Homemade Coffee Liqueur
Why I Love This Recipe
If you're not a vodka fan, replace it with more rum
Ingredients You'll Need
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups water
6 cups espresso (I used instant)
4 TB instant espresso powder
3 cups vodka
3 cups dark rum
3 TB vanilla extract
8oz piloncillo (or brown sugar if you don't have access to piloncillo
Directions
In a small saucepan, combine the white sugar and water. While stirring, bring to a boil. Continue to stir and boil until it begins to thicken and caramelize (this could take several minutes). Combine hot espresso, the espresso powder and the caramelized simple syrup. Stir.
If the espresso isn't hot, don't reheat it....just pour in the caramelized simple syrup anyway. It'll harden instantly
And will look all pretty in a weird sort of way...and it might concern you. But don't worry. Drop it back in and it will slowly dissolve.
Add in the remaining ingredients, including the solid hard mass of piloncillo. It too will melt. In time.
Just stir occasionally and check on it. Not because it needs to be checked on, but it goes through a pretty cool transformation.
Once everything has melted all together, pour your newly made coffee liqueur in your beautiful bottles. Tie a bow around the neck and you have yourself one impressive, sure to please holiday gift.