
Robyn
it's such a lovely recipe. I used vanilla extract from Costco instead of the bean. I only had Turbinado sugar from Costco so that was the only substitution.
It exceeded my expectations and it's incredibly smooth.
i will no longer buy Kahlua when I have this recipe. Thank you!
Andrea
I have made Kahlua with vodka in the past, but the rum is better; more full bodied, if that makes sense. Our favorite way to have it is over good quality ice cream.
Kimarie A Brown
Such a simple recipe to make. I love the description of the kahlúa and the difference between the rum and the vodka. I used dark rum also and it tastes amazing! Giving it for Christmas gifts this year
Glenda D Purser
Remove beans and bottle? I understand remove beans... but what do you mean "remove bottle"?
Ginny McMeans
It means remove beans and then bottle it. I'll try and come up with better wording.
Kayla Zimmerman
How about adding chocolate extract?
Kelly
if you triple the recipe, do you not have to triple the extract ?
Ligia Lugo
You would also triple the extract. Let me know if I missed something that indicates otherwise so I check the wording.
Ginny McMeans
If you're looking for more of a traditional Kahlua then I would not recommend adding the chocolate extract. If you're just looking for something different, then I have not tried it so I couldn't say. If you do give it a try, let us know how it turns out.
susan miller
I followed the instruction only used vodka and it surprisingly does taste like the real thing only a homamade version.