baileys

I have a great way for you to celebrate St. Patrick's Day: make your own Irish cream! More commonly known as Baileys, this rich, smooth, and delicious liquor can easily be made in the comforts of your kitchen. The recipe, which requires a blender, is similar to eggnog in that it combines a potent spirit, Irish whiskey, with eggs, cream, and seasonings such as vanilla and coconut extracts.

For a delightful after-dinner drink, serve it chilled or over ice. Homemade Baileys is also a festive gift; I've brought bottles to hostesses and always receive enthusiastic reviews. Get the simple but fantastic recipe.

If you went to college or lived near a campus bar, you're undoubtedly familiar with a drink called the Irish car bomb. It's similar to a sake bomb or cement mixer in that it requires choreography: one shot each of Baileys Irish cream liqueur and Irish whiskey are dropped into a pint glass of Guinness stout, and some poor soul downs the entire concoction before the drink can curdle, often while standing on top of the bar. Yowza.

Now, a coed liver might be able to handle that potent combo, but mine certainly cannot, and this weekend I fear being cornered by an overzealous St. Patrick's Day reveler. So when in peril, fight fire with cupcakes!

The brilliance of this recipe is that it both layers and melds the flavors of each liquor, just like the drink that it's based on. The whiskey in the ganache is sharp and bracing, the Baileys soothes as buttercream frosting, and the Guinness gives a moist, malty texture to the chocolate cake.

Of course, if you're not in a boozy mood (or if kids are present), you can leave out the whiskey and Baileys and just ensure that the alcohol cooks off sufficiently in the first step. But for a sweet drink substitute, these cupcakes sure are a shot of wonderful. Keep reading for the recipe

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Rachel Hollis heads to Finn McCool's to learn how to make the "breakfast of Irish warriors," the Irish Car Bomb. Watch now to see how it's made!

I recently organized my recipe collection, so when I decided to make a St. Patrick's Day dessert, I looked to my archives to see what recipe gems I could find. I had my heart set on the Irish cream chocolate mousse cake I made for my half birthday four years ago. However, I didn't have a lot of time and wanted an innovative, but easy dessert. Luckily I came across this recipe for Baileys pots de creme! I cut it out of the San Francisco Chronicle in 2007, but never got around to making it. Until now. Although it needs to chill overnight, this luscious and creamy dessert is super quick to put together. It's not too sweet and the flavor of Baileys and coffee blend scrumptiously. It's the sort of addictive dessert that you can't get enough of; I found myself shamelessly licking the rich mixture off the side of the bowl. To get the ridiculously simple — there's only five ingredients! — technique keep reading.