Are you looking for some holiday cheer? Then you have to try my festive and delicious peppermint White Russian! Kahlua, vodka, mint, and milk combine to make a cocktail perfect for all your holiday celebrations.
Hello, all!
Something I love around the holidays is a fun and festive cocktail. Christmas get togethers, New Year’s parties, I just got home after doing All The Shopping celebrations (you have those too right? š ), all times when you might want a tasty drink.
Peppermint White Russian
And that makes me so excited to share my latest holiday cocktail with you! This drink has it all going on. Cream, mint, coffee, fun garnishes, and it’s super simple to make. Bonus!
You can dress up the cocktail or dress it down and skip the garnishes, you can have it super creamy or be more restrained and use milk, you can use just a teeny bit of peppermint or add more and make it super minty. It’s all good!
What do you need?
It’s a simple list with a few additions if you want to fancy it up. You’ll notice I’m not asking for any specialty liqueurs here. Just regular ingredients you are likely to have in the house.
Note: If you happen to have some peppermint vodka or Kahlua, use that and skip the extract.
- Coffee Liqueur – Kahlua is great, but if you have some other tasty coffee liqueur use that.
- Vodka – I use unflavored vodka.
- Peppermint Extract – This is strong stuff. Just a little!
- Milk – Or half and half or cream. Choose your own adventure.
- Extras – Crushed candy canes, peppermint sticks, whipped cream
What is the best vodka in a White Russian?
There is a lot going on in a White Russian and even more in this Christmas-y version, so you are not going to really taste the vodka. Vodka here is a supporting character. Choose a good, but not expensive vodka, with a clean flavor and that will work just fine.
Shaken or stirred?
There is no traditional way to mix a White Russian. You can shake everything together like a milk shake, shake just the base (without the milk) and then float the milk on top, or stir it all together. I prefer to shake the base and float the milk just because it’s pretty.
How do you make it?
To make a peppermint White Russian mix together Kahlua, vodka, peppermint extract, and milk with ice until well chilled. Pour the drink into an ice filled glass. Garnish with peppermint sticks, crushed candy canes, and whipped cream if desired.
Rim the Glasses
This is totally optional but does make the drink even more festive.
Simply crush some candy canes then pour the crushed candy canes onto a plate. Wet the rim of the glass and rub the rim into the candy canes.
Tip: If you use a little simple syrup in place of the water you will get a thicker coating of candy canes.
Mix the Base
In a shaker filled with ice mix together the Kahlua, vodka, and peppermint extract. Just a few drops of extract since it is quite strong!
Make the Cocktail
Fill your prepared glasses with ice then divide the base between them. Slowly pour the milk (or cream) on top to create a two layered effect.
Tip: Either pour the milk so it pours right onto a ice cube or pour it onto the back of a spoon (and then into the drink). This will slow the flow of the milk so it stays on top.
Garnish
To keep with the festiveness, I had fun with garnishes here! A little whipped cream on top of the drink, a pinch of some of the crushed cane canes over that, and a peppermint stick in the glass. I think I’m now ready for Christmas! š
More Simple Holiday Cocktails
- Raspberry Mint Prosecco Cocktail
- Hot Spiced Bourbon Milk Punch
- Pomegranate Prosecco Cocktail
- Bourbon Cranberry Old Fashioned (note this one is best if you soak the cranberries the day ahead)
If you try my recipe for Peppermint White Russian, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And Iām happy to answer any questions you might have.
You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails (see the form in the sidebar or below the recipe card), liking my FACEBOOK page, or by following me on PINTEREST.
– Happy Drinking, Annemarie
Peppermint White Russian Holiday Cocktail
Ingredients
- crushed candy canes
- 3 oz coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua
- 2 oz vodka
- 2-4 drops peppermint extract
- 8 oz whole milk
- ice
- whipped cream
- peppermint sticks, optional
Instructions
- Pour the crushed candy canes onto a plate. Wet the top of the glasses with a little water and press the top of the glass in the candy canes, turning a bit to get the rim of the glass coated.
- Add the coffee liqueur, vodka, and peppermint extract to a shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled.
- Fill prepared glasses with ice and divide the drink between them. Gently pour the milk over the top to create a two tone effect.
- Top with whipped cream and more crushed candy cane. Garnish with a peppermint stick.
Notes
- Peppermint: Be careful with the peppermint! It is very strong and will completely take over the drink if you overdo it. Start with the low amount, taste, and add more if needed.
- Milk: For a creamier/boozier drink use 4 ounces of half and half or 2 ounces of heavy cream in place of the 8 ounces of milk.
- Two Tone: If you want the two tone effect pour the milk onto an ice cube in the drink. That keeps it from mixing too much with the rest of the drink.
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