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This creamy Peppermint White Russian stars vodka, Kahlua, and peppermint schnapps for a minty twist on the classic cocktail! It’s festive and perfect for winter entertaining.
If you’re looking for a festive wintery cocktail that’s sweet and creamy, might I suggest the Peppermint White Russian? I don’t drink sweet cocktails often, but this spin on the classic White Russian has won me over.
After several rounds of recipe testing, I found that this minty spin might actually be more interesting than the original. The peppermint doesn’t just add flavor: it makes the drink taste like liquid peppermint bark with a coffee kick! (What’s not to love?)
Ingredients in a Peppermint White Russian
The White Russian is a classic cocktail that’s been around since the 1950’s, made with vodka, heavy cream, and coffee liqueur. It’s a spin-off on another classic cocktail, the Black Russian, which simply pairs vodka and Kahlua. You might know the White Russian from the 1998 movie The Big Lebowski, but it’s got much longer history.
For the Peppermint White Russian variation, you simply add peppermint schnapps to add a minty finish to each sip. It mellows out the flavors into an even more interesting balance. Here’s what you’ll need:
Understanding Peppermint Schnapps Proof
Here’s something I learned the hard way: you’ll find three different proof levels at most stores:
- 30 proof (15% ABV) – Milder and sweeter
- 60 proof (30% ABV) – Standard strength
- 100 proof (50% ABV) – Very strong
If your bottle says 100 proof, use half the amount called for in the recipe and taste as you go. I made the mistake of using the full amount with 100 proof schnapps once, and the drink packed way too much punch! The 60 proof variety is my go-to.
How to make a Peppermint White Russian
The Peppermint White Russian is so easy to make! You can build it right in the glass: no need to whip out a cocktail shaker or mixing glass. Here’s how to make it:
- Add the vodka, Kahlua and peppermint schnapps to a lowball glass. Then pour in the cream.
- Stir gently to get the swirl effect. Stir the drink right away and it will turn off-white. It’s more fun to get the swirl effect! Stir it gently just a few times, and the cream will swirl in a beautiful pattern.
Tip: To step up the drink, try it with clear ice which is crystal clear, instead of cloudy like normal ice. It makes the drink look like it came from an upscale bar! Go to How to Make Clear Ice.
How Sweet is This Drink?
The White Russian is a notoriously sweet drink, because of the Kahlua. This coffee liqueur adds a hefty dose of sugar to the drink! Tia Maria is a more sophisticated version of the coffee liqueur, and it makes a slightly more balanced drink. You could consider this for a classier spin here.
The peppermint schnapps also adds sweetness, but interestingly the minty flavor helps to balance out the sweetness. In our opinion, the Peppermint White Russian tastes more balanced than the classic, but it’s still a pretty sweet drink
Cream Alternatives
This is a pretty rich drink, so just like with my classic White Russian I like using some alternatives to the heavy cream. Here are a few I’ve tested:
- Half and Half: This is my go-to lighter substitution: it still makes swirls and has enough richness to feel satisfying.
- Whole Milk: This works but creates a slightly more watery drink. You can make 2% work, but I would avoid 1% or skim.
- Full fat coconut milk (or oat milk): For a dairy-free White Russian, I like coconut milk (canned, full fat) since it still makes the swirls. You could also use oat milk but it is thinner.
Ways to Serve This Festive Cocktail
This Peppermint White Russian is ideal served as a holiday cocktail. Here are a few ways I like to serve it:
- Holiday parties: It’s great as a Christmas cocktail
- After-dinner drink: It shines as a dessert drink
- Winter date nights: It’s fun with chocolate desserts for an indulgent evening
- New Year’s Eve: Feels celebratory but it’s easy to make for New Year’s Eve
- Cozy nights by the fire – Works with hot chocolate cookies or other Christmas cookies
Peppermint White Russian (Easy Holiday Cocktail!)
This creamy Peppermint White Russian stars vodka, Kahlua, and peppermint schnapps for a minty twist on the classic cocktail! It’s festive and perfect for winter entertaining.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- ½ ounce 30 proof or 60 proof* peppermint schnapps
- 1 ½ ounces** vodka
- 1 ounce Kahlua (or other coffee liqueur like Tia Maria)
- 1 ounce heavy cream (or whole or 2% milk)
Instructions
- Add the peppermint schnapps, vodka and Kahlua to a low ball glass. Fill it with ice.
Top with the cream or milk. Stir until cold (or stir just a bit to get the swirl effect).
Notes
*Check the bottle before you make this drink! If using 100 proof (50% ABV) schnapps, use half the quantity and customize to taste.
**To convert to ounces, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
Let us know if you have any questions!