Homemade Coffee Liqueur

Total Time: 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 4 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup instant espresso
• 2 cups vodka
• 2 tablespoons chocolate liqueur (optional)
• 1 (8 inch) vanilla beans, split lengthwise

Recipe

• 1 bring 2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. remove from heat, and whisk in sugar and instant espresso, whisking until completely dissolved. let cool 10 minutes.
• 2 stir in vodka and, if desired, chocolate liqueur until well blended. pour mixture into a 2-quart glass bottle. add vanilla bean. cover tightly with lid, and shake throughly. let stand in a cool, dark place 1 month, shaking at least once weekly.
• 3 to make a coffee liqueur creme: beat 1/4-1/3 cup heavy cream at medium-high speed with a heavy duty electric stand mixer until soft peaks form. add 1/4-1/3 cup homemade coffee liqueur, and beat 30 seconds. gently stir until well blended. cover and chill up to 2 hours.